California has seen unprecedented increases in its clean energy capacity over the last three years, with the total additions of renewable energy and storage systems approximating the state’s average daily electricity use of about 25,000 megawatts. This data comes from recent reports released by Governor Gavin Newsom’s office and the California Public Utilities Commission, as highlighted by Technology News.
The state anticipates this upward trend will persist, although challenges loom with the current administration’s efforts to hinder the construction of new green energy facilities across the country.
“We’ve never added so much capacity to our grid in such a short amount of time.”
Newsom remarked in a statement to Technology News: “We’ve never added so much capacity to our grid in such a short amount of time, transforming our power grid to be cleaner and more reliable and resilient than ever before.” However, his office refrained from discussing provisions within President Trump’s proposed “big, beautiful bill” that might hinder renewable energy advancements if enacted without amendments.
Last year, California increased its renewable electricity and storage capacity by nearly 7,000 megawatts, surpassing the earlier records of 5,542 megawatts in 2023 and 4,082 megawatts in 2022.
Looking forward, approximately 20,000 megawatts from green energy projects are under contract and slated for completion by 2030. Projections extend even further, with estimates suggesting an addition of 75,000 megawatts of new capacity by 2040.
Renewable energy has emerged as a more cost-effective method of generating electricity compared to fossil fuels. Currently, California generates over 50 percent of its electricity from renewable sources, which is significantly higher than the national average of approximately 20 percent.
Nevertheless, California’s oil production and refining sector remains substantial, and there are other states, like South Dakota, that maintain even greener power grids, generating over three-quarters of their electricity from renewable resources, primarily due to their vast wind resources. The accompanying graph illustrates that a significant portion of California’s expanding clean energy capacity originates from solar and battery sources.
In a notable shift, wind and solar energy outpaced coal production in the United States last year, largely fueled by decreasing costs and initiatives aimed at combating climate change through the adoption of renewable energy.
The Inflation Reduction Act, enacted in 2022, represented the largest climate and clean energy investment in U.S. history, featuring around $369 billion in incentives for climate initiatives. The Trump administration currently seeks to reverse critical funding associated with this legislation. This includes attempts to eliminate federal funding, while the administration’s unpredictable tariff policy is also increasing costs for renewable energy endeavors. Since January, over $14 billion in investments in clean energy and vehicle manufacturing have been either postponed or scrapped, according to a recent report.
Further complicating the landscape, House Republicans passed amendments to the spending bill in May that aim to reduce tax credits for renewable energy projects established during the Biden administration. The Senate is currently debating the bill, with hopes of a pre-July 4th passage. Given that many Republican districts could benefit significantly from these tax incentives, energy-related provisions have become a contentious issue within broader discussions surrounding proposed cuts to Medicaid and other critical areas.
Texas, recognized as the fastest-growing solar market in the nation, faces a potential loss of 34,100 jobs in that sector by 2030 if the House bill is enacted. California could face even steeper job losses, with estimates suggesting a reduction of 35,700 positions, as reported in an analysis released recently by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).
