In May, The Wall Street Journal reported that energy grid operators across the US were bracing for rolling blackouts heading into the summer.

"I am concerned about it," MISO CEO John Bear told the newspaper, noting that green energy sources were struggling to produce enough supply to meet rising demand. "As we move forward, we need to know that when you put a solar panel or a wind turbine up, it's not the same as a thermal resource."

Nearly two months later, it's clear that grid operators were not crying wolf.

On Friday, the Associated Press reported that California—a state desperately trying to "quit" fossil fuels—is seeking to tap fossil fuel to avoid blackouts.

"A sweeping energy proposal Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Thursday puts the state in the business of buying power to ensure there's enough to go around during heat waves that strain the grid. But some critics say the method of getting there is at odds with the state's broader climate goals, because it paves the way for the state to tap aging gas-fired power plants and add backup generators fueled by diesel."

Unlike most states, California gets most of its electricity—nearly 60 percent—from renewable sources. But the AP notes the state lacks the storage capacity to dispatch sufficient energy when intermittent energy sources are not producing, something Newsom's proposal seeks to address.

The governor's proposal would help "keep the lights on in California," The Los Angeles Times notes, "making it easier for solar and wind farm developers to sidestep local government opposition, and limiting environmental reviews for all kinds of energy projects."