Plates at our planet s surface move because of the intense heat in the Earth s core that causes molten rock in the mantle layer to move. It moves in a pattern called a convection cell that forms when warm material rises, cools, and eventually sink down. As the cooled material sinks down, it is warmed and rises again.
PG&E on Wednesday did not offer a specific figure for how much the switch to renewable power would boost electricity rates in 2015. But in the past, the utility has said that rates will rise 1 percent to 2 percent each year as a result.
Many say they are paid too little for the surplus power they feed to the grid. PG&E says rates are actually set by regulators. An estimated 65,000 PG&E customers have solar panels on their rooftops. The power they produce offsets their electric bills. However, many are producing much more energy than they use and by law their credits are wiped out at the end of the year.