Mark Z. Jacobson

This is how to get energy independence.

So what's the purpose of nuclear?

CA had enough solar+batteries in 2025 to produce a constant 4 GW every minute of 90% of days in 2025 plus more power during other hours

4 GW=180% of the constant 2.2 GW DC nuc plant, which also ran 90% of '25

Solar+batteries much cheaper, faster, safer, cleaner

1/ New research @UniLUT ietresearch.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1049/... investigates pathways to a fully renewable energy system in #Iran across power, heat, transport, industry & desalination, with 3 policy scenarios to 2050. #100RE #NetZero

How low can gas go?

Down 59% in 2026 vs 2023 so far.

14th straight and 41 of 64 days in 2026 with WWS meeting >100% of demand for part of the day.

Demand also down 3% vs '23

Solar up 62%; batteries up 320% vs '23

The streak continues.

12 straight >100% WWS days and 39/62 (63%) in 2026

WWS has been baseload electricity in the daily average all winter (third panel).

Gas is down 58% in 2026 versus 2023

The data show that WindWaterSolar saves money, so why is the federal government trying to saddle consumers with high electricity prices by pushing more fossil fuels and nuclear? Not to help the country.

7-8 hours per day over the weekend with 100% WindWaterSolar on CA's main grid, peaking at 150.4% of demand on Sunday.

10 days straight and 37/60 with 100% WWS first two months of 2026.

Gas down 34% in 2026 vs 2025 & 58% vs 2023

Solar up 63% and batteries up 320% vs 2023.

The data show that WindWaterSolar saves money, so why is the federal government trying to saddle consumers with high electricity prices by pushing more fossil fuels and nuclear? Not to help the country.

WindWaterSolar saves money

More WWS as a % of state grid+BTM electricity demand is clearly correlated with lower electricity prices

The top two (producing 101-124% of demand) and 12 of top 14 and 15 of top 18 states had prices 1.5-5.4 c/kWh below US avg in 2025

web.stanford.edu/group/efmh/j...

In 2025, wind was the largest single source of electricity, beating out fossils, in 4 states (SD, IA, KS, NM)

Wind supplied 10.7% of all US grid+Behind-the-Meter demand

4 states met 67-87.4% & 7 states met 40-87.4% of demand w/wind

web.stanford.edu/group/efmh/j...
web.stanford.edu/group/efmh/j...

Now 8 days straight and 35 of 58 (60%) with >100% WWS on CA's main grid for part of the day.

Gas down 57% since 2023.

New US renewables record!

25.72% of U.S. grid+behind-the-meter electricity demand met solely by WindWaterSolar in 2025.

Increase from 23.90% in 2024 despite 2.1% growth in grid demand.

2 states met 101-124% of grid+BTM demand with WWS.

14 states met 50-124%.

web.stanford.edu/group/efmh/j...

Thanks, Rob. You can just cite it through this link:

web.stanford.edu/group/efmh/j...

Governor Hochul likes to claim NY leads on climate and energy, but actually 22 other states produce more of their electric demand from renewables, some of them a lot more.
@governor.ny.gov @doreenharris.bsky.social

New US renewables record!

25.72% of U.S. grid+behind-the-meter electricity demand met solely by WindWaterSolar in 2025.

Increase from 23.90% in 2024 despite 2.1% growth in grid demand.

2 states met 101-124% of grid+BTM demand with WWS.

14 states met 50-124%.

web.stanford.edu/group/efmh/j...

AI’s power demands could have climate consequences Slew of carbon-spewing gas plants in development.

AI data centers powered by gas are bad

"bad for climate, bad for air quality, bad for the environment'

"Fastest & cheapest thing to do is to pay homeowners to deploy roof solar with battery backup. Could be done in 6 mon and free up utility power"

www.sfexaminer.com/news/technol...

6th day straight & 33rd of 56 (59%) in 2026 with WWS meeting >100% of demand on @CaliforniaISO grid for part of the day (averaging 2.2 hours/day)

All in winter!

