A new study says the drought in California has forced an increased use of natural gas to produce electricity, as dwindling river flows have reduced hydropower generation. Ed Joyce reports from Sacramento.
The Pacific Institute says less hydroelectricity means more expensive electricity.
Peter Gleick: "We get a lot of electricity normally from hydropower, which is relatively inexpensive and relatively clean. And during a drought we don't have the water and we don't get the power."
Study author Peter Gleick says, along with higher utility bills, his analysis of the 2011-14 drought period shows burning more natural gas to compensate for limited hydropower increases pollution.
Peter Gleick: "The costs to California consumers of having to burn more natural gas was about $1.4 billion and eight-percent increase in greenhouse gas emissions from normal emissions from our power plants." :
He says in a non-drought year, hydropower provides 18 percent of California's electricity supply.
Gleick says if the drought persists, natural gas will account for a larger percentage of the state's electricity production.A new study says the drought in California has forced an increased use of natural gas to produce electricity, as dwindling river flows have reduced hydropower generation. Ed Joyce reports from Sacramento.
The Pacific Institute says less hydroelectricity means more expensive electricity.
Peter Gleick: "We get a lot of electricity normally from hydropower, which is relatively inexpensive and relatively clean. And during a drought we don't have the water and we don't get the power."
Study author Peter Gleick says, along with higher utility bills, his analysis of the 2011-14 drought period shows burning more natural gas to compensate for limited hydropower increases pollution.
Peter Gleick: "The costs to California consumers of having to burn more natural gas was about $1.4 billion and eight-percent increase in greenhouse gas emissions from normal emissions from our power plants."
He says in a non-drought year, hydropower provides 18 percent of California's electricity supply.
Gleick says if the drought persists, natural gas will account for a larger percentage of the state's electricity production.
