A Third of California’s Solar Power Can Vanish Because of Smoke

The wildfire smoke that’s often seen blanketing California skies is more than just a problem for breathing — it can also drastically slash electricity generated by solar panels in a state that’s been struggling to meet all its power needs.

A new study from the National Center for Atmospheric Research shows that smoke can cut solar power production by nearly a third.

Scientists examined a period in September 2020, when smoke from some of the largest fires in California history shrouded much of the state in a sickly orange haze. Using data from the state’s power grid operator, they studied the output from the area’s vast ...