Our own Dr. Jim Williams was recently interviewed by the San Francisco Chronicle, for his views on the recent power crisis situation faced by Californians. Sustained high temperatures and near capacity system loads on the grid posed the threat of statewide blackouts, leading to officials urging citizens to curtail electricity usage from the late afternoon until evening time amid unexpected power plant failures.
The article covers the technical, societal, and environmental reasons behind such an event, the steps taken by the state to counter them, and the policy oversight needed to mitigate against future risks. President and CEO of the California Independent System Operator (CAISO), Elliot Mainzer, and Alexandra “Sascha” von Meier, an energy expert and UC Berkeley professor are also quoted in the article.
Head on over to the SF Chronicle for an informative read!