According to the verge report, it is predicted that this summer's drought will halve California's hydropower supply** US Energy Information Administration (EIA) in its forecast It is bad news for residents' air quality and water and electricity bills. The state may rely on more expensive and polluting natural gas to make up for the shortage of hydropower.
According to the National Drought Monitoring Map of the United States, nearly 60% of California is currently coping with "extreme" drought or worse. California's current water dilemma stems from low-level snow. When the snow melts, it can provide water for the state's reservoirs. At the beginning of April, when snow usually reached its peak, the snow moisture content in the state was 40% lower than the normal level in the past 30 years.
The water levels of the two most important reservoirs in California, Lake Shasta and lake Oroville, were "seriously low" in early May. In summer, the weather may become drier and hotter, and the demand for air conditioning puts additional pressure on the power grid.
Hydropower is an important energy source in the United States. According to EIA data, under "normal water conditions", it usually accounts for 15% of California's power generation. But the EIA said that this summer, this proportion is expected to drop to only 8%.
Sometimes California can buy hydropower from other states in the Pacific Northwest. But Washington and Oregon are also coping with drought, so natural gas may have to fill the gap. Therefore, according to the EIA, electricity prices in the western United States may be 5% higher in the coming months. In California, drought will lead to a 6% increase in CO2 emissions from the energy sector.
California has often suffered from droughts before, but this year the situation has become historically worse. The first few months of 2022 are the driest months in more than 100 years. California governor gavinnewson asked Californians to voluntarily change their habits -- including taking a five minute shower instead of bathing, and using a broom instead of washing outdoor areas when cleaning -- in an effort to reduce the state's water consumption. In some places, local governments are forcing water cuts. Starting Wednesday, many residents of the Los Angeles area will be allowed to water their lawns only once a week.
As climate change shapes a future of worsening drought, it may be difficult for the United States to rely on hydropower as a clean energy source to achieve its climate goals. In 2021, nearly one third of renewable electricity in the United States will depend on hydropower. The Biden administration's goal is to make the U.S. power grid run entirely on carbon free energy by 2035.