On Wednesday, October 25, 2023, US Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm will travel to San Jose for an announcement of the first of its kind in the DOE’s Renew America’s Nonprofits program, funded by the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Biden. On Thursday, October 26, 2023, Secretary Granholm will tour the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in Menlo Park and attend the “first light” celebration of the lab’s upgraded Linac Coherent Light Source, the world’s most powerful X-ray laser .
Energy Jobs
- In 2022, there will be 911,345 workers in California working in the energy sector.
- Statewide, more than 76% of the electricity generation workforce is in wind, solar, and hydroelectric, and more than 294,000 workers work in energy efficiency.
- The Inflation Reduction Act expands these opportunities, bringing an estimated $21.2 billion in investment in large-scale clean electricity generation and storage to California between now and 2030.
Clean Energy Investment
- Currently, California has more than 33 GW of solar, wind, and storage capacity, making it the second largest generator of renewable electricity in the country. This is in addition to 2.3 GW of nuclear capacity.
- There is more than 8 GW of additional planned clean energy capacity in the works in the state, enough to power the equivalent of more than 1.5 million additional homes.
- Inflation Reduction Act tax credits that encourage wind and solar investments will help reduce energy costs, as solar and wind power costs are expected to drop by 24% and 35%, respectively, more the next 30 years in California. Residential rooftop solar is expected to get 60% cheaper by 2050.
- Since the start of the Biden-Harris Administration, we’ve tracked more than $150 billion in new battery and EV supply chain investment announcements, including nearly $6 billion in California.
- During the same period, we tracked more than $5 billion in new solar manufacturing investment announcements, including 3 facilities in California.
Clean Transportation
- California already has more than 41,000 alternative fuel charging ports, the most of any state by a factor of four. The state will also receive more than $80 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to further build electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
- California also has the highest total EV sales in the country, with more than 1.1 million EVs registered in the state by 2022. Drivers who switch to an electric pickup truck will save more than $1,700 per year on fuel and maintenance costs compared to gasoline-powered trucks. Drivers of small cars can save more than $1,200 per year. The Inflation Reduction Act makes it easier and cheaper to buy an electric vehicle, with upfront discounts of up to $7,500 for new EVs and up to $4,000 for used EVs, helping more Americans skip the gas pump and save on fuel costs.
Investment in California
- Thanks to funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, the DOE has provided more than $861 million to California state and local governments to invest in energy efficiency and grid stability. This includes funding to help low-income households access more efficient utilities, and more than $67 million to help strengthen grid resilience.
- San Francisco State University, in partnership with four other minority serving institutions in California, has been selected to serve as a Western Center of Excellence under the DOE’s Industrial Assessment Centers program, which supports technical assistance to small and medium-sized which are manufacturers.
- The University of California, San Diego; University of California, Berkeley; and Solarcycle Inc. all received more than $1 million each for projects that will improve the domestic solar supply chain.
- Element Energy, based in Menlo Park, received more than $7.8 million for an EV battery recycling pilot facility.
- San Diego-based company Smartville received nearly $6 million to develop and demonstrate non-stop energy storage using used EV batteries.
Saving Californians Money on Home Energy Bills
- DOE’s Weatherization Assistance Program and State Energy Program have invested more than $57 million in California since 2015, leading to more than 2,000 jobs and more than 6,300 homes with reduced energy costs and better health and safety.
- Upgrading appliances and improving home energy efficiency can save a total of more than 14,000 GWh of energy in California.
- Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, California will receive more than $582 million to implement the state’s Home Energy Rebate program. Low-income households in California can save an average of 26% on their home energy bills if they upgrade their appliances and improve energy efficiency through this program.
Prioritizing California’s Underserved Communities
- The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to improving equity for all communities, including through the Justice40 Initiative, which aims to ensure that Federal agencies provide at least 40% of the total benefits of climate, clean energy , affordable and sustainable housing, clean water, and other investments in poor communities. The DOE has more than 140 programs covered by this initiative.
- The Trinidad Rancheria Economic Development Corporation is leading a partnership with the DOE’s Energy Storage for Social Equity program to develop microgrids to promote community energy independence and improve energy stability and affordability.
- In Bakersfield, communities are partnering with DOE through the Communities LEAP program to address energy and economic development challenges by reducing rising energy costs in vulnerable parts of the county.
- The City of San Diego is partnering with the DOE through the Solar Energy Innovation Network to maximize the potential of solar energy to increase the city’s resilience. These activities inform the development of a broader roadmap for clean energy technology deployment that supports the city’s targets.
