Latest news with #CaliforniaEnergyCommission
Associated Press
6 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
LiCAP Technologies and California Energy Commission Celebrate Major Milestone in U.S. Battery Manufacturing With Launch of 300 MWh Dry Electrode Production Line
SACRAMENTO, CA / ACCESS Newswire / July 16, 2025 / Building on the momentum of its successful strategic partnership and production scale up with Dürr Systems AG ( ), LiCAP Technologies, a leader in advanced battery materials and dry electrode technology, is proud to announce the successful development, installation and Site Acceptance Test (SAT) of its 300MWh roll-to-roll cathode production line (LRPL). This achievement marks a critical milestone in the transition from breakthrough innovation to large-scale manufacturing, a stage that often poses a bottleneck in battery technology commercialization. The LRPL project, supported by funding from the California Energy Commission (CEC), represents a major advancement in strengthening U.S.-based clean energy manufacturing capabilities. On July 10, 2025, LiCAP successfully produced its first roll of free-standing cathode film, measuring over 500 meters in length, on the LRPL using its proprietary Activated Dry Electrode® technology. This toxic solvent free process is engineered to deliver higher energy density, significantly lower manufacturing costs, and a dramatically reduced environmental footprint compared to conventional electrode manufacturing methods. 'This milestone represents not just technical progress, but a clear demonstration of how public-private collaboration can accelerate the commercialization of breakthrough clean energy technologies,' said Dr. Linda Zhong, Founder and CEO of LiCAP Technologies. 'We are deeply grateful for the CEC's support and shared commitment to building a resilient, U.S.-based battery supply chain.' Developed under a CEC-funded initiative to drive innovation in energy storage, the LRPL showcases the scalability and versatility of LiCAP's dry electrode process, which is applicable to lithium-ion, solid-state, and sodium-ion battery production. By eliminating toxic solvents and costly drying processes, LiCAP's technology directly supports California's sustainability and emissions-reduction goals. 'The CEC is proud to support pioneering projects like LiCAP's LRPL that contribute to California's clean energy goals while advancing sustainable manufacturing practices,' said Cammy Peterson, Deputy Director of Energy Systems, Innovation, and Strategy from the CEC's Energy Research and Development Division. 'Milestones like this underscore the importance of investing in homegrown technologies that strengthen our economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.' LiCAP expects to begin delivering customer samples from the LRPL starting in August 2025, as it ramps up production to meet rapidly growing demand for next-generation battery materials. About LiCAP Technologies LiCAP Technologies is a California-based innovator in dry electrode manufacturing technology, specializing in solvent-free processes for ultracapacitors, lithium-ion, solid-state, and sodium-ion batteries. LiCAP is committed to enabling high-performance, sustainable energy storage solutions at scale. About the California Energy Commission (CEC) The California Energy Commission is leading the state to a 100 percent clean energy future. As California's primary energy policy and planning agency, the CEC invests in energy innovation, advances energy efficiency, and supports the development of clean energy technologies to reduce emissions and promote sustainability. Contact Information Ryan Poon Director of Innovation and Strategic Growth [email protected] 916 329 8099 Joshua Croft Energy Commission Battery/Technical Engineer [email protected] (925) 452-7638 SOURCE: LiCAP Technologies press release
Newsweek
15-07-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
California Hits 'Historic' Energy Milestone
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. New data shared by the Californian government shows that the state has supplied 100 percent of its electricity demand with clean energy sources for an average of seven hours a day so far this year. More than nine out of 10 days in 2025 saw the state's power being run on completely clean energy sources for an extended period of time in the day—representing a 750 percent increase in clean energy days since 2022. Newsweek has contacted the California Energy Commission for comment via email outside regular working hours. Why It Matters The data signifies a major milestone in California's clean energy deliveries, marking it as the largest economy in the world to achieve this level of clean energy, according to the state government. The success of the state, the world's fourth largest economy, also holds weight for national and international energy policy. Clean energy includes renewable resources—such as wind, solar, geothermal and biomass—and large hydroelectric power and nuclear energy. California's goal is to have 100 percent of its retail electricity sales and state agency loads supplied with clean energy by 2045. For years, the Golden State has led in climate action and clean energy adoption, but the present milestone shows the operational reliability of renewable energy at a new level. Power lines and wind turbines in the desert landscape on the outskirts of Palm Springs, California. Power lines and wind turbines in the desert landscape on the outskirts of Palm Springs, California. Pamela Hassell/AP What To Know Alongside this year's achievements, the data showed that in 2023, 67 percent of the state's retail electricity sales came from renewable and zero-carbon electricity generation, compared to 61 percent the previous year and about 41 percent a decade ago. Additionally, in 2024, the state added a record-breaking 7,000 megawatts of clean capacity to the grid, marking the largest single-year increase in clean energy capacity added to the grid in state history. The state has stood out for its energy efficiency. About one in nine U.S. residents live in California, meaning it uses more energy than any other state except