Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) says it has reached California’s 2020 renewable energy goal three years ahead of schedule and now delivers nearly 80% of its electricity from greenhouse-gas (GHG)-free resources.
In 2017, 33% of the company’s electricity came from renewable resources, including solar, wind, geothermal, biomass and small hydroelectric. Additionally, 78.8% of PG&E’s total electric power mix came from GHG-free sources, including nuclear, large hydro and renewables.
Notably, this marks the highest percentage of clean energy deliveries in PG&E’s history, according to the San Francisco-based company, which delivers energy to nearly 16 million people in northern and central California.
The milestone comes three years before California’s 2020 mandate for energy companies to reach 33% of retail electric deliveries from eligible renewable sources. PG&E says it is also on pace to reach California’s 2030 goal of 50% renewables and is ahead of schedule to reach a separate company goal of 55% renewables by 2031.
PG&E notes it continues to make investments to its electric infrastructure and uses advanced technology to make the power grid smarter and more resilient. Additionally, the company has increased its investment in electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure. Most recently, PG&E launched its new EV Charge Network program to install 7,500 EV chargers at condominiums, apartment buildings and workplaces across northern and central California, including at sites in disadvantaged communities.
In addition, to date, PG&E has connected more than 340,000 customers with private rooftop solar to the energy grid – representing about 20% of the nation’s private rooftop solar installations and approximately 3.2 GW of solar-powered energy.
Earlier this year, PG&E received approval to close its Diablo Canyon nuclear facility in 2025, with plans to replace it with other renewable sources of energy.
“Reducing carbon emissions as quickly as possible is the main objective of California’s energy policies,” says Geisha Williams, PG&E’s president and CEO. “Creating a sustainable energy future is also the guiding vision for PG&E. We’re proud to provide our customers and communities with safe, reliable, affordable and clean energy every single day while building the energy network of tomorrow.”
