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The report argues that California can reliably reach an 85 percent clean electricity target by 2030 through a diverse portfolio of resources, including offshore wind and geothermal, while retiring significant natural gas capacity. It emphasizes the need to prioritize the retirement of gas plants in disadvantaged communities (DACs) to improve environmental justice. The authors recommend leveraging demand-side resources as a risk mitigation strategy and expanding regional coordination through a West-wide Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) to enhance grid resilience and reduce costs. The report serves as a policy companion to a technical analysis that stress-tested these portfolios against extreme weather events.

The study finds that California can reliably meet an 85% clean electricity target by 2030 using portfolios primarily composed of wind, solar, and battery storage. Through 264 PLEXOS simulations, the authors tested three portfolios—Base Case, Diverse Clean Resources, and High Electrification—against stressors including gas and coal retirements, low hydro availability, and extreme weather. Results indicate the system remains robust even under simultaneous stressors, though it remains dependent on a strategic amount of in-state natural gas and economic imports. The report emphasizes that diversifying resources with offshore wind and geothermal reduces the need for solar and storage and improves grid stability by lowering instantaneous inverter-based generation. While demand flexibility can offset some storage needs, the study concludes that further nodal transmission and grid stability analyses are required for a complete reliability assessment.