California has reached a significant milestone in its transition to clean energy, with Governor Gavin Newsom announcing that the state has added 30,800 megawatts of new clean energy and storage capacity since 2019. This amount is enough to supply about half of California’s peak electricity demand.
The announcement comes as the California Energy Commission (CEC) approved $136 million in additional investments for clean energy and climate technology. These efforts are part of ongoing initiatives under the Newsom administration to accelerate the state’s move away from fossil fuels.
Coal is nearly eliminated from California’s power supply. In 2024, coal contributed just 2.2% of total electricity generation, mainly from the Intermountain Power Plant in Utah, which is set to stop burning coal this year. When this plant goes offline, coal’s share in California’s power mix will drop below 0.2%, making California one of the least coal-dependent states in the country.
“While Trump bets on the past, California is building the future,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. “Regressive energy policy may play well on Fox News, but it’s plain bad economics. Today it costs more to run a dirty fossil fuel power plant than to build a brand-new clean energy facility. The markets know where the future is headed — and so do we. Clean, green, reliable power — that’s California’s bet, and we’re already winning it.”
The state reports that new solar and battery storage projects are coming online rapidly as utilities and developers take advantage of lower costs associated with renewables. According to recent analysis by Lazard, solar and wind projects are now consistently cheaper than running modern gas plants.
Solar photovoltaic installations dominated global capacity additions in 2024, accounting for about 72% worldwide and two-thirds of all new electric capacity added in the United States.
Data from CEC and the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) show that about 9% of new capacity comes from projects outside California delivering power into the state.
“This milestone is proof that California’s clean energy transformation can’t be slowed or derailed,” said CEC Chair David Hochschild. “Clean power is the backbone of our economy and the heartbeat of a reliable, resilient grid. We are the model for the world to follow.”
California has another 21,000 megawatts of clean energy resources contracted or under development through 2029 as directed by procurement orders from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).
“California is not just planning for a clean energy future; we’re building it right now,” said CPUC President Alice Reynolds. “The bold actions the state has taken prove that reliability and sustainability can go hand in hand. We’re setting a global standard for what a modern, electrified economy looks like.”
At its recent meeting, CEC approved $136 million for various initiatives:
– Nearly $19 million will support thousands of new or upgraded electric vehicle chargers statewide.
– Over $117 million will expand battery storage systems and next-generation technologies.
– Specific projects include a large battery system in Riverside County ($25 million), direct air capture pilot in Stockton ($4 million), software development for virtual power plants at college campuses ($3.1 million), research into cost-reducing technologies ($35 million), and port upgrades for offshore wind ($42 million).
Additional investments include infrastructure spending authorized by CPUC—up to $2.8 billion between 2025–2026—to connect new customers such as housing developments and EV charging stations more quickly to the grid.
In transmission planning adopted by CPUC for 2025, over 60 gigawatts of new generation and storage resources are expected online by 2035 at minimal cost to ratepayers while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by over 45 percent.
Since 2000, greenhouse gas emissions have fallen by about one-fifth even as California’s GDP grew significantly during this period—making it one of few places where economic growth coincided with emission reductions.
Battery storage has increased dramatically since Governor Newsom took office—now exceeding 15,000 megawatts—and more than 30 gigawatts have been added overall since then.
The CEC remains responsible for advancing state energy policy through innovation investment and preparation for emergencies as part of its core mission.
