The biggest transformation in a century': how California remade itself as a clean energy powerhouse

"During the five days he spent in Brazil, Newsom described Donald Trump as an invasive species and condemned his rollback of policies aimed at reducing emissions and expanding renewable energy. Newsom, long considered a presidential hopeful, argued that, as the US retreated, California would step up in its place as a stable, reliable climate leader and partner. Among the talking points he used to demonstrate California's leadership was its progress on renewable energy and the battery capacity needed to store that power."

"We're running the fourth-largest economy in the world [on] 67%, two thirds, clean energy on nine out of 10 days in 2025, Newsom said. Outside of China, there's only one other jurisdiction in the world California that has as much battery storage implemented. The Golden state has transformed how it powers its main electrical grid in recent years, setting ambitious targets to create an emission-free grid by 2045"

"Since 2019, the state has added 30,800 megawatts of clean energy and battery storage. And while natural gas still remains the top energy source in the state, that's on the decline: California saw its largest-ever year-to-year drop in natural gas production this year. Meanwhile, solar and batteries, which allow energy to be stored for later use, providing an alternative to gas, are stepping up to replace it, said Mark Jacobson, a Stanford professor and renewable energy expert: This is a remarkable shift."

California governor Gavin Newsom attended COP30 in Brazil and condemned federal rollbacks of emissions and renewable energy policies. He presented California as a stable, reliable climate leader as national climate initiatives retreat. California reports running its fourth-largest economy on 67% clean energy two-thirds of the time on nine out of 10 days in 2025 and claims near-global parity with China in battery storage implementation. The state aims for an emission-free grid by 2045, added 30,800 megawatts of clean energy and storage since 2019, and recorded its largest year-to-year drop in natural gas production as solar and batteries scale up to replace gas.

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