California’s Shift to Renewables: Successes and Challenges

This year, California operated on 100 percent renewable energy for 100 days, marking a record for the state that included no blackouts or emergency power reductions, reports Alejandro Lazo for CalMatters. “That progress is largely due to the substantial public and private investments in renewable energy — particularly batteries storing solar power to use when the sun isn’t shining, according to energy experts.”

But more challenges lie ahead for the Golden State: a state law calls for 100 percent renewable energy by 2045, but natural gas remains the state’s biggest single source of energy. Meanwhile, unpredictable weather events can strain the grid and damage power infrastructure, and the growth of energy-guzzling data centers is drawing more of the state’s power supply.

The state has been able to avoid blackouts in part due to efforts to increase battery capacity. California has over 10,000 megawatts of battery capacity — the largest supply outside of China. According to Elliot Mainzer, chief executive of the California Independent System Operator, batteries “were a major difference-maker” in last month’s heat wave, which threatened to overload the grid.