As D.C. retreats, California must lead on affordable clean energy

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OPINION – As the federal government turns its back on the clean energy transition—gutting decades of progress with the passage of the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill”—California now stands alone at a critical crossroads. With federal incentives slashed and funding for renewable projects drying up, the burden of clean energy leadership has shifted squarely onto Sacramento.

The Governor, State Legislature, and the renewable energy industry, now face perhaps their most consequential challenge yet: to deliver clean, affordable, and resilient energy for California in a time of growing national retreat and global uncertainty. We have many tools available to us. Just one opportunity – leveraging batteries and smart thermostats that are already in people’s homes — could create $13.7 Billion in energy savings in California, according to a Gridlab Study. The question is whether we will rise to meet this moment and set an example for the rest of the nation or let it pass us by.

California needs to think strategically about its electric grid and how it can be redesigned to reduce costs while maximizing clean energy abundance. In California, clean energy is increasingly cheaper because the state benefits from abundant sunshine, strong wind resources, and years of investment in renewable infrastructure. Falling costs for solar panels, wind turbines, and battery storage, combined with the absence of fuel expenses, mean that new renewable projects can deliver power at lower prices. In today’s market, this makes clean energy the most sustainable and cost-effective option for California’s grid.

My legislative colleagues and I are leading this charge and have identified realistic and effective solutions for energy efficiency and affordability. Three of my bills this year are focused on expanding grid capabilities quickly and safely while cutting costs.

Senate Bill 254 tackles electricity affordability by streamlining the planning process and tackling the costs of wildfire prevention efforts, applying innovative financing approaches to reduce the cost of new grid investments, scrutinizing utility spending and rate proposals more rigorously compared to an inflation benchmark, making it faster and cheaper to build more clean energy resources, and directing more assistance to low-income utility customers through CARE and FERA.

Senate Bill 540 enables California to join other Western states in launching a multi-state energy market that will lower electricity costs, reduce the risk of rolling blackouts, and cut greenhouse gas emissions.  By sharing resources with neighboring states, California can export some of its extra renewable energy on mild days instead of it going to waste and rely on energy from our neighbors on the hottest summer evenings when our grid is stressed.

We can also save money and reduce fossil fuel usage by reducing peak demand and efficiently using distribution grid infrastructure. Senate Bill 541 focuses on these opportunities to leverage demand-side flexibility, enabling homes and businesses to adjust electricity usage in real time. With the right policies, technologies like distributed batteries, smart thermostats, and EV chargers empower consumers to contribute to grid stability, lowering peak demand so we don’t have to turn on the dirtiest and most expensive peaker plants to meet the highest demand peaks. This is how we capture those $13.7 billion in annual savings that Gridlab identified.

Summer heat waves routinely expose the fragility of California’s aging energy grid, reminding us that work to strengthen the grid must continue. The state faces surging electricity bills, worsening grid instability, and escalating risks from extreme weather events. From the Central Valley to Los Angeles, families face painful tradeoffs between paying for groceries or electricity.

Meanwhile, energy-intensive industries like artificial intelligence push demand ever higher. Unless Sacramento steps up now, Californians risk planning their summers around rolling blackouts instead of family vacations.

Over two decades, California has proven clean energy leadership and economic growth can go hand in hand. The state has boldly proven that it’s possible to reduce emissions while growing the economy. But today’s goal is broader and more pressing: affordable power, a grid Californians can count on, and infrastructure built to support tomorrow’s economy without sacrificing reliability today. This is not just a policy moment; it is a test of vision, courage, and commitment to the future Californians deserve.

Senator Josh Becker is the Chair of the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications and represents the 13th Senate District.