Mercedes Mullins
California, the state with the largest population and the largest economy in the United States, has been actively transitioning from fossil fuels to clean energy sources. In 2020, California's electrical power was about 60% clean energy, with renewables making up 34.5%, large hydro 13.9%, and nuclear 10.6%. The state has some of the most aggressive renewable energy goals in the country, aiming for 100% clean energy by 2045. However, as the state grapples with the impacts of climate change, including heatwaves, droughts, and wildfires, the question of how much fossil fuel is burned annually in California remains a critical one.
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What You'll Learn
California's fossil fuel use is declining
California has the largest economy in the nation, with a $4.2 trillion GDP in 2024, overtaking Japan to become the world's fourth-largest economy. It is the second-largest total energy consumer among the states, after Texas, but its per capita energy consumption is the third-lowest in the nation. California is the largest consumer of jet fuel in the nation and the second-largest consumer of motor gasoline, after Texas.
Energy consumption in California is dominated by the transportation sector, which uses about 86% of the petroleum consumed in the state. This is due to the high number of motor vehicles and long commutes. In 2017, transportation accounted for 40% of total energy use, and in 2015, the sector was estimated to be the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. However, California has reduced fossil fuel consumption in the state by 7.8 billion gallons compared to projected trends.
The decline in fossil fuel use in California is driven by several factors, including lower population growth, enhanced fuel efficiency, and the proliferation of renewable fuels. High gasoline prices have also influenced consumer behaviour, leading to stronger demand for more fuel-efficient vehicles. The California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate program, requiring electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles, is estimated to have reduced gasoline consumption significantly.
California has made notable progress towards building a more resilient grid and achieving clean energy goals. In 2024, renewable resources, including hydropower and small-scale solar power, supplied 57% of California's in-state electricity generation. The state also leads the nation in electricity generation from non-hydroelectric renewable energy sources, such as geothermal power, wind power, and solar power. California has set ambitious renewable energy goals, aiming for at least 33% of its electricity to come from renewable resources by 2020 and 50% by 2030.
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Clean power sources are increasing
California is the state with the largest population and the largest economy in the United States. It is the second-largest total energy consumer, after Texas, and the fourth-largest electricity producer in the nation. In 2024, California was the second-largest producer of electricity from biomass and the second-largest producer of conventional hydroelectric power.
Despite spending billions on climate change initiatives, 84% of California's energy still comes from fossil fuels. However, there are signs of progress. California has made significant strides in transitioning to clean energy sources, with renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, hydropower, and geothermal power gaining traction. In 2024, renewable resources supplied 57% of California's in-state electricity generation, with solar energy providing 32% of the state's total electricity generation. California is also the nation's top producer of electricity from geothermal resources, with 70% of the nation's utility-scale geothermal-sourced electricity coming from the state in 2024.
California has set ambitious renewable energy goals and is actively working towards achieving them. The state is required to obtain at least 33% of its electricity from renewable resources by 2020 and 50% by 2030. California is adding more clean energy capacity to its grid faster than ever before. More than 20,000 MW of clean energy projects are already under contract and in development to serve California customers by 2030. In 2024, California had about 1,000 megawatts of utility-scale biomass generating capacity, and it ranked tenth in the nation in wind-powered generation, with 6,400 megawatts of wind capacity.
California's total plan to decarbonize its economy by 2045 will require up to 70% more electricity consumption compared to 2022. To achieve this goal, the state will need to further reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and increase its adoption of clean and renewable energy sources. California is on the right track, with pollution down and the economy up. Greenhouse gas emissions in California have decreased by 20% since 2000, while the state's GDP has increased by 78% during the same period.
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California's crude oil output
California has some of the most ambitious renewable energy goals in the United States. The state is required to obtain at least 33% of its electricity from renewable resources by 2020, and 50% by 2030. In 2024, renewable resources, including hydropower and small-scale solar power, supplied 57% of California's in-state electricity generation. Natural gas-fired power plants provided 35% of the state's total net generation, and nuclear power accounted for the remaining 7%.
