Close
MyNorthwest
News
Opinion
Sports
Tools
Connect

Heat wave puts California in fossil fuel conundrum

The AES power plant is seen in Redondo Beach, Calif., Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022. A record heat wave put California in a fossil fuel conundrum: The state has had to rely more heavily on natural gas to produce electricity and avoid power outages while Gov. Gavin Newsom's administration moves toward ending the use of oil and gas. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) A man pushes a stroller near the AES power plant in Redondo Beach, Calif., Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022. A record heat wave put California in a fossil fuel conundrum: The state has had to rely more heavily on natural gas to produce electricity and avoid power outages while Gov. Gavin Newsom's administration moves toward ending the use of oil and gas. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Airstream RVs for sale are parked under high power transmission towers at Airstream Los Angeles in San Gabriel, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022. The California Independent System Operator, the entity that oversees the state's electrical grid, issued a Stage 3 alert allowing it to draw on emergency power sources. The alert is one step below actually ordering rotating power outages. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) A high power station is seen in downtown Los Angeles, Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022. The California Independent System Operator, the entity that oversees the state's electrical grid, issued a Stage 3 alert allowing it to draw on emergency power sources. The alert is one step below actually ordering rotating power outages. CAISO said the peak electricity demand on Tuesday hit 52,061 megawatts, far above the previous high of 50,270 megawatts set on July 24, 2006. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) Vehicles travel near high power transmission towers in downtown Los Angeles, Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022. As California stretched into its second week of excessive heat, the California Independent System Operator, the entity that oversees the state's electrical grid, issued a Stage 3 alert allowing it to draw on emergency power sources. The alert is one step below actually ordering rotating power outages. CAISO said the peak electricity demand on Tuesday hit 52,061 megawatts, far above the previous high of 50,270 megawatts set on July 24, 2006. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) The sun sets behind a high power station in downtown Los Angeles Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022. As California stretched into its second week of excessive heat, the California Independent System Operator, the entity that oversees the state's electrical grid, issued a Stage 3 alert allowing it to draw on emergency power sources. The alert is one step below actually ordering rotating power outages. CAISO said the peak electricity demand on Tuesday hit 52,061 megawatts, far above the previous high of 50,270 megawatts set on July 24, 2006. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) FILE - The "Whaling Wall" mural is seen on the AES Power Generating Plant in Redondo Beach, Calif., on April 30, 2012. The plant is among the natural gas resources the state is relying on for power amid the unprecedented heat wave, but it has experienced some partial outages that limit its capacity. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)
Heat wave puts California in fossil fuel conundrum