Trystan Casey
PG&E, or Pacific Gas and Electric Company, is one of the largest electric utilities in California. In 2023, PG&E delivered electricity that was 100% greenhouse gas-free to its customers, with 80% coming from GHG-free sources in 2017, including renewables, nuclear, and hydropower. The company has a net-zero energy target by 2040 and hopes to remove more greenhouse gases than it emits by 2050. PG&E has invested in battery energy storage systems to enhance grid reliability and integrate more renewables into its grid. The Diablo Canyon Power Plant, a nuclear facility, is a major source of clean energy for the company.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Electricity sources | GHG-free sources, including renewables, nuclear, hydropower, and natural gas |
| Percentage of electricity from GHG-free sources | 80% in 2017, 100% in 2023 |
| Percentage of electricity from renewable sources | 33% in 2017 |
| Net zero energy target | 2040 |
| Remove more greenhouse gases than emitted by | 2050 |
| Diablo Canyon Power Plant | A major source of clean energy for PG&E |
| Rooftop solar connected to the electric grid | Over 800,000 customers |
| Incremental battery storage capacity | 2,100MW |
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PG&E's electricity sources
PG&E, or Pacific Gas and Electric Company, is one of six regulated, investor-owned electric utilities (IOUs) in California. The company has a diverse range of electricity sources, including renewable and non-renewable energy sources.
In 2017, PG&E announced that 80% of its delivered electricity came from GHG-free sources, including renewables, nuclear, and hydropower. Around 33% of its electricity came from renewable sources, meeting California's goal of 33% renewable energy by 2020 well in advance. PG&E has also helped over 800,000 of its customers obtain their own solar supply, connecting rooftop solar installations to the electric grid.
In addition to renewable sources, PG&E has historically relied on nuclear power. The company began construction of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant in 1968, and it became a major source of clean energy in 1985. PG&E has also developed natural gas supplies, importing natural gas from Alberta, Canada, through a 1,400-mile pipeline completed in 1962.
PG&E is committed to enhancing grid reliability and integrating more renewables into its energy mix. The company has invested in battery energy storage systems, adding more than 2,100 MW of new incremental battery storage capacity. This allows renewable energy generated during low-demand periods to be stored and used during peak demand, reducing the reliance on natural gas-fired resources.
PG&E's efforts have resulted in significant progress towards its net-zero energy target. In 2023, the company claimed that its delivered electricity was 100% greenhouse gas-free, showcasing its commitment to providing clean and sustainable energy to its customers.
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GHG-free sources
In 2017, PG&E announced that 80% of the company's delivered electricity comes from GHG-free sources, including renewables, nuclear, and hydropower. Around 33% comes from renewable sources, meeting California's goal of 33% of electricity coming from renewables by 2020, three years ahead of schedule.
PG&E is working towards a net-zero energy target by 2040 and hopes to remove more greenhouse gases than it emits by 2050. The company has invested in battery energy storage systems to enhance grid reliability, integrate additional renewables into the grid, and save its customers energy and money.
PG&E has brought online more than 2,100MW of new incremental battery storage capacity, with 772MW planned in 2024 and 687.5MW for 2025. The company has more than 3.5GW of total battery energy storage under contract, allowing renewable resources to be stored for later use and displacing natural gas-fired resources.
PG&E also helps its customers obtain their own solar supply, with more than 800,000 customers set up with rooftop solar connected to the electric grid. The Diablo Canyon Power Plant is a major source of clean energy for PG&E, and the company believes that hydrogen will play a critical role in California's decarbonized future.
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Nuclear power
The Diablo Canyon Power Plant was constructed in 1968 and was initially scheduled to come online in 1979. However, environmental protests and safety concerns delayed its opening for several years. The plant began testing in 1984 and reached full power production in 1985.
