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Updated 1d ago
· 16 sources tracked
California solar is crushing natural gas this year
Utility-scale solar is now the primary power source in California, outperforming natural gas on most days. Natural gas generation has dropped significantly as solar installations and battery storage increase. This shift is evident in data from the first five months of the year.
What changed
Solar power has overtaken natural gas as the top electricity supplier in California.
Live updates
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California Solar Generation Surpasses Natural Gas in 2026
confidence 100%Utility-scale solar is now the primary power source in California, outperforming natural gas on most days. Natural gas generation has dropped significantly as solar installations and battery storage increase. This shift is evident in data from the first five months of the year.
What's confirmed:
- Utility-scale solar generated more electricity than natural gas on 82% of days during the first five months of 2026.
- California natural gas generation is down 60% from 2024.
- Solar reached 100% of total demand during some hours on 143 of the first 168 days of the year.
- Solar generation in CAISO surpassed natural gas in the first five months of 2026.
Still unconfirmed:
- The solar industry is growing despite Trump administration efforts to thwart renewable energy.
- Clean generation is providing a reprieve from high gas prices.