But there's a new kind of drought in California, calling for a new method of conservation. Campus Energy Manager Bob Dunn flanks the Cogeneration Plant's control panel, which controls the distribution of electricity campuswide. Francine Tyler A drought of electricity has hit the western states, and it's expected to last through 2001, said Bob Dunn, campus energy manager at Physical Plant. The power plants just can't make enough energy to meet demand.
Several factors contribute to the energy shortage.
The state's strong economic growth and the deregulation of the power industry both play a role. In addition, few power plants have been built in the past decade. Many are now planned, but the lengthy approval and construction process means that most will not be operating before 2002. The shortage of capacity is felt most often during the summer months, when people turn on air conditioners to ward off the heat. Several heat waves this summer have pushed demand for power to emergency levels.