Texas. California's energy policies have made its per capita energy use the third lowest in the nation, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported. California's success in its clean energy policies is largely down to "the growth in batteries, solar, and wind in the state combined with the decrease in gas," Mark Z. Jacobson, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University, told Newsweek. Despite California's growing expansion of clean energy use, Texas still leads the way on producing the most electricity from renewable energy sources—leaving the Golden State in second place. California's main proponents of clean energy are solar and battery storage. Since 2019, 25,000 megawatts of new energy resources statewide have been added to the grid, remaining on track to hit the state's 2045 goals, the state government reported. As a result of the state's push toward being fully reliant on clean energy sources, greenhouse gas emissions in California are down 20 percent since 2000, and emissions from electric power have been cut in half since 2009. At the same time, the state's GDP has increased 78 percent. What People Are Saying California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a news release on Monday: "As the federal government turns its back on innovation and commonsense, California is making our clean energy future a reality. The world's fourth largest economy is running on two-thirds clean power—the largest economy on the planet to achieve this milestone. And for the first time ever, clean energy provided 100 percent of the state's power nearly every day this year for some part of the day. Not since the Industrial Revolution have we seen this kind of rapid transformation." Daniel Kammen, a professor of energy at the University of California, Berkeley, and a former senior advisor for energy and innovation at the U.S. Agency for International Development, told Newsweek: "Not only is California the fourth largest economy on the planet, but the state has exported clean energy to neighboring states and Canadian provinces for over 110 days in a row. What this milestone demonstrates is that by investing in clean energy generation and energy storage, economies large and small can be powered with clean energy at costs below fossil fuel generation. The fact that it is now cheaper to build a new clean energy power plant than to simply operate an existing fossil fuel plant has contributed greatly to this evolution." He added: "Research in my laboratory has documented that more jobs are created in the clean energy economy than in the fossil, dirty energy economy as well, which has further spurred this evolution. The lower costs, higher job creation, and with energy policy and planning landscape that integrates clean energy generation and energy storage, it shows that everyone everywhere can make this transition with energy, economic, climate, and social justice benefits." Daniel Nocera, a professor of energy at Harvard University, told Newsweek: "The issue of clean energy comes down to one factor at the end of the day—plain and simple—economics. I do not care what side of the fence you sit with regard to clean energy. If there is not a cost benefit, it is a nonstarter. The significance of clean energy in California is that this state has one of the, if not the, most vibrant economies in the nation. To do so with these achievements in clean energy proves that a vibrant economy may be maintained and grown with the adoption of clean energy. Clean energy is a profitable investment that leads to wealth generation and a vibrant economy." He added: "Some states do not have the access to clean energy resources that California does. What is important is that states will make wise decisions, with the clean energy resources that they possess, to advance their economies and job creation. It is inevitable in my opinion that all will come to finally realize that a commitment to clean energy will be an economic creation win, whatever that milestone is for a given state." Mark Z. Jacobson, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University, told Newsweek: "This achievement shows it is possible to have a clean and renewable grid while maintaining grid stability. Some will say that this achievement is at the expense of high cost of electricity in California. However, California's high electricity cost has nothing to do with renewables. Instead, renewables have prevented costs from being even higher. We know this because California is ranked only No. 12 in terms of the percent of demand met by wind-water-solar (WWS) renewables in the annual average. There are 11 states that, from Q2-2024 to Q1-2025, had 50 to 121 percent of their demand met by WWS, starting with South Dakota (121 percent WWS, 89 percent wind, 30 percent hydro, and 2.7 percent solar). Of those 11 states, 10 had electricity prices at least 1.9 cents/kWh below the national average." He added: "The reason for California's high electricity prices is that utilities have passed onto customers the cost of wildfires caused by transmission line sparks, the costs of the San Bruno and Aliso Canyon gas disasters, the costs of undergrounding gas lines due to San Bruno, the cost of undergrounding transmission lines due to the fires, the high cost of fossil gas in California, the cost of keeping Diablo Canyon nuclear open, and the cost of upgrading transmission lines." California Energy Commission Chair David Hochschild said in a news release: "California has achieved yet another major milestone on our journey to a clean energy future. The latest numbers show how our state is demonstrating that clean energy is mainstream and is here to stay." California Public Utilities Commission President Alice Reynolds said in a news release: "California has set ambitious clean energy goals, and utilities and community choice aggregators have stepped up to deliver clean resources at competitive prices to communities up and down the state. We are bringing renewable energy online at an unprecedented scale and pace never seen before." What Happens Next California officials have reaffirmed their commitment to a fully carbon-free electric grid by 2045.
