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California: learning to live with drought

The western region of the United States has been experiencing an abnormally hot spring and early summer.

The Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, has warned of β€œextreme heat peril” and has called on the public to reduce their electricity use as much as possible.

The ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ’s Fergus Nicoll has been talking to Jeanine Jones of California’s Department of Water Resources about the worryingly low levels of water in the state’s reservoirs.

Elliot Mainzer, CEO of California’s Independent System Operator, which manages the electricity grid for 80% of the state, looks forward to new forms of energy that will take the burden off the hydro-power sector.

And Christine Gemperle talks about life on her almond farm, where β€œstrategic deficit irrigation” is the new normal – and a dry year can force you to decide which trees live and which trees die.

Release date:

Duration:

14 minutes