Thousands of renewable projects are waiting to connect to the grid, but there aren't enough transmission lines. Some tech companies have faster and cheaper solutions.
On Christmas Day, an act of sabotage cut off power for thousands of people near Tacoma, Wash. Federal agents have charged two men with conspiracy, saying they used the outage to rob a local business.
From Arizona to Washington state, forecasters warn of "possibly record breaking" heat with little relief overnight, lasting past Labor Day. California may need to ask residents to conserve power.
Power outages are increasingly common, putting everything from clean drinking water to medical equipment at risk. Some communities are installing solar power and large batteries to protect themselves.
Almost a month after Hurricane Maria made landfall, most of the island is still without electricity. Officials have estimated it could be months before power is restored.
On a sunny day, California gets up to 40 percent of its energy from solar power. Monday's total eclipse isn't just a scientific spectacle, it's a major concern for the state's power grid.