Governor Gavin Newsom announced a milestone in California’s clean energy infrastructure on October 13, 2026, following a period of high electricity demand. The state’s power grid managed its highest usage in four years on September 9, reaching 50,335 megawatts without triggering emergency conservation measures. This peak was driven by extreme heat and heavy air conditioning use, falling just 3% short of the all-time record of 52,061 megawatts set during a heatwave in September 2022.
What it means
The grid’s performance coincides with substantial capacity additions since Newsom took office in 2019. California has integrated more than 39,000 megawatts of utility-scale clean energy into the system. Battery storage capabilities have expanded dramatically, growing from fewer than 700 megawatts to over 23,000 megawatts, a 3,100% increase. These resources helped clean energy meet 100% of the state’s electricity needs for at least part of the day on 279 occasions last year. By the end of 2024, clean sources accounted for 67% of retail electricity sales in the state.
Policy actions have supported this expansion. Newsom established the Strategic Reliability Reserve in 2022 to bolster energy supplies during climate emergencies. Additionally, the California Independent System Operator, the Public Utilities Commission, and the Energy Commission signed a memorandum of understanding in December 2022 to align resource and transmission planning. The state’s clean energy sector employs 552,300 workers, according to a 2025 report by E2, adding nearly 7,300 jobs in 2024 alone. Global investment trends also favor the sector, with roughly two dollars flowing into clean-energy technology for every dollar invested in fossil fuels.
Key facts
- 50,335 megawatts: Peak electricity use on September 9, 2026
- 52,061 megawatts: All-time peak demand record (September 2022)
- 39,000+ megawatts: Utility-scale clean energy added since 2019
- 23,000+ megawatts: Battery storage capacity added since 2019
- 67%: Share of retail electricity sales from clean sources (end of 2024)
- 552,300: Total clean energy jobs in California (E2 2025 report)
- 279 days: Instances last year clean energy met 100% of demand for part of the day
- Strategic Reliability Reserve: Emergency energy reserve created in 2022
Source: Office of the Governor of California news release