Articles tagged with "California"
California's dry farmland to be repurposed for 21 GW of solar power
California’s Westlands Water District has launched the Valley Clean Infrastructure Plan, a major initiative to repurpose over 215,000 acres of fallowed farmland—land rendered unproductive due to chronic water shortages—into solar farms capable of generating 21 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy. This effort addresses the ongoing water scarcity in the San Joaquin Valley, where a third of irrigable farmland has gone out of production, and aligns with California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, which further limits groundwater use. The district, the largest agricultural water district in the U.S., oversees 1,000 square miles supplying water to 700 farms and aims to integrate the new solar infrastructure with the state’s transmission grid operator, CAISO. Authorized by California law AB 2661, which allows the district to develop and own solar generation, battery storage, and transmission facilities, the plan also mandates a community benefits program to ensure local input and support. The initiative is expected to create thousands of construction and long
energysolar-powerrenewable-energyCaliforniafarmland-repurposingclean-infrastructurebattery-storageCalifornia & USA Set to Diverge Massively on Electric Vehicles? - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica discusses a growing divergence between California and the rest of the United States regarding electric vehicle (EV) adoption and market development. It highlights that major U.S. automakers like Ford and GM are scaling back their EV efforts nationally, partly due to financial struggles and a federal government perceived as unsupportive or even hostile toward EV advancement. In contrast, California is positioned to continue pushing stricter fuel economy and emissions standards, despite ongoing legal challenges initiated during the Trump administration. The state’s legal right to enforce higher standards to protect the environment is expected to prevail, enabling California to maintain and even accelerate its leadership in EV adoption. This divergence could lead to a bifurcated market where California enjoys a growing variety of compelling EV models and rising market share, while much of the rest of the country experiences stagnation or decline in EV availability and sales. The article draws a parallel to the earlier era of “compliance cars” that were initially limited and less attractive but notes that
energyelectric-vehiclesEV-marketCaliforniafuel-economy-standardsautomotive-industryclean-technologyOver 850 New EV Chargers Planned For Northern & Central California - CleanTechnica
CleanTechnica reports that IONNA plans to install over 850 new public electric vehicle (EV) charging bays in northern and central California by the end of 2028, with 450 chargers targeted for the larger Bay Area. These chargers will be deployed within the PG&E service territory, which extends slightly into southern California near Santa Barbara. This announcement follows a recent plan to add approximately 750 chargers in San Diego, bringing the total to about 1,600 new EV chargers announced across California in the past three weeks. The expansion of public charging infrastructure is especially critical now that federal EV incentives have ended, as California continues to lead the U.S. in EV adoption and charging infrastructure. The article highlights the importance of ongoing infrastructure growth to support EV adoption despite the absence of federal incentives. California’s large EV market and extensive public charging network, combined with state-level incentives, may help sustain EV sales, though possibly at a slower pace. Political factors are also discussed, noting that despite efforts by
energyelectric-vehiclesEV-chargersclean-energysustainable-transportationCaliforniainfrastructure-expansionFord Picks The Perfect Time To Pitch EVs And California, Too
Ford is launching a new blue-themed California Special package for the 2026 Mustang Mach-E GT, aiming to capitalize on the growing enthusiasm for electric vehicles (EVs) and California’s significant auto market. This package, inspired by feedback from the Mustang community, combines advanced electric performance with heritage-inspired design and California style. The design team, including Mustang owners Stefan Taylor and Kristen Keenan, developed the package to offer Mustang fans a unique, personalized EV option that stands out. California plays a crucial role in Ford’s strategy, being one of the largest auto markets with a high share of EV sales—29.1% of all auto sales in Q3 2025 were fully electric vehicles. While the Mach-E trails Tesla’s Model Y and Model 3 in California sales, it holds a respectable fifth place, competing closely with Hyundai and Honda models. The California Special package features “Rave Blue,” a custom color inspired by California’s coastline, applied to various exterior and interior accents. Ford emphasizes
