In California, Looking Beyond Wind
May 26, 2021
To help the United States in its drive toward carbon-free electricity, the Biden administration plans to open the West Coast to offshore wind turbines. The first two proposed sites, off California, could produce enough electricity to power 1.6 million homes. But in Issues, a dozen researchers who analyzed California’s energy needs argue that it must look beyond wind and other sources, such as solar, whose inescapable variability creates reliability problems. Lead author Jane C. S. Long and colleagues maintain that the state will need “clean firm power” that can deliver carbon-free electricity whenever needed and for as long as needed.