California solar surged ahead of gas in the first 5 months of 2026

California solar beat natural gas on most days as battery storage surged

During the first five months of 2026, solar farms tied to California's main grid produced more electricity than gas plants on most days, a notable shift driven in part by the state's rapid build-out of clean energy infrastructure. What happened? On June 16, the Energy Information Administration released an analysis showing that solar surpassed gas in the Golden State over these five months.  Compared with the same period in 2024, the California …

California solar surged ahead of gas in the first 5 months of 2026

This year has been full of dramatic rivalries. World Cup matchups, Knicks versus Spurs, One Battle After Another versus Sinners at the Oscars, and now California solar power versus natural gas. For years, natural gas has dominated electricity production in the climate-conscious Golden State, just as it has…