QAZAQ GREEN.   In a historic milestone, California has become the largest economy in the world to be powered by two-thirds clean energy, Governor Gavin Newsom announced today. According to newly released state data, 67% of California’s retail electricity sales in 2023 came from renewable and zero-carbon sources — a sharp rise from 61% in 2022 and just 41% a decade earlier, according to Governor’s website.

Clean energy sources included solar, wind, hydro, nuclear, geothermal, and biomass. The data reflects the state’s ongoing shift toward a sustainable energy future, underpinned by major policy efforts and record-setting infrastructure development.

“This is what climate leadership looks like,” said Governor Newsom. “While others walk away from innovation, California is powering ahead. The fourth-largest economy on Earth is now running on two-thirds clean electricity — a global first at this scale.”

California added 7,000 megawatts (MW) of clean energy capacity in 2024 alone — the largest single-year increase in state history. This continues a trend of record-breaking growth, with new clean power additions surpassing those of both 2022 and 2023.

For the first time ever, clean energy provided 100% of California’s electricity for at least part of the day nearly every day this year. On average, the state has operated on 100% clean energy for seven hours a day in 2025. According to the California Energy Commission (CEC), the grid has delivered the equivalent of 51.9 full days powered entirely by clean electricity — a 750% increase since 2022.

“These numbers prove that clean energy is no longer a future vision — it’s today’s reality,” said CEC Chair David Hochschild. “California continues to demonstrate that a sustainable, zero-carbon economy is both achievable and economically beneficial.”

The impact is already visible: greenhouse gas emissions in California have declined 20% since 2000, even as the state’s GDP grew by 78% over the same period. The power sector has played a leading role in this shift, with emissions from electricity generation cut in half since 2009.

California now leads the nation in clean energy jobs, home to over 500,000 green positions — seven times more than fossil fuel jobs. The fastest-growing sectors include solar, wind, battery storage, and grid modernization.

Solar power remains the backbone of California’s renewable energy strategy, with more than 21,000 MW of grid-connected capacity and an additional 19,000 MW behind-the-meter. The state continues to break solar generation records, with a new peak of over 21,500 MW recorded in May.

Battery storage is also expanding rapidly, reaching over 15,000 MW in capacity — a 1,944% increase since Newsom took office in 2019. These systems allow excess solar energy to be stored during the day and dispatched in the evening to stabilize the grid.

According to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), clean energy sources regulated under the state’s Renewables Portfolio Standard accounted for 43% of the power mix in 2023, with large-scale hydro and nuclear power each contributing an additional 12%.

“Utilities and community energy providers are delivering clean energy at scale and competitive prices across the state,” said CPUC President Alice Reynolds. “We are witnessing an unprecedented transformation of the energy sector.”

Looking ahead, California aims to add 148,000 MW of new clean energy capacity by 2045, in line with the state’s clean energy roadmap released last year.

California’s leadership in clean power marks a turning point in global energy transformation — proving that large, dynamic economies can thrive while cutting emissions and investing in a sustainable future.