Last year, California set new records for deployment of renewable power.  Our example helps set directions for folks outside of the state and indeed we export some electricity.  About half of our power is generated by renewables like hydropower, wind, and solar.
And despite the increase in electrification (more electric vehicles, heat pumps, etc.), California’s electric grid consumption dropped by 1% from 2023 to 2024 (in part due to private installation of solar panels as well as batteries).

Of course, the point is not to generate renewable electricity, but to cut back on fossil fuels.  The same study reports that last year California’s power plants burned 40 percent less fossil fuels!

Increases in battery storage have helped cyclic power sources (like diurnal sunshine) satisfy our consumption.  (And, I think this is weird, electric school buses need batteries to drive around, but since they don’t drive at night they help power the grid “off hours”!)  (The article acknowledges the battery fire at Moss Landing.)

Mark Jacobson is quoted:  “Every major renewable — geothermal, hydro, wind, solar in particular, even offshore wind — is lower cost than fossil fuels” on average, globally.  Over a 12-month period, Iowa, Montana, and South Dakota generated 79%, 87%, and even 110% of electrical demand with renewables, leading to some of the cheapest power in the country.  (Unfortunately, California does not follow suit on cheap energy since our transmission lines are igniting fires and have to be buried, incurring costs unrelated to power generation.)

Is the news good or bad?  Both.  Is the news grounds for complacency or for self-loathing?  Neither.  I think each of us has to find our way of managing the news to keep ourselves in the uncomfortable and growthful space that is most sustainable and appropriate for ourselves.