Solar eclipses are not good news for solar power generators, so the association that represents the industry is urging consumers to save energy during Monday's astronomical event.

In a blog post, the Solar Energy Industries Association recommended California residents visit a website encouraging them to save energy during the eclipse rather than draw power from the electric grid. The eclipse is expected to cause a loss of 4,194 megawatts of California large-scale solar electricity, according to Caleclipse.org, a website set up by California energy regulators.

SEIA believes the temporary power loss would be a good time for consumers to make changes that would lower their energy consumption in the long run, such as switching to low-energy light bulbs.

California has plenty of gas-fired power plants to make up for the energy shortfall, "but instead of firing up gas plants during the eclipse, wouldn't it make more sense to galvanize Californian's support for clean energy to reduce energy?" SEIA said. http://bit.ly/2xkJXlz

SEIA was not the only energy-related association to take notice of the eclipse. On its own blog, the Nuclear Energy Institute said the event would lead to a loss of 9,000 megawatts in power nationwide—or roughly the equivalent of about 15 "good-sized" power plants. Luckily, power generators have spent months preparing for the power drain, according to the association.

"Nuclear plants continue to provide the backbone of the system, and generators running on natural gas were called on to power up quickly, and as the sun reappeared, power down even faster," NEI said. http://bit.ly/2xl55bq

The eclipse also is expected to affect travel as potentially millions of people hit the roads to witness the eclipse. The American Trucking Associations issued a list of recommendations for travelers, including turning on their headlights and watching out for pedestrians and other eclipse gazers. http://bit.ly/2vRO76m

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