California’s road map to net-zero can be a blueprint for other regions

The author, CEO of Edison International, highlights California's efforts to decarbonize its economy through electrification and grid modernization. He emphasizes the need for significant investment—estimating $250 billion for renewable power and storage in California by 2045—and advocates for scaling up heat pump installations and EV infrastructure to meet climate goals.

• California's transition to a net-zero carbon economy requires substantial financial investment; analysis from Pathway 2045 suggests the state needs up to $250 billion by 2045 to implement 80 gigawatts of bulk renewable power and 30 gigawatts of utility-scale storage, alongside necessary grid enhancements.
• Electrification of buildings and transport is central to California's strategy. Southern California Edison (SCE) is implementing the largest utility-based EV charging initiative in the US and seeking to install approximately 250,000 electric heat pumps. While the California Energy Commission recommended 6 million heat pumps statewide by 2030, gap analysis indicates 10.5 million are actually required.
• Achieving net-zero is projected to result in long-term cost savings for consumers; Pathway 2045 projects that the average California customer's total energy consumption spending will be one-third lower than current levels once net-zero is reached.
• Large-scale electrification and energy efficiency are primary drivers for emissions reductions in the European Union, with a McKinsey study indicating these will account for 47% and 17% of the EU's 2030 emissions reductions, respectively.

APA

Pizarro, P. J. (2022). California’s road map to net-zero can be a blueprint for other regions. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/stories/energy-transition/california-road-map-net-zero/

Chicago

Pizarro, Pedro J. California’s road map to net-zero can be a blueprint for other regions. World Economic Forum, 2022. https://www.weforum.org/stories/energy-transition/california-road-map-net-zero/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Pizarro |first1=Pedro J. |title=California’s road map to net-zero can be a blueprint for other regions |publisher=World Economic Forum |date=14 June 2022 |url=https://www.weforum.org/stories/energy-transition/california-road-map-net-zero/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{pizarro2022californias, author = {Pizarro, Pedro J.}, title = {{California’s road map to net-zero can be a blueprint for other regions}}, publisher = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2022}, month = jun, url = {https://www.weforum.org/stories/energy-transition/california-road-map-net-zero/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }