Jason Meyer sets up solar power at his campsite at Canyon Moon Ranch for the upcoming music festival, Country Thunder 2025 on April 9, 2025, in Florence, Ariz. Festivalgoers arrive early to set up for the festival, which begins the following day.
Sacramento, California – California is making headlines again for its progress toward a zero-carbon future. According to new data from the California Energy Commission, the state has run on 100% clean electricity for at least part of the day on more than 90% of the days so far this year. In 2025, the grid has averaged seven hours a day of meeting total demand with clean energy — an unprecedented achievement in a state that, not long ago, depended heavily on natural gas and imported power.
In raw numbers, the state has been powered entirely by clean electricity for the equivalent of 51.9 full days — nearly a third of the year to date. That already surpasses 2024’s total and represents a 750% increase over 2022 levels. Governor Gavin Newsom and state energy leaders have touted the figures as a landmark in California’s transition away from fossil fuels.
“The fourth largest economy in the world is running on more clean energy than ever before,” Newsom said in a statement. “Trump and Republicans can try all they want to take us back to the days of dirty coal, but the future is cheap, abundant clean energy.”
Much of the progress stems from a rapid expansion in renewable resources and battery storage. Since Newsom took office, California has added more than 25,000 megawatts of new resources to the electric grid — roughly half of the state’s record peak demand. Battery storage alone has surged to over 15,000 megawatts, a nearly 2,000% increase.
This year, the state added approximately 7,000 megawatts of new clean energy nameplate capacity, marking the third year in a row of record-breaking growth. Officials say this growth is helping to stabilize the grid, improve reliability, and reduce reliance on fossil fuel “peaker” plants that kick in during times of high demand.
But even as California celebrates its momentum, the long-term picture remains less certain. While the numbers are encouraging, critics and energy analysts alike note that “100% clean energy” for a portion of the day is a different story than sustaining it around the clock. Peak solar and wind output during midday hours can mask the challenges of evening demand, when battery storage and non-renewable sources often have to fill the gap.
There’s also the question of scalability. Can the state maintain this pace of clean energy expansion year after year — especially in the face of permitting backlogs, supply chain issues, and growing concerns about affordability?
California’s leadership in the clean energy space is undeniable, and the gains of the past three years are remarkable by any standard. But whether the state can translate these milestone moments into lasting structural change remains the central question as the grid grows more complex — and the stakes grow ever higher.
