California on track to meet zero-carbon electricity goals

Bloomberg ($):

California Governor Gavin Newsom said the state is on track to meet its ambitious clean energy targets — already producing more than half of the state’s electricity from zero-carbon sources. 

Speaking outside the headquarters of a startup making electric generators in Contra Costa County, east of San Francisco on Thursday, Newsom said 59% of the state’s retail electricity sales came from clean sources, which include nuclear and hydroelectric power. 

“We are mindful that we’re going to live in a fossil free future,” Newsom said. “No state is doing more to support that transition.”

Newsom released a new road map on how the state plans to decarbonize its power supply as it transitions to renewable energy and phases out the use of planet-warming fossil fuels.

Since 2020, California has added 9,000 megawatts of new clean energy sources, according to officials. One megawatt is enough to power 750 California homes.

Currently, 37.2% of the state’s electricity comes from renewables such as solar and wind, an increase of about 2% from 2020, according to the California Energy Commission. By 2030, California is required to produce at least 60% of its electricity from renewables, until meeting 100% clean energy by 2045. The state needs to build 148,000 megawatts to support a carbon-free grid by 2045 — a 400% increase from today, according to the plan.

[Nadia Lopez]

More: California Can Hit Its Clean Power Goals, Governor Newsom Says