Tuesday, 22 August 2017
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14 US states were covered in total darkness for about two minutes, causing temperatures to plummet and the stars to come out while the moon completely covered the sun. The eclipse also tested an electric grid that is becoming increasingly reliant on solar power. In California, where the sun was partially covered, about 3,400 megawatts of output quickly vanished after 9am Pacific time, the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) said.
As solar generation declined, the California grid manager tapped more supplies from natural gas-fired power plants and hydroelectric dams, executing plans CAISO h...