RELEASE: California experiences its 100th day of renewable energy sources meeting 100% of electricity demand

SACRAMENTO — Sunday marked the 100th day of a 144-day stretch that California supplied 100% of its electricity demand with renewable energy for periods ranging from 5 minutes to more than 10 hours. Mark Jacobson, Professor and Director of Stanford’s Atmosphere/Energy program, has tracked this notable milestone that started in March and met the 100 days milestone for the first time in July.

“California’s remarkable renewable energy progress shows the world that we can tap into abundant clean energy sources such as the sun and the wind to sustainably power our lives, said Steven King, Environment California’s clean energy advocate. “Days, where we reach 100% renewable energy, are becoming strikingly common, and this latest milestone provides hope that one day we can meet 100% of our energy needs from renewable sources every day of the year”.

California has long been a leader in deploying renewable energy technologies such as solar panels and wind turbines, paving the way to achieve 100% clean energy. In 2018, California passed SB 100, which set the state on a path to generate 100% of its electricity from clean and zero-carbon resources by 2045. This spring and summer, historic output from renewable sources such as solar, wind, water, and batteries have enabled California to, for varying time periods of 5 minutes to several hours, fulfill all our electricity demand nearly every day.

“Reaching 100 days of 100% clean renewable wind, solar, geothermal, and hydroelectricity (wind-water-solar) demonstrates real progress toward powering California without dirty fossil fuels,” said Jacobson. “To solve the climate crisis and cut air pollution, we must resolve quickly to deploy currently-available technologies  such as solar panels, wind turbines, battery-electric vehicles, electric heat pumps, electric induction cooktops, and batteries to store electricity.”

“Though there are already quite a few states that have committed to 100% renewable energy goals, we hope this achievement in California will encourage every state to get on board,” said Johanna Neumann, senior director of the Campaign for 100% Renewable Energy at Environment America. “California proves that clean energy technologies can work on a massive scale. If we continue to maximize our electric grid, connect more installations to batteries that can store clean power through the night and increase the amount of offshore wind turbines and solar panels on rooftops, I’m confident that we can do away with polluting fossil fuels that wreak havoc on our environment and health.”

On Wednesday, July 10th, Environment California hosted a webinar titled “100 Days of 100% Renewable Electricity,” which featured a conversation with Professor Jacobson and state leaders about how California achieved this historic milestone and what the future holds for the state’s clean energy transition. Watch a video of the webinar here.

The recent heat waves sweeping the state meant fossil gas plants were needed every minute of the day for more than two weeks and much more solar and wind power is going to be needed to get to the state’s 100% clean energy goals.