California will face massive decline in the hydropower as the drought is not in a mood to end soon. This is the fourth consecutive year of drought and many experts are saying that this is the consequence of climatic change. There is significant drop in the water level and the authorities are concerned that how they will meet the water demands in agriculture, household and this will also have an impact on the hydropower sector of the state. The coming days will be very difficult to face.
California’s Sierra Nevada region energy chief has noticed that the decline in the snowpack is to historical low levels. They region has received 12 percent of the average snowfall and it would have great impact on rives and dams.
The entire west region is facing the impact of average snowfall.
The state will have to shift its power producing medium form hydropower to fossil fuels as there is decline in the snowfall to historically low level. It has set its objectives to cut down the carbon impact and also achieved some of its goals but at this point of time the state has left with no other alternative but to go on with fossil fuel to meet up the energy demands.
According to the study conducted by the Pacific Institute that is a think tank based in Oakland, California, $1.4 billion additional charge will be charged on the consumers as the state has to fulfill the energy needs using the gas-fired plants instead of hydropower.
“We’re not concerned about not having power. What we’re concerned about is the power is going to come from different sources not as benign as hydroelectricity.” said Robert Weisenmiller, Chairman of the California Energy Commission.
Drought emergencies has been launched in many areas, the entire west is facing the decline in the snowfall. Washington and Oregon will also face the same fate as the situation there is also not good.