Implications and Policy Options of California's Reliance on Natural Gas

摘要

California's current energy plans call for increased reliance on natural gas to meet its growing electricity demand. The California energy crisis of 2000 and 2001 has spurred strong growth in new electric generating capacity most of it fired by natural gas. As a result, consumption of natural gas for electricity generation could double between 2000 and 2010. The increased demand for natural gas will place a burden on an already constrained pipeline system that serves California and other western states. This report describes likely problems and potential options for addressing and preventing problems in natural gas management in California due to this trend. While the analysis takes a California-centric view, California's dominance as an energy consumer in the West highlights the regional scope of the problem.