The Alamitos Energy Center natural gas fired power station from Seal Beach, California, U.S.
Photographer: Bing Guan/BloombergCalifornia’s Surging Energy Bills Are Its Own Fault
A jump in demand for natural gas, supply constraints and aging infrastructure have left the region vulnerable to price spikes
A cold, rainy winter in California has exposed the challenges that can arise when a poster child for the clean energy transition isn’t fully ready to make the leap from fossil fuels.
California residents who rely on natural gas have complained of monthly energy bills approaching $800, Governor Gavin Newsom has called for an investigation into prices, and manufacturers of everything from steel to cement have said the only way to cut costs would be to move to another state.