MUMBAI ¨C A windy monsoon in Karnataka, India¡¯s leading state for clean energy production, last year eased pressure on the local government¡¯s three thermal coal-power plants, as humming wind turbines met power demand amid pleasant temperatures.
But to tackle this year¡¯s hot, energy-guzzling summer, with city-dwellers ramping up their use of air-conditioners and farmers their water pumps to combat heat waves and above-normal temperatures, the coal-fed plants are now running full throttle.
The south Indian state¡¯s maximum day-time temperature has been hovering three to four degrees Celsius above the 36 C to 40 C that is usual at this time of year, weather officials said.
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