Nikolewski, R. (2016, August 21). California’s coal collapse. Retrieved March 09, 2017, from http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-california-coal-collapse-2016may05- story.html
California’s coal consumption has recently gone from small to nearly microscopic. In 2007, only 1% of megawatt hours were attributed to coal in California. In 2015, California has decreased this to 0.2%. According to the EIA, California has also seen a 96% decrease in general coal consumption, by far the steepest decline of any other state. Utilities are switching from coal-fired to natural gas-fired power plants because of low natural gas prices and government regulation to make air cleaner and hasten the emergence of renewable energy.
This relates to environmental science in that it is concerned with energy, in this case coal and why its popularity in California has severely declined. I am happy to see the progress of my home state in distancing itself from the dirtiest energy source, especially so dramatically and quickly. A 96% decrease in consumption is remarkable, as is going from 1% to 0.2% of megawatt hours being attributed to coal in such little time. It would be even better if natural gas was not the reason for switching, but at least this is a step in the right direction and will hopefully then transition to a fully renewable source of energy.
I couldn’t agree with your sentiments more. So nice to be farther away from coal than ever before, but your point about it just being out competed economically by natural gas is well taken. But as you say, it’s a step in the right direction. Of course, burning coal is ultimately a global issue. A place that has more coal and no natural gas isn’t going to be so quick to change. I imagine that although there are some env. pluses with switching away from coal, ultimately the reason it has happened in CA is economic- do you agree with that? If so, it goes back to Ross Koningstein’s talk about finding the “disruptor”. Hope you found following your topic interesting this year Julien.
I think that it is a mix of political and economic. California is at this point and for the most of history been a blue state, focused on progressive thought and actions. Of course there are underlying reasons for this in the first place, those being economic ones, thus making this just as economic as it is political.