PG&E has announced plans to discontinue operations at Diablo Canyon upon the expiration of its operating licenses for Unit 1 and Unit 2 in November 2024 and August 2025, respectively. This decision was made in June 2016, and the shutdown plan was approved by the California Public Utilities Commission in January 2018. The closure of Diablo Canyon will result in the loss of 2,256 MW of generation capacity and make California free of operating commercial nuclear power plants.
However, in September 2022, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation seeking to extend operations at the Diablo Canyon Power Plant beyond its current license period. This move aims to ensure electricity reliability and support California's transition to a clean energy future. PG&E has submitted an application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to renew the plant's operating licenses, and the review process is expected to take multiple years.
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Natural gas
The Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is an American investor-owned utility company that provides natural gas and electricity to 5.2 million households across central and northern California, from Bakersfield to the Oregon border.
PG&E began delivering natural gas to San Francisco and northern California in 1930. In 1959, the company started working to obtain approval for the import of natural gas from Alberta, Canada, via a 1,400-mile pipeline. The pipeline was completed in 1962. In the 1950s and 1960s, PG&E used a hexavalent chromium additive at its Topock and Hinkley compressor stations to prevent rust in the cooling towers. This later caused the Hinkley groundwater contamination.
In the late 1990s, PG&E sold off most of its natural gas power plants under electricity market deregulation. The company retained ownership of some natural gas plants, as well as all of its hydroelectric plants and the Diablo Canyon Power Plant, a nuclear facility.
PG&E has been working to reduce its reliance on natural gas-fired resources. The company has invested in battery energy storage systems to enhance grid reliability and integrate more renewable energy sources. By 2023, PG&E's electricity delivery was 100% greenhouse gas-free, with 53% nuclear, 34% eligible-renewable resources like solar and wind, and 13% hydroelectric.
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Renewable energy
PG&E, or the Pacific Gas and Electric Company, is one of the largest utilities in the US. It provides electricity to over 16 million people in Northern and Central California. In 2022, PG&E delivered electricity that was 96% greenhouse gas-free, with 40% of that coming from renewable resources. These renewable resources included biopower, small hydroelectric, solar, and wind power. PG&E's renewable portfolio also includes eligible renewable generation and power purchase agreements (PPAs) with solar providers.
In 2023, PG&E's electricity delivery became 100% greenhouse gas-free, with 34% coming from eligible renewable resources, 53% from nuclear, and 13% from hydroelectric. This was a significant increase from 2014, when only 28% of PG&E's power sources were renewable. By 2016, this figure had increased to 32.9%, and in 2017, PG&E announced that 80% of its delivered electricity came from GHG-free sources.
PG&E has made strides in renewable energy integration and has set a goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2040. The company is investing in battery energy storage systems to enhance grid reliability and integrate more renewables into the grid. In December 2024, the US Department of Energy approved a $15 billion low-interest loan to support the modernisation of PG&E's hydroelectric power structure and enhance transmission lines for renewable energy integration.
PG&E has also shown interest in innovative renewable energy projects, such as obtaining electricity from space-based solar power, and converting raw biogas into carbon-neutral methane. The company has faced challenges, including the rejection of its plan to create a separate company for its non-nuclear generating assets, and legal issues related to California's wildfires. However, PG&E remains committed to clean energy leadership and reducing emissions across its energy system.
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Frequently asked questions
In 2017, PG&E announced that 33% of its delivered electricity comes from renewable sources, meeting California's goal of 33% of electricity coming from renewables by 2020, three years in advance.
In 2017, PG&E announced that 80% of its electricity comes from GHG-free sources, including renewables, nuclear, and hydropower. By 2023, PG&E's electricity was 100% greenhouse gas-free.
PG&E is working toward a net-zero energy target by 2040 and hopes to remove more greenhouse gases than it emits by 2050.
The Diablo Canyon Power Plant is a nuclear facility that began construction in 1968 and started producing energy in 1985. It is a major source of clean energy for PG&E.
PG&E helps its customers obtain their own solar supply, with over 800,000 customers set up with rooftop solar connected to the electric grid.
