California’s electricity prices have surged by 127% since 2010, making it the second-highest in the United States, despite Governor Gavin Newsom’s assertions of a clean energy success. The article outlines the growing reliance on intermittent sources like solar and wind, with a decline in dispatchable energy sources such as coal and natural gas, which has led to increased costs for consumers. Newsom’s recent trip to Brazil for the U.N. climate conference is framed as a political move to shift blame for rising prices away from flawed energy policies and onto former President Donald Trump.
According to a recent report by Jonathan A. Lesser, Ph.D., California’s electricity rates have risen the most of any state since 2010, with the Golden State now facing some of the nation’s highest rates. Critics point out that the shift toward renewables has resulted in higher electricity costs due to the need for expensive battery storage and the inability of wind and solar to provide reliable, consistent power. The article argues that the reliance on subsidized renewables has destabilized the grid, forcing consumers to bear the cost of fortifying unstable energy sources with reliable gas power.
The piece also criticizes the Biden-Harris administration’s push for subsidized wind and solar energy, which has contributed to the current grid instability and higher costs. It claims that states like New Jersey and New York have forced early closures of reliable power plants, further exacerbating the problem. The article suggests that Trump’s proposed One Big Beautiful Bill, which aims to dismantle Biden’s emission standards and fossil fuel restrictions, could stabilize the grid by restoring reliable supply and affordable energy.