California Officials Seek Gas Power Plant Extensions For Grid Reliability

California energy and other officials are recommending that the state’s deadlines to phase out once-through-cooling (OTC) systems in power plants again be extended to allow several coastal natural gas-fired plants to continue operating through 2026 -- a move aimed at ensuring grid reliability but sure to infuriate local officials and environmentalists. “In response to projected shortfalls, the Strategic Reserve acknowledges that existing generation assets will be required to maintain reliability during extreme events as California transitions to a clean energy...