A report by several California agencies found that there could be rolling blackouts in that state this summer, stemming from a gas leak which spewed massive amounts of the stuff into the air over a four month period. California could call on other states in the region, including Arizona, to help support its energy demands.
According to an NPR report, more than a dozen power plants in the region rely on natural gas to generate electricity. The Aliso Canyon facility in Southern California provided much of it. But it has been partially shut down for now.
Brad Albert is with APS. He says Arizona has sold surplus power to California before and, "if California calls us this summer on one of those hot days they’re having in California, it’s a case where we’ll look at it and see if we’ve got surplus energy supplies over and above meeting the needs of our own retail customers and if that’s the case try to make those energy sales to California."
Before any gas can be injected into Aliso Canyon, all of the wells must pass a battery of safety tests.