energyelectric-vehiclesEVsFord-Mustang-Mach-ECaliforniaautomotive-industryclean-energyHidden Costs of Climate Change Fueling Affordability Crisis in California — Ne - CleanTechnica
A recent report from the Center for Law, Energy & Environment at UC Berkeley highlights the extensive and often hidden financial burdens that climate change imposes on California households, businesses, and public sectors. Beyond the immediate disaster-related expenses from wildfires and floods, Californians are facing rising costs in insurance premiums, healthcare, and lost wages, all contributing to an escalating affordability crisis. The report estimates that the average American born in 2024 will incur $500,000 in additional lifetime costs due to climate change, with those in severely impacted areas potentially facing up to $1 million. Key contributors to these costs include increased healthcare expenses from wildfire smoke and heat-related illnesses, job losses among outdoor workers, and rising utility bills driven partly by wildfire-related expenses. California’s vulnerability stems from its extensive coastline, frequent droughts, extreme heat, and wildfire risks. For example, the 2022 drought resulted in a $1.7 billion revenue loss for farmers and nearly 5,000 lost jobs in the
energyclimate-changeaffordability-crisisCaliforniautility-billsdrought-impactwildfire-costsVery Mixed Trends in California EV Market by Brand in Q2 - CleanTechnica
The article analyzes the second-quarter 2025 electric vehicle (EV) market trends in California by brand, revealing a mixed performance landscape. Tesla remains the dominant EV brand by a wide margin, far ahead of the second-place Hyundai in zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) sales. However, Tesla’s overall market position slipped from #2 to #3 among all auto brands in California, with Ford and Chevrolet closing the gap significantly. Tesla’s EV sales dropped by over 11,000 units compared to Q2 2024, marking a substantial decline that could impact its market dominance. Excluding Tesla to better assess other brands, Hyundai, BMW, and Chevrolet were closely matched in EV sales, separated by fewer than 50 units in Q2 2025. Several brands showed notable year-over-year growth in EV sales, including Chevrolet, Nissan, Acura, Honda, Porsche, Cadillac, and Volvo. Conversely, other major players such as Kia, Hyundai, Ford, Mercedes, Rivian, Toyota
energyelectric-vehiclesEV-marketCaliforniaTeslaautomotive-industryclean-technologyCalifornia ZEV Sales Dip As Tesla Sales Crash In The Golden State - CleanTechnica
California remains the leading market for zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) in the US and holds a significant share globally. However, Tesla sales in California have sharply declined in 2025, dropping 18.3% year-over-year from 101,991 units in the first half of 2024 to 83,375 units in the first half of 2025. This decline is attributed partly to the controversial political actions of Tesla’s CEO and increased competition, which has impacted Tesla’s brand perception in its home state. Although sales of non-Tesla ZEVs have increased, the growth has not been sufficient to offset Tesla’s sales drop, leading to an overall decrease in California’s ZEV market share from 22% in 2024 to 19.5% in the first half of 2025. Despite the decline, California’s ZEV market share remains significantly higher than the US average of 7.8%, with the state accounting for 28.6
energyelectric-vehiclesTeslazero-emission-vehiclesCaliforniaclean-technologyautomotive-marketCorruption clouds California's solar boom, study warns of deep abuses
energysolar-energyclean-energyCaliforniacorruptionsustainabilityrenewable-energyCalifornia Has Over 15,000 MW Of Energy Storage - CleanTechnica
energyenergy-storageclean-energyCaliforniagrid-stabilitybattery-systemsrenewable-energyTesla Model Y & Model 3 Still 1st & 3rd Best Selling Cars in California - CleanTechnica
electric-vehiclesTeslaModel-YModel-3renewable-energysales-trendsCaliforniaCalifornia prepares to sue feds after Senate revokes the state’s EV rule
energyelectric-vehicleszero-emissionsCaliforniaemissions-standardshydrogen-fuel-cellsbattery-electric-vehiclesCalifornia’s New Hydrogen Subsidy Sinkhole: 13 Cars, Millions Spent, Negative Impact
energyhydrogenclean-transportationzero-emission-vehiclesCaliforniasubsidiescarsharingCalifornians Could Save $6.5 Billion With Community Solar & Storage
community-solarenergy-storageCaliforniaclean-energycost-savingsrenewable-energyelectricity-customers