California Governor Gavin Newsom isn't holding back. At the COP30 Summit in Brazil last week, he took direct aim at President Donald Trump, arguing that federal energy policies are handing China the advantage in clean energy while California charges ahead—literally.
California's Battery Boom
The numbers tell quite a story. California's battery storage capacity has exploded by 2,100% since Newsom took office in 2019. In a post on X over the weekend, the governor highlighted that the state now has nearly 17,000 megawatts of battery storage—about one-third of the way to California's 2045 goal. "California is deploying more battery storage than any state in America," Newsom wrote.
According to a recent statement from California's government, this rapid expansion is central to the state's strategy for hitting 100% clean electricity by 2045. It's an ambitious target, and battery storage is the linchpin that makes intermittent renewable energy sources like solar and wind viable around the clock.
Trump's 'Reckless Energy Agenda'
At COP30, Newsom didn't mince words about the Trump administration's approach. He said Trump's "reckless energy agenda puts China first and America last," claiming it allows China to dominate the clean energy economy and capture high-paying jobs. "While Donald Trump is failing, the Golden State is leading," Newsom declared, pointing to California's clean energy deployments, grid infrastructure investments, and efforts to make renewable energy more affordable.
Energy Storage Gains Traction
California isn't alone in recognizing the potential of energy storage. Tesla Inc. (TSLA) reported a 44% revenue increase from its energy storage business during its third-quarter earnings call. Meanwhile, Redwood Materials—founded by Tesla co-founder JB Straubel—recently secured $350 million in funding for its work recycling EV batteries and developing energy storage solutions.
Clashing on Oil and Licensing
Newsom also criticized the Trump administration's reported plans to expand offshore oil drilling in California, noting it's "overwhelmingly opposed by members of all political parties in the state of California."
On another front, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy slammed Newsom's administration for allegedly issuing commercial driver's licenses to undocumented foreign workers following a fatal Florida highway accident involving an illegal U-turn that killed three people. Duffy said the Department of Transportation was "reprimanding California for violating FMCSA's [Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration] ORIGINAL rules."