Data Source: California Energy Commission; U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration.
Analysis by CEC Economics
Highlights
- In 2024, the percentage of total power mix (in-state generation plus imports) from renewable sources72 was 41.3%, a 4.4% increase from 2023, the highest percentage increase ever. Across the U.S., renewables made up 16.7% of energy generation, which had surpassed generation from coal (15.2%) for the first time. California maintains a significant lead in electricity generation from renewables, with an average yearly growth rate of 1.9% from 2008 to 2024, compared to the U.S. rate of 0.9%.
- In August 2024, the CPUC established a centralized procurement strategy of long lead-time resources, as established by Assembly Bill 1373. The Department of Water Resources agreed to procure up to 10.6 gigawatts of nameplate capacity from offshore wind (7.6 GW), geothermal (1 GW), and long-duration energy storage (2 GW).73
72 Renewable Portfolio Standard eligible sources include biomass, geothermal, solar, wind, and small hydroelectric facilities.
73 California Public Utilities Commissions. CPUC Advances Clean Energy with Centralized Procurement Strategy. Released Aug 26, 2024. Accessed Oct 28, 2024. Available at: https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/news-and-updates/all-news/cpuc-advances-clean-energy-with-centralized-procurement-strategy
Challenge
- Despite the impressive jump, California did not meet the interim Senate Bill 100 goal, which requires that 44% of electricity sold to retail end-users to be from RPS-eligible renewable sources.74 In 2023, the California Public Utilities Commission approved a new resource portfolio to meet a 30 million metric ton greenhouse gas reduction target. This portfolio will require the buildout of 86,000 megawatts of new resources by 2035, including 54,000 megawatts of new renewable resources over the same period.75 The proposed portfolio includes a substantial increase in renewable resources, batteries, long-duration storage, and demand response. The next interim goal is 50% by 2026.
74 See Senate Bill 100 bill text: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180SB100
75 California Public Utilities Commissions. CPUC Augments Historic Clean Energy Procurement Goals To Ensure Electric Reliability. Released Feb 23, 2023. Accessed Aug 28, 2023. Available at: https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/news-and-updates/all-news/cpuc-augments-historic-clean-energy-procurement-goals-to-ensure-electric-reliability-2023
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