California is facing drought for the fourth year. The state is not only witnessing less snowfall in, but also facing shortage of rain. Owing to which, the state's supply of hydroelectricity energy has started to get hampered.

Experts unveiled that in this winter, California witnessed just 12% of its average snowfall. Robert Weisenmiller, chairman of the California Energy Commission said that they are not concerned of not having the power.

The energy will come from differnet sources, which will be as benign for the environment as hydroelectricity. In 2002, California set the goal to reduce its carbon footprints. The state witnessed continued droughts, but then also they were able to meet the goals.

However, a change came as the dams are now prioritizing water for farms and cities, which has led the administration to use fossil fuels to fill in the energy gap. A study carried out by nonprofit Pacific Institute in Oakland, Calif., unveiled that reliance on fossil fuel has increased making an 8% rise in the state's carbon dioxide emissions.

Report's author Peter Gleick, president of Pacific Institute, was of the view, "In an average year, hydropower provides 18 percent of the electricity needed for agriculture, industry, and our homes. Comparatively, in this three-year drought period, hydropower comprised less than 12 percent of total California electricity generation".

The drought is also affecting the state's northern neighbors that rely heavily on hydroelectricity than California does. To cite few examples, around 60% of Washington's power and 45% of Oregon's come from hydroelectricity.

In these states snowpack has reached record lows. Therefore, the governors of both states have declared drought emergencies in sections of their states. The study has highlighted the need to find out alternatives to natural gas during drought years.