Miami Herald
14-07-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
California reaches new record clean energy milestone
SAN JOSE, Calif. - California has hit a new record for clean energy. Solar, wind, hydropower and other carbon-free sources made up 67% of the state's retail electricity supply in 2023, the most recent year that data is available, according to new statistics released Monday by the California Energy Commission. The total is an increase from 2022, when it was 61%. And it exceeds the prior record of 64%, set in 2019. Under a state law signed by former Gov. Jerry Brown in 2018 aimed at reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions that are contributing to climate change, California was required to reach 60% renewable and carbon-free electricity by 2030 - a goal it has already met - and 100% by 2045. Solar, wind, geothermal, large hydropower, biomass and nuclear energy are allowed to count under the law. The new milestone comes as renewable energy is facing several headwinds. Earlier this month, Republicans in Congress passed and President Trump signed a bill that removes and reduces many of the tax breaks, federal grants and other incentives for states, private companies, and homeowners to expand renewable energy and electric vehicles that were put in place by President Biden. "As the federal government turns its back on innovation and commonsense, California is making our clean energy future a reality," Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement. "The world's fourth-largest economy is running on two-thirds clean power – the largest economy on the planet to achieve this milestone." Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
The Hill
14-07-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Newsom: Clean energy fuels two-thirds of California power grid
More than two-thirds of California's power grid is now fueled by clean energy sources — marking a new milestone for the Golden State, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced Monday, noting that fossil fuel alternatives were the only energy sources used 'nearly every day this year for some part of the day.' 'As the federal government turns its back on innovation and commonsense, California is making our clean energy future a reality,' Newsom said in a statement. 'The world's fourth largest economy is running on two-thirds clean power — the largest economy on the planet to achieve this milestone.' 'Not since the Industrial Revolution have we seen this kind of rapid transformation,' he added. The governor's office noted in its news release that the most recent figures, which show 67 percent of the state's power coming from clean sources, are from 2023 and the state has made additional efforts since then. California approved a state law in 2018 that requires the state to move to 100-percent renewable, carbon-free power sources by 2045. 'The latest numbers show how our state is demonstrating that clean energy is mainstream and is here to stay,' California Energy Commission (CEC) chair David Hochschild said in a statement. 'Clean energy' refers to sources such as solar, wind, hydro, nuclear, geothermal and biomass that do not produce greenhouse gas emissions. Newsom announced last fall that the state's greenhouse gas levels have dropped 20 percent since 2000. But the state's power milestone comes amid federal pushback on programs meant to encourage transitions to renewable energy sources. The massive tax and spending overhaul, known as the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act,' that President Trump signed earlier this month cuts back green energy subsidies that Democrats had embraced during the Biden administration. Trump signed an executive order days after signing the law, blasting 'expensive and unreliable energy sources like wind and solar' and directing top Cabinet officials to review subsidies that have been given to promote those efforts. 'Reliance on so-called 'green' subsidies threatens national security by making the United States dependent on supply chains controlled by foreign adversaries,' the president wrote. 'Ending the massive cost of taxpayer handouts to unreliable energy sources is vital to energy dominance, national security, economic growth and the fiscal health of the Nation.'
New York Post
08-07-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Activists claim California Dems, Newsom ‘have backed down' on climate change
Climate change activists claimed on Monday that California Democrats are in retreat after rolling back several environmental laws since the second Trump administration began. A Politico report featured several climate change lobbyists expressing disappointment in state Democrats, including Gov. Gavin Newsom, delaying and even suspending environmental regulations in recent weeks. Last month, a California Energy Commission official advised Newsom to pause his 2023 plan to place a cap on excessive oil company profits. 4 Climate change activists slammed California Democrats and Governor Gavin Newsom for rolling back several environmental laws 'It's one of the more disappointing turnabouts,' Consumer Watchdog President Jamie Court told Politico. 'We have backed down, and we may not be flying a white handkerchief, but it's pretty close to white.' Last week, Newsom also signed into law two housing bills that would exempt several construction projects, including for urban housing and health clinics, from environmental review. While former top environmental adviser Marie Liu understood these moves to be an effort to keep prices down, she feared this was focused on 'short-term' responses rather than the long-term consequences. 'This is part of the Democrats' doing some soul-searching and really trying to figure out what they stand for,' Liu told Politico. Activists considered this a step-down from President Donald Trump's first term in office, which saw California pushing for stricter gas mileage emissions standards for automakers, in direct conflict with the president. 4 California Governor Gavin Newsom under scrutiny after scaling back on climate change efforts AP 4 Dry conditions and hot temperatures are helping fuel multiple wildfires burning in Southern California Getty Images 'California was the vocal climate leader during the first Trump administration,' deputy policy director for the Coalition for Clean Air Chris Chavez said to Politico. 'It's questionable whether or not that leadership is still there.' In a comment to Fox News Digital, Newsom Deputy Director of Communications Daniel Villaseñor called the argument 'total, utter nonsense.' 'This Governor has done more to combat climate change than any Governor before him,' Villaseñor said. 4 A helicopter drops water on the Kenneth Fire in the West Hills section of Los Angeles on Jan. 9, 2025 AP Fox News Digital also reached out to the California Democratic Party for comment. California Democrats haven't completely given up the environmental fight. Last month, Newsom sued the Trump administration over its attempts to revoke California's Clean Air Act waivers.
