California Grid -- Plan B -- August 20, 2021

From SeekingAlpha:

• California, the most aggressive state in attempting to wean its power grid from fossil fuels, will seek to add several natural gas-fired plants in an effort to keep the lights on this summer, according to a Bloomberg report.
• The California Department of Water Resources says it is in the process of procuring five temporary gas-fueled generators that have individual capacities of 30 MW, which will be installed at existing power plants and operating by the middle of September.
• Earlier this year, California regulators decided not to order utilities to add new gas-fired generation after receiving criticism from environmental groups.
• Potentially relevant tickers include PCG, EIX, SRE
• Meanwhile, a California Public Utilities Commission administrative law judge issued a ruling this week recommending the state adopt a preferred electricity resource portfolio that would limit the sector's annual greenhouse gas emissions to 38M metric tons by 2030.
• Earlier this year, the CPUC voted to approve a 46M mt GHG emissions target for the electric sector for 2030.
• The CPUC recently said California faces potential energy shortfalls of up to 3,500 MW in the coming weeks and as much as 5,000 MW next summer.

Whatever happened to Elon Musk's super-duper-giga batteries that could all that extra wind / solar energy when it was not needed? 

Let's see:

• the CPUC estimates energy shortfalls of up to 3,500 MW in the coming weeks and as much as 5,000 WM next summer;
• 5 x 30 = 150 MW
• 150 / 3500 = 4%
  
• that's a start
• but think about that: buying five temporary gas-fueled generators that would add 150 MW capacity is a headline story, and it only represents 4% of the estimated shortfall. Maybe my math is wrong. 

EV penetration: 1%? 2%? 5%?  

What am I missing? Oh, that's right. EVs charge at night. 

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That Big Park, North Los Angeles, Years Ago