California is looking at a massive decline in the hydro-power as the drought is not going to end soon. The state enters fourth consecutive year of drought that, most experts say, is a result of the much-talked climate change. After the water level dropped now it has become difficult for the state to manage fulfill water needs for agriculture and public use hence issues of hydropower sector will be a lot more difficult for the state to manage.

California's energy chief surveyed the Sierra Nevada region and noticed a decline in snowpack to historically low levels. The adverse effects of below average snowfall would be felt by the entire West region. The region has received around 12 percent of the average snowpack and that it would have a major impact on the dams and the rivers.

In order to meet the energy demands, the state will have to turn towards fossil-fuels in order to generate electricity as the share of hydropower will decline. It has already set goals to cut down carbon footprint and so far it has meet up its objectives. Well, this year the snowpack has touched historically low levels and hence the state will have no option rather than depend on fossil fuels in order to fulfill its needs of power and energy.

Robert Weisenmiller, Chairman of the California Energy Commission, said, "We're not concerned about not having power. What we're concerned about is the power is going to come from different sources not as benign as hydroelectricity."

Pacific Institute that is a think tank based in Oakland, California has conducted a study indicating $ 1.4 billion additional charge on consumers because the state has to fulfill its demands for power using natural gas-fired plants instead of hydroelectricity.

The situation in Washington and Oregon is not good as well. Drought emergencies have been launched in many regions as the snowpack is at record lows.

 

 
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