Tuesday, October 31, 2023

California increasingly shutting off wind, solar farms due to lack of power lines

Kevin Killough

When supply exceeds demand, a lack of transmission lines means the electricity has nowhere to go. So, California grid operators are shutting down wind and solar farms more than ever.

"California’s buildout of wind and solar farms is exceeding the ability of its grid to handle all the electricity during periods of high production and low demand.

"The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported Monday that curtailments, which is when wind and solar farms are deliberately shut down, increased to peak levels in 2023.

"The California Independent System Operator, which operates the electricity grid for much of the state, has steadily curtailed the amount of electricity from wind and solar farms that flows through its system.

"The decreases appear to be situational, not a steady process, and are the result of the state not having enough power lines to carry all the electricity produced by wind and solar farms, the EIA report stated.

"These curtailments, for example, typically reach their peak in spring, when the weather is mild and demand on the grid is low." . . .

Biden's promise to end fossil fuels has led him to seek oil anywhere but at home  . . ."Under the Trump administration, the U.S. became a net exporter of oil for the first time in 75 years, largely driven by the shale revolution.

"Biden, on the other hand, has had to balance his promises to end fossil fuels with the blowback he has received from voters irritated by how much they have to pay at the pump. Whenever he’s opened up more production in the U.S., he’s faced criticism from his base. So, he’s gone looking for oil elsewhere." . . .

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