The California Independent System Operator, CaISO (see: http://www.caiso.com/outlook/SystemStatus.html) just declared a Stage 1 Emergency power alert. It seems that the West is hot and once again the wind turbines aren’t helping much (as they often do on hot, calm days). 
This caused ABC News to drop by my Sacramento office today to interview me on the emergency scarcity of power.
Electrical demand is growing in neighboring Western states, due largely to their more favorable tax and regulatory environments that invite business and industry growth. This means that we cannot rely as much on imported power as we used to. 
California is buying emergency power right now for $399 per megawatt, or $0.39 per kilowatt hour. This rate is right up there during the 2001 electrical crisis rates. Look at your electric bill and you’ll see that $0.39 is more than you pay on your monthly invoice.
Conclusion: we need more safe, clean, reliable and affordable nuclear power in California and we need it as soon as possible.
All the best,
Chuck DeVore
State Assemblyman, 70th District
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