California’s push toward a carbon-free future has led to a concerning excess of solar power—so much so that commercial grid operators are being forced to stop production.
Dr. Phillippe Phanivong, CIEE postdoctoral scholar, highlights the severity of this issue in a recent Los Angeles Times article. Noting an “alarming” 500% increase in the state’s solar curtailment from 2017 to 2022—despite a 40% boost in renewable energy generation—he asks, “Can we even get to 100% renewable energy with this growth rate of curtailment?”.
Meanwhile, other states are reaping the benefits of this energy surplus, leaving California ratepayers with soaring electricity bills.
Read more from the Los Angeles Times
Read about Dr. Phanivong’s research in his EcoBlock blog post
