California natural gas use for electricity falls 15% year-over-year in accelerating shift

California's natural gas-fired electricity generation has declined in eight of the past 11 years, with a sharp 15% drop in 2025 compared to 2024, as the state accelerates its transition away from fossil fuels.

First covered Sep 10, 2026 · 6:00 AM PT · 1 article · no longer in the live window

California natural gas use for electricity falls 15% year-over-year in accelerating shift — Image via insideclimatenews.org

Coverage

16d Inside Climate News How California Is Kicking Its Natural Gas Habit — Natural gas is fading from California’s electricity mix more quickly than seemed possible just a few years ago.

More coverage from around the web

gridlab.org Why California is Using Significantly Less Natural Gas for Producing Electricity - GridLab

ieefa.org California’s gas use for power falls to record low | IEEFA

utilitydive.com Natural gas sees ‘largest year-over-year drop’ in California as solar surges | Utility Dive

power-eng.com Solar, batteries push down natural gas generation in California, EIA says

juancole.com California: Fossil Gas use Declining, replaced by Solar Plus Megabatteries

Discussion

Bluesky: @dangearino.bsky.social Dan Gearino · 16d ago · 2 ♥ "The key story here is batteries," said Ed Smeloff, explaining how California drastically cut its gas use. These charts tell the story, comparing the 2026 peak demand day on the California grid to the all-time peak in 2022. insideclimatenews.org/news/1009202... #energysky · @dangearino.bsky.social Dan Gearino · 16d ago · 86 ♥ "Natural gas is fading from California’s electricity mix more quickly than seemed possible just a few years ago." "a 26 percent drop in the first half of this year compared to the first half of 2025" · @dangearino.bsky.social Dan Gearino · 16d ago · 10 ♥ California is quickly moving away from natural gas as a fuel for power plants. Here’s how and why: · @dangearino.bsky.social Dan Gearino · 16d ago · 12 ♥ "Natural gas is fading from California’s electricity mix more quickly than seemed possible just a few years ago," reports @dangearino.bsky.social: insideclimatenews.org/news/1009202... 🔌💡

Reddit: r/energy0↑ r/energy · 16d ago · 0 comments How California Is Kicking Its Natural Gas Habit

Appeared in: 2026-09-10 (#1) · 2026-09-11 (#7)

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