Canary Media: California’s plan to avoid blackouts relies on fossil fuels as last resort

With a proposed $6.7 billion in spending to help stabilize the grid in California, $5.2 billion of this funding is expected to go towards fossil fuel generators as an emergency backup to potentially avoid blackouts across the state. To possibly evade the use of fossil fuel-generated electricity, additional funds have been allotted to help reduce some of the strain on the grid. $295 million would be directed towards energy reduction programs that incentivize energy consumers.

“My take on it is that funds like this are being created to make up for utility programs that just aren’t enticing enough to get customers really engaged,” James McPhail, CEO of demand-response provider Enersponse, said of the new proposed funding. Companies like Enersponse are expanding their customer base beyond these utility programs, he said. But it can take years to qualify new customers to participate under the state’s existing rules, slowing the potential for growth, particularly for customers equipped with batteries, electric vehicles and other valuable sources of grid flexibility, he said. 

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