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Please note!
This fact brief was originally published as an experiment to test the concepts behind fact briefs.
Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of useful information in fact briefs like this one, not all of them reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
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FACT BRIEF

Has California increased its reliance on renewable energy over the past two decades?

By Allegra Taylor
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YES

California draws 32% of the electricity it consumes from renewable sources, up from 20% in 2014. It has moved to shut nuclear power sources in the state, with its last plant scheduled to close in 2025, and reduced its use of oil and natural gas over the past 30 years.

Some experts say the shifts have left the state more vulnerable to supply interruptions, pointing to rolling power blackouts during a recent California heat wave. Experts have said that ample storage is necessary to ensure reliability as solar and wind power peaks and ebbs. Amid a region-wide heat wave, the state was unable to get power from neighboring states, one backstop used previously. The California Independent System Operator, which oversees most of the state's supply, blamed state regulators for poor planning, calling the system "broken."

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
US Energy Information Administration: California state profile
California Energy Commission: 2014 electricity system power
Cal Matters: Blackouts reveal our power shortage
San Diego Union-Tribune: What caused California's rotating power outages
Mercury News: Blackouts expose shortfalls of California's energy grid
Union of Concerned Scientists: Up close with California's power grid operator
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Gigafact
Between 2020 and 2022, under close editorial supervision, Gigafact contracted a group of freelance writers and editors to test the concepts for fact briefs and provide inputs to our software development process. We call this effort Gigafact Foundry. Over the course of these two years, Gigafact Foundry writers published over 1500 fact briefs in response to claims they found online. Their important work forms the basis of Gigafact formats and editorial guidelines, and is available to the public on Gigafact.org. Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of relevant information to be found, not all fact briefs produced by Gigafact Foundry reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date and need to be looked at with fresh eyes, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
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About fact briefs published on Gigafact
Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.