I was just perusing the California Energy Commission's website. Anyone know why

[XemaSab]

solar generation peaked in 2000 and has gone somewhat downhill since? :shrug:


1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989
Solar 2 11 33 64 188 315 471


1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
Solar 681 719 700 857 798 793 832 810 839 838


2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Solar 860 837 851 759 741 660 616 675


Solar thermal facilities are concentrated in the desert areas of the state in the Mojave area. Solar thermal power plants produced 0.22 percent of the state's total electricity production in 2007 (675 gigawatt-hours out of a total of 302,072 GWh).

http://energyalmanac.ca.gov/renewables/solar/index.html

[petronius]

1. It seems oddly written to me: production (including imports)

I'd guess it was a change in where we purchased power out-of-state in 2000 that caused the peak, rather than any change in development. :shrug:

[badtoworse]

2. You may be correct...

I seem to remember that in 2000, there was a lot of instability in California's energy markets due to abuses by Enron and other power marketers. I don't remember much in the way of details except California's ratepayers were screaming about it.

[joshcryer]

3. Apparently we had a big solar factory failure.

Can't remember the details, let me find the relevant discussion.

[joshcryer]

4. Here's the discussion:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=115x266390

[XemaSab]

5. Thanks

:)

[crikkett]

6. Can we thank Enron and our Schwarzzeneger?

However that's spelled.