In the early afternoon of April 30, for the first time ever, California generated enough electricity from renewable sources to fully meet demand.
Hooray! But there is still a long way to go before meeting the State’s goals for 100% renewable power, or even getting close to that goal.
The achievement was realized on a windy and sunny afternoon in April. If it had been calm and overcast, or evening rather than afternoon, or August rather than April, renewable supply would have been far short of demand.
The growth in renewable power, especially solar and wind, continues. Improvements in energy storage are essential so power generated during daylight hours can be used at night.
And, while all technologies are imperfect, renewable power lessens impacts on the environment. Principally, the shift to wind and solar is intended to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
There are river restoration projects, however, which will result in relatively small losses of hydropower, including the Trinity (2000), Klamath (very soon?) and the Tuolumne through Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite National Park.
