New Gas-Fired Units Approved for California
When it comes to the power supply, California could use all the supply-side help it can get, which is why plans are in the works to add five new gas-fired units at existing power plants within the state. The state has been plagued by electricity shortages, and this additional generation capacity is one of several initiatives happening to try and stop the bleeding.
Details of the New Gas-Fired Units
The California Energy Commission (CEC) approved the 5-year operator licenses for the new gas-fired units last month (Aug. 2021). The license approval process was expedited thanks to the Executive Order Governor Newsom issued in July to free up additional energy capacity in the state, which was issued on the heels of the Bootleg fire, among other pressing issues.
The procurement is being handled by the California Dept. of Water Resources. Each unit will have a generation capacity of 30 MW, and installation will begin immediately.
The additional 150 MW of generation capacity is badly needed, but it is not the only initiative underway to alleviate the state’s supply concerns. There are several examples of this throughout California:
- PG&E recently announced a $15-$20 billion plan to bury power lines (up to 10,000 miles of transmission lines).
- Microgrids are popping up to enhance supply, as are renewable energy sources that can be self-sufficient during shortages.
- New technologies like advanced weather sensors, satellite monitoring, and drones are being deployed to improve forecasts as well as recovery operations.
Clearly, between megadroughts, forest fires, extreme heat, and water shortages, California is in the grips of a horrific situation. While the 5 new gas-fired units will help, they are not the end-all, be-all. In fact, I’d be surprised if additional units weren’t brought online in the near future.
The bottom line is that the residents, utilities and government officials in California are all fighting an uphill battle, but at least it’s a battle worth fighting.
