Blackouts

Commentary

California’s blackout déjà vu – and the need for more generation and sufficient storage

It’s time for our state’s energy regulators and leaders to plan for a better-engineered system based on physics rather than wishful thinking.

By Guest Commentary • August 24, 2020

Commentary

Investing in clean energy will help economic recovery

California’s economic recovery urgently depends on restoring lost clean energy jobs and actively pursuing additional clean energy investment.

By Guest Commentary • August 23, 2020

Capitol

‘Mad Max’ in California? Energy crisis is avoidable

If we are serious about avoiding blackouts and continuing our progress toward an emission-free grid, we must expand nuclear and hydroelectric power.

By Guest Commentary • August 21, 2020

Commentary

Reclassify hydropower now – as renewable energy

If we are going to meet California’s urgent power needs, we cannot relegate hydropower, our most affordable and reliable clean power, to second-class status.

By Guest Commentary • August 20, 2020

Commentary

Solving California’s heat-induced rolling blackouts with clean energy innovation

The solution to rolling blackouts is to shift industrial demand to when our grid can handle it and rapidly expand our clean energy resources.

By Guest Commentary • August 20, 2020

WhatMatters

Crises collide as fires rage

Disasters abound in California right now. Fires raging across the state have forced thousands to evacuate, put a severe strain on firefighting crews, and contributed to poor air quality amid a scorching heat wave that led to blackouts. Oh, and there’s also the global pandemic. Lightning struck California more than 10,849 times in the last […]

By Emily Hoeven • August 20, 2020

WhatMatters

Pressure mounts on Newsom for reopening plan

Good morning, California. It’s Wednesday, August 19. Cases, hospitalizations, deaths decline Pressure is building on Gov. Gavin Newsom to figure out a reopening plan after San Diego, California’s second-largest county, fell off the state’s coronavirus watch list Tuesday and hospitalizations, case rates and deaths continue to decline statewide. The news came a few days after […]

By Emily Hoeven • August 19, 2020

Dan Walters

Blackouts reveal our power shortage

California has a shortage of electrical energy that's resulting in blackouts during a severe heat wave. Warnings about the shortage were ignored.

By Dan Walters • August 19, 2020

WhatMatters

Bigger blackouts ahead

Good morning, California. It’s Tuesday, August 18. Newsom orders investigation Millions of Californians should expect rolling blackouts through Wednesday night — and they’ll likely last hours longer than those over the weekend, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday. Newsom said the state anticipates being 4,400 megawatts short of Monday’s energy needs. One megawatt can power up […]

By Emily Hoeven • August 18, 2020

WhatMatters

The weekend: blackouts, lightning, fire tornado — and first shutoffs in 20 years

2020 just keeps getting better. As many as 2 million Californians experienced one-hour blackouts on Friday and Saturday nights as the state triggered rolling power outages for the first time in nearly two decades amid a record-breaking heat wave. The sky-high temperatures, paired with gusty winds and dry conditions, exacerbated fires across the state, contributed […]

By Emily Hoeven • August 17, 2020