As the drought in California continues to strain the state’s hydropower resources, natural gas and renewables are locked in competition to determine which will capture the lion’s share of the lost hydropower capacity. As the drought has worn on hydropower generation has decreased and gas-fired generation has risen in an inverse relationship, the US Energy Information Administration said Monday. “On average, hydropower accounted for 20% of California’s in-state generation during the first six months of each year from 2004 to 2013. During the first half of 2014, however, hydropower accounted for only 10% of California’s total generation,” the EIA said in a Today in Energy report. The agency added that “monthly hydropower generation in 2014 has fallen well below the 10-year range for each individual month.” When monthly hydropower generation dips under 10-year average levels, monthly natural gas generation often rises above its 10-year […]