Californians asked to save energy during solar eclipse in August

Bay City News
Sunday, July 30, 2017
A partial solar eclipse is seen through the fog in Vienna, Austria, on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak)
A partial solar eclipse is seen through the fog in Vienna, Austria, on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011.
kgo-AP Photo/Ronald Zak

SAN FRANCISCO -- A website was unveiled earlier this month by the San Francisco-based California Public Utilities Commission to call on California residents to reduce energy use during The Great Solar Eclipse.

At CalEclipse.org Californians can take a pledge to "Do Your Own Thing" to reduce electricity usage from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Aug. 21.

RELATED: NASA issues solar glasses warning ahead of August eclipse

The eclipse that day will affect solar resources in the Pacific Northwest that supply Californians with energy.

By reducing electricity consumption, power plants will burn less fossil fuel and fewer greenhouse gasses will be emitted in California when solar energy production dips during the eclipse.

VIDEO: Here's what a solar eclipse looks like from space

CalEclipse.org offers tips on how residents can reduce electricity usage during the eclipse and year-round.

VIDEO: Watch 2016 total solar eclipse reach totality in 1 minute

Click here for more stories and videos about solar eclipses!