Golden State Today

California has achieved a significant milestone in its journey towards clean energy by surpassing 10,000 megawatts (MW) of battery storage capacity. Governor Gavin Newsom highlighted the state's accomplishment, stating, "In just five years, California has increased its battery storage capacity more than tenfold. Our energy storage revolution is here, and it couldn’t come at a more pivotal moment as we move from a grid powered by dirty fossil fuels to one powered by clean energy. We’re in the midst of one of the biggest transformations of our time – and California is once again leading the way." This increase in battery capacity by 1,250% since the beginning of the Newsom Administration is a crucial step towards achieving California's goal of 100% clean electricity by 2045.

The additional battery storage plays a vital role in maintaining a clean and reliable power grid, allowing the state to store energy from renewable sources like solar for use when solar energy production decreases. Recently, battery storage discharge exceeded 6,000 MW, with batteries becoming the largest source of supply to power the grid at one point during the day. Governor Newsom emphasized the significance of this milestone, indicating how batteries will be essential for powering California's clean energy future. The Governor joined state officials at a battery storage and solar facility in Winters to commemorate this achievement during Earth Week.

California's commitment to clean energy is evident in its recent accomplishments on the power grid. Clean energy has exceeded grid demand for 40 out of the last 48 days, a significant increase compared to only seven days in the previous year. Solar energy has also reached new heights, powering 97.5% of electricity demand and setting a record of 17,170 MW from solar projects, enough to power millions of homes.

Governor Newsom has been proactive in streamlining clean energy infrastructure and investing billions of dollars to accelerate clean energy projects. The state is projected to require 52,000 MW of energy storage capacity by 2045 to meet its clean energy objectives. This progress marks a substantial step forward in California's clean energy leadership and commitment to a sustainable future.