California Natural Gas Use for Electricity Falls as Solar Generation Rises - CleanTechnica

The article from CleanTechnica highlights a significant shift in California's electricity generation mix, with natural gas use declining as solar power generation rises. Between January and August 2025, California generated 140.9 billion kilowatt-hours (BkWh) of electricity, an 8% increase from the same period in 2020. Solar generation nearly doubled during this timeframe, reaching 40.3 BkWh compared to 22.0 BkWh in 2020, and increased by 17% from 2024 to 2025 alone. Conversely, natural gas generation fell by 18% over the same five-year span, supplying 45.5 BkWh in early 2025. The article notes that natural gas output can spike during low-water years when hydroelectric power is reduced, as seen in 2021. The data also reveal a daily pattern where natural gas generation decreases during midday hours when solar output peaks, particularly between noon and 5 p.m.