Carl Wurtz – California Globe

The Attempt to Regionalize California’s Electrical Grid is Back – Why?

June 5, 2025 6:55 amJune 5, 2025 11:32 am

Since 2018, three bills introduced in California’s Legislature have sought to share control of California’s electrical grid with its neighbors. Those touting the concept claim it will advance solar and wind energy – that when it’s cloudy in Oregon, California...

Why Windfarms Off California’s Coast are a Bonanza for Oil Companies

May 17, 2023 3:50 pmMay 17, 2023 4:57 pm

Last week, senior White House climate advisor John Podesta revealed President Biden had pledged his support for a controversial natural gas pipeline project proposed by Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia. When environmental groups swiftly reacted in opposition, Podesta explained...

Nuclear Fusion: Holy Grail of Energy, or Waste of Time and Money?

March 7, 2023 2:45 amMarch 7, 2023 2:46 am

Two weeks ago, Assemblywoman Lisa Calderon (D-Los Angeles) introduced Assembly Bill 1172, a bill that would require state energy commissions to analyze the feasibility of using nuclear fusion to help meet California’s climate goals. “Nuclear fusion?” you ask. “Isn’t that the...

Grid Expert: Replacing Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant with Renewables ‘Can’t Be Done’

January 28, 2023 9:15 amJanuary 28, 2023 9:27 am

With recent legislation limiting the lifetime of California’s last remaining nuclear power plant to eight more years, the debate about replacement power has once again been thrust to the forefront of environmental concerns: will higher emissions after the shutdown of...

Lessons Learned From California’s Averted Power Crisis

September 21, 2022 2:50 amSeptember 20, 2022 2:25 pm

Shortly after 4:55 PM on Sept. 6, California’s electricity grid set a new record. Briefly, residents and businesses were consuming electricity at a rate of 51,426 million watts, and the grid was stretched to its limit. Were it not for...

The Failure of California Electricity Policy, Part 2

May 2, 2022 7:50 amMay 2, 2022 8:27 am

When “The Failure of California Electricity Policy In One Image” was published in early April, comments left by readers seemed to indicate they had overestimated California’s progress with clean energy. That might have been expected; my op-ed had explained why...

The Failure of California Electricity Policy in One Image

April 2, 2022 7:50 amApril 2, 2022 10:21 pm

In a few weeks it will be one year since the article “California just hit 95% renewable energy. Will other states come along for the ride?” appeared in the Los Angeles Times. Its author, reporter Sammy Roth, had learned that California briefly...