California Overcomes an Electricity Crisis

Since an electricity crisis began in California in May of 2000, it has been widely misdiagnosed. The nation’s most energy efficient state has been accused of profligacy; its powerplant siting system has been characterized as obstructionist; and the failure of blackouts to materialize during the summer of 2001 has been credited to good weather, a sinking economy and punitive price increases. None of this is true.