As she stood, the lights dimmed and charts were displayed on the large-screen monitor. “Until today,” she began, “the electric generating capacity in the state of California has been on the order of fifty million kilowatts, with annual production of some one hundred eight billion kilowatt hours of electricity. Nearly seventy percent of the electricity in the state is generated in thermoelectric plants that depend on petroleum and natural gas resources.”

Looking around the room, the secretary continued, “As you know, there are currently four nuclear power facilities in the state. Half of the state’s electricity is produced by hydroelectric installations, including the Colorado River, Owens Valley, and San Francisco aqueducts. In terms of total output, Mr. Secretary, the state of California has been the most productive of the fifty states for the past twenty-five years in both general economy and energy matters.

“Of this nation’s total capacity,” the secretary continued, “which is in excess of three trillion kilowatt hours of electricity, the states of California, Oregon, and Washington together account for more than one-third of our total production. Sixty percent of the energy being produced in this country is derived from coal. However, petroleum, natural gas, nuclear power, and hydroelectricity are also vital to current production levels. Even with an acceleration in the amounts of oil and gas we can bring in from international suppliers, the loss of the production capacities and particularly storage facilities in California will, quite frankly, cripple energy production capabilities in this country for the foreseeable future.”

Secretary Augustus shook his head with visible concern as he listened to the energy secretary’s report. “Secretary McGovern,” he asked, “what are we doing to limit the breakdown of systems in the states adjoining California?”

“Mr. Secretary,” she said, “as you know, we maintain a western power grid to provide systems within the region with the energy resources they need to cope with emergencies. However, I have ordered disconnects between all systems and California to block sudden surges of power that could knock out our other systems in that grid. What we don’t know is whether there has been time enough to get the job done.

“In addition,” she continued, “I have ordered all valves shut off in pipelines between California and other states. No one knows for sure if the valves will hold under extreme pressure. Neither do we want a flood of seawater heading into refineries up the lines, and we certainly don’t want fires and explosions from natural gas!”

The secretary of the interior broke in. “Please, what are the nuclear risks at this time?”

Secretary McGovern opened a thick briefing book lying in front of her. “Our principal concern must be the reactor units in southern and central California, Mr. Secretary. Diablo Canyon Number One is operated by Pacific Gas and Electric Company, twelve miles west-southwest of San Luis Obispo. It went on-stream about fifteen years ago and produces thirty-three hundred megawatts of power, on average.”