Climate Changed
California's Climate Fight May Send Its Power Demand Soaring 90%
Increasing use of electric vehicles and appliances would add load to strained grid
Power lines in San Bernardino County, California.
Photographer: Bing Guan/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
California’s demand for electricity could nearly double by 2045 as the state phases out gasoline-guzzling automobiles and weans buildings off natural gas.
Load on the state’s grid could rise 60% to 90% as a flood of electric vehicles hits roads and people swap out gas-burning stoves and hot water heaters for electric ones, according to a study prepared for California regulators by the consulting firm Energy and Environmental Economics Inc.