In the past 38 days, for a total of 30 days, California’s energy demand has been entirely supplied by renewable energy sources, with durations ranging from 15 minutes to 6 hours. This marks the first time that California’s wind, solar, and hydroelectric power sources have demonstrated such stable performance over consecutive weeks.
Energy experts predict that by 2035, California could achieve 100% reliance on renewable energy sources. However, the related policies being promoted by California have also sparked ongoing controversy.
According to an online report by Newsweek, Stanford University professor Mark Z. Jacobson released data on renewable energy usage on the X platform, announcing that during the past 38 days, the supply exceeded California’s demand for 30 days. This energy expert believes that with technological advancements, this achievement will “continue to grow annually.”
Data from April 12 showed that on that day, electricity supply from solar, wind, geothermal, and hydro power sources not only exceeded demand for six hours but also accounted for two-thirds of the total daily electricity supply. Furthermore, based on data from the previous week, over 80% of renewable energy electricity came from solar power.
Ian Magruder from the nonprofit organization Rewiring America responded to Jacobson’s post by stating, “This has never happened in history. Yes, California briefly reached this milestone on several sunny days since 2022, but never achieved such a stable power supply over consecutive weeks.”
Magruder mentioned that California possesses the world’s newest grid-connected battery storage facilities, which came online in January of this year. These facilities can store excess renewable energy for use during nighttime periods when solar power is unavailable.
According to the latest data released by the California Energy Commission (CEC) last year, over 37% of California’s electricity in 2021 came from a mix of renewable sources, representing a 2.7% increase from the previous year. However, Jacobson predicts that California will achieve 100% reliance on wind, hydro, and solar power by 2035.
The official target set by California is to have the entire state’s electricity supply come from carbon-free sources by 2045. The state government has mandated that new homes must be equipped with solar panels, and plans are in place for all new vehicles sold in California to meet zero-emission standards by 2035. Critics of these policies argue that the outcomes of California’s push for these measures are not satisfactory.
In a recent documentary series called “Juice: Power, Politics, and the Grid,” produced by Stossel TV, award-winning journalist and bestselling author John Stossel discussed some issues related to renewable energy.
Stossel pointed out that California’s electricity prices have increased three times faster than in other states. Residents in Washington and Oregon pay around 11 and 13 cents per kilowatt-hour, respectively, while in California, the cost is approaching 30 cents.
He argued that the mandatory installation of solar panels on new homes is one of the main reasons for California becoming the most expensive housing market in the United States, with an average price of nearly $800,000. Wealthier households can benefit from government subsidies for solar power systems, while less affluent individuals often end up renting. This means that taxpayers end up subsidizing the wealthy.
Stossel also highlighted issues with maintenance costs for wind turbines, which require shutdowns for repairs after only 10 years of operation, at nearly the same cost as a new generator. He stated that for companies claiming to be “green,” the investment remains lucrative due to government subsidies.
Edward Ring, co-founder and senior researcher at the California Policy Center, told Fox News Digital in February last year that if California leaders continue to push for a transition to renewable energy sources, the government will need to rapidly construct large-scale wind and solar power systems. Even if this goal can be achieved without power outages, the financial burden on consumers will become very heavy.
This policy expert also expressed concern that in the coming years, California’s grid may face risks of blackouts and malfunctions.
Can solar power significantly reduce climate change? Is wind energy truly environmentally friendly? Ecologist Merlin Tuttle pointed out, “Just to manufacture a wind turbine, we need to mine 900 tons of steel, 2,500 tons of concrete, and 45 tons of non-renewable plastic. We then have to transport these materials, burn fuel, and distribute them worldwide. None of the materials that make up a wind turbine is renewable.”