My home state has set some aggressive long-range goals for clean energy, specifically we must have 60% renewable and zero-carbon electricity by 2030, ramping up to 100% by 2045. By the way, California has clear definitions of renewables and these include solar, wind, geothermal and small hydro. “Zero-carbon” (or “carbon-free") sources include nuclear and large hydro. Both of the latter sources have long-build-out times, and potential environmental issues. However, our one remaining nuclear plant (Diablo Canyon) is needed, mostly in the next five years, and existing large hydroelectric plants are needed for the foreseeable future. We also need ever-increasing battery energy storage system (BESS) capacity.
California has given America a glimpse at what running one of the world’s largest economies on renewable energy might look like. The state recently hit a milestone: 100 days this year with 100% carbon-free and renewable electricity for at least a part of each day, as tracked by Stanford University engineering Professor Mark Z. Jacobson.