California’s Battery Array Is as Powerful as 12 Nuclear Power Plants. Here’s What’s on the Horizon.
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- California discharged 12,000 MW from grid‑connected batteries, covering about 40 % of the state’s electricity demand—roughly the output of 12 nuclear plants.
- Trump administration eliminated wind and solar tax credits for projects not finished by 2030, cutting up to 30 % of capital costs for new renewable builds.
- Ed Smeloff says California will need additional large‑scale batteries and clean generators to meet its 100 % clean‑energy goal by 2045 as electrification of transport, buildings, and data centers drives load growth.
Why it matters: California utilities and battery makers gain demand, while wind and solar developers lose up to 30 % of financing after the Trump administration’s tax‑credit cuts, pushing the state to speed battery and clean‑generator builds to meet its 2045 clean‑energy goal.