In 2023, not one 100% WWS day until March 8

Fossil gas is down 56% since '23
Solar up 59% since '23
Batteries up 310% since '23

In 2025, wind was the largest single source of electricity, beating out fossils, in 4 states (SD, IA, KS, NM)

Wind supplied 10.7% of all US grid+Behind-the-Meter demand

4 states met 67-87.4% & 7 states met 40-87.4% of demand w/wind

web.stanford.edu/group/efmh/j...
web.stanford.edu/group/efmh/j...

US state rank of % change in res electricity price 2024 to 2025

US avg price: 17.3 c/kWh & increase: 5% (0.83 c/kWh)

3 states (NV, HI, NC) had price decreases

CA had lowest % price increase (1.8%) and lower absolute inc (0.58 c/kWh) than US avg despite its large growth in RE

Wow: New EIA data show, in 2025, 2 states (SD, MT) supplied >100% of their grid+behind-the-meter electricity demand with WindWaterSolar & 14 states supplied 50-124% of demand with WWS

12 of the 14 states had residential electricity prices 1.9-5.5 c/kWh below US avg

web.stanford.edu/group/efmh/j...

US electricity demand grew by 2.1% in 2025. California's power demand declined by 3.1%, not withstanding 2.5M EVs and 3rd largest data center concentration.
The economy grows. Electrification grows. Yet demand for electricity declines. That is the beauty of NetZero and electrification.

100% Clean Energy Is Possible Now with Guest Mark Jacobson YouTube video by The Clean Energy Edge Podcast

100% clean, renewable energy transition explained:

Why WindWaterSolar is cheaper, cleaner, faster, and safer than any other option for addressing global warming, air pollution, and energy security.

My clean Energy Edge Podcast with Russ Bates
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlUc...

Ideally, more data centers will not be built or will be built more efficiently. If they are built, they should be powered by (a) rooftop solar offsetting grid use, (b) enhanced geothermal (which is part of WWS), or (c) wind+solar+batteries

WindWaterSolar (which includes storage) is the only way forward, including for data centers.

Google to deploy world’s largest (300 MW/30 GWh) iron-air battery for US data center in Minnesota, pairing it with 1.6 GW of new wind and solar.

www.pv-magazine.com/2026/02/25/g...

While US grid demand increased 2.1% in 2025, California's declined 3.16%-despite 2.5 mil EVs in CA, lots of heat pumps, and 3rd-most data centers in the US

About 36% of the decline was due to growth in behind-the-meter PV

BTM PV is an easy way to reduce growth of grid demand

Wow: New EIA data show, in 2025, 2 states (SD, MT) supplied >100% of their grid+behind-the-meter electricity demand with WindWaterSolar & 14 states supplied 50-124% of demand with WWS

12 of the 14 states had residential electricity prices 1.9-5.5 c/kWh below US avg

web.stanford.edu/group/efmh/j...

WindWaterSolar met a peak of 144% of demand on the California ISO grid on Saturday 2/21

Demand down 1.1% so far in '26 v '25 and down 1.7% v '23 (despite growth in EVs, heat pumps, data centers)

Fossil gas down 35% v '25 and 54% v '23.

Batteries up 39% v '25 and 304% v '23

Hinkley Point C nuclear plant delayed to 2030 as costs climb to £35bn French utility company EDF says operations in Somerset will start a year later as delay costs firm €2.5bn

New nuclear is crazy-and useless

$47.2 bil for 3.26 GW Hinkley Point C=$14.5/W vs $1/W for solar and wind

And HPC will take 22 years from planning to operation (2008-2030), vs 1-3 for PV/wind

Similar statistics for Vogtle

Vaporware SMRs are worse

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

And why bother with new nuclear when enhanced geothermal does the exact same thing but faster, cheaper, cleaner & safer and with less land & no mining and can be done most anywhere

web.stanford.edu/group/efmh/j...
news.stanford.edu/stories/2026...

Nuc pushers have no idea what the alternatives are

Hinkley Point C nuclear plant delayed to 2030 as costs climb to £35bn French utility company EDF says operations in Somerset will start a year later as delay costs firm €2.5bn

New nuclear is crazy-and useless

$47.2 bil for 3.26 GW Hinkley Point C=$14.5/W vs $1/W for solar and wind

And HPC will take 22 years from planning to operation (2008-2030), vs 1-3 for PV/wind

Similar statistics for Vogtle

Vaporware SMRs are worse

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...