As California tries to build its way out of its energy crisis, it is raising its dependence on natural gas, a fuel source that is increasingly expensive and scarce.
That reliance could keep costs of wholesale power high for the state and its utilities even when California eventually generates enough electricity to keep the lights on.
The state hopes to have at least 13 new power plants generating an additional 8,900 megawatts by 2004. California then will rely on natural gas to generate 60 percent of its electricity, up from 52 percent today, according to the Rand Corp.
All the plants now in the works will be fired by natural gas, which has been the cheapest and cleanest way to produce power. On Monday, Gov. Gray Davis and other officials broke ground on the latest, a 500-megawatt plant west of Bakersfield to be online by the middle of next year.
Putting the state's energy future almost entirely in the hands of natural gas suppliers has some analysts concerned.
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