Record heat wave has California using more fossil fuels

Vehicles travel near high-power transmission towers in downtown Los Angeles. Facing a record heat wave, the California Independent System Operator, which oversees the state’s electrical grid, issued a Stage 3 alert, allowing it to draw on emergency power sources — including natural gas, even as Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration moves toward ending the use of oil and gas. (Damian Dovarganes / AP)

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A record heat wave has put California in a fossil fuel conundrum:

The state has had to rely more heavily on natural gas to produce electricity and avoid power outages even as Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration moves toward ending the use of oil and gas.