Sharing solar power in US West faces obstacles

NPR : California has become a national leader in the generation of green energy due to its numerous solar farms. Nevertheless, the state must continue to maintain its natural gas plants to ensure that all its residents have sufficient power on cloudy days. As a result, much of the solar electricity generated is going to waste because the farms must be shut down periodically to avoid overloading the grid with excess power. One proposed solution has been to share the excess power with neighboring states, but such a proposal has been met with opposition. Many of California’s neighbors, such as Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming, depend on coal for much of their electricity. Accepting solar-generated electricity from California could threaten one of their major industries. As for California, sharing solar power with its coal-dependent neighbors could affect its position as a leader in green energy. But economics may eventually prevail: According to a study by Pacificorp, which services several Western states, its customers could save $2 billion over 20 years by sharing California’s electricity.