California generates new energy record

Jake Haskell 2015, Creative Commons.

California generates new energy record

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, California generated 40% of all the state’s energy from solar energy for three consecutive hours on a day in March, achieving a new energy record.

First reported in the San Francisco Chronicle, 40% of electricity on the California Independent System Operator (ISO) energy grid in California during 11 am to 2 pm on March 11th came from solar energy.

The record is considered a step in the right direction to reach the state’s goal of generating 50% of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030.

California reached another milestone on March 23rd, when, accounting for all renewable energy sources, the state briefly generated 56.7% of its energy from renewables.

To reach their long-term goal of 50% renewable energy, analysts predict the state will need to produce large-scale energy storage technology, to hold energy when the sun goes down, the Chronicle reported. Companies are already competing to develop the new technology.

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