California has large energy resources and is among the top producers of oil, hydroelectricity, solar, biomass, and geothermal energy in the United States. The state has more than a dozen of the country's largest oil fields, including the Midway-Sunset Oil Field, the second-largest oil field in the contiguous United States. As of 2022, California's crude oil output accounted for about 3% of total US production, with drilling operations concentrated primarily in Kern County and the Los Angeles Basin. In 2012, California produced 8.3% of the country's crude oil output, extracting 197 million barrels of crude oil out of the total 2,375 million barrels produced in the US.
The California oil and gas industry has been a significant economic and cultural component of the state for over a century. Oil production was a minor factor in the 19th century, but it became a major industry in the 20th century with the discovery of new fields around Los Angeles and the San Joaquin Valley, and the surge in demand for gasoline to fuel automobiles and trucks. In 1900, California pumped 4 million barrels, nearly 5% of the national supply. By 1914, the state was pumping 100 million barrels, representing 38% of the national supply.
There is also some offshore oil and gas production in California, but there is now a permanent moratorium on new offshore oil and gas leasing and new oil platforms in both California and federal waters. These restrictions were imposed after the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill. As of 2022, California produced less than 25% of the crude oil used statewide, with the majority imported from Ecuador, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Colombia.
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California's fossil fuel transportation use
California is the second-largest consumer of refined petroleum products in the US, accounting for about 9% of total consumption. The state's transportation sector uses about 86% of the petroleum consumed. Californians have more registered motor vehicles and travel more miles by vehicle than residents of any other state. California accounts for one-tenth of US motor gasoline consumption and about one-seventh of the nation's jet fuel consumption. Overall, the state's transportation sector accounts for 42% of California's total energy consumption.
California's crude oil output accounted for about 3% of total US production as of 2022. Drilling operations are primarily concentrated in Kern County and the Los Angeles Basin. The state has more than a dozen of the US's largest oil fields, including the Midway-Sunset Oil Field, the second-largest in the contiguous US. There is also substantial offshore oil and gas production, with 27 platforms along the coast as of 2020. However, there is a permanent moratorium on new offshore oil and gas leasing in California waters.
California has some of the most ambitious renewable energy goals in the US. The state aims to obtain at least 33% of its electricity from renewable resources by 2020 and 50% by 2030, excluding large hydropower. California leads the nation in electricity generation from non-hydroelectric renewable sources, including geothermal, wind, and solar power. Despite these efforts, 84% of California's energy still comes from fossil fuels, with 50% derived from crude oil and 34% from natural gas.
While California is taking steps to transition to cleaner energy sources, the transportation sector remains a significant user of fossil fuels. The state has implemented measures such as requiring most motorists to use a special motor gasoline blend called California Clean Burning Gasoline (CA CBG) to reduce emissions. Additionally, California refineries are configured to produce cleaner fuels, including reformulated motor gasoline and low-sulfur diesel, to meet strict environmental regulations.
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California's fossil fuel energy imports
California has some of the most ambitious renewable energy goals in the United States. The state plans to obtain at least 33% of its electricity from renewable resources by 2020 and 50% by 2030, excluding large hydropower. By 2045, California aims to decarbonize its economy, which will require up to 70% more electricity consumption compared to 2022 to eliminate fossil fuels from sectors such as transportation and residential heating.
Despite these goals, California still relies heavily on fossil fuels. In 2022, 84% of California's energy came from fossil fuels. The state is the second-largest total energy consumer in the US after Texas, and it has the largest economy in the nation, with a GDP of $4.2 trillion in 2024. California is a major producer of oil, with more than a dozen of the United States' largest oil fields, including the Midway-Sunset Oil Field, the second-largest in the contiguous US. However, as crude oil production in California declined, the state increased its imports from foreign suppliers, with Iraq, Brazil, Guyana, and Ecuador providing almost two-thirds of its refined crude oil in 2024.
California's electricity rates are among the highest in the country due to the changing energy mix, including the construction of new natural gas power plants. In 2019, California imported the largest amount of electricity of any state, with 70.8 million megawatt-hours (MWh) or 25% of its total electricity supply coming from other states. The state's electricity imports include hydroelectric power from the Pacific Northwest and nuclear, coal, and natural gas-fired production from the Southwest. California utilities also import power from several plants in Arizona and Utah.
Transportation is the largest source of energy consumption in California, accounting for 42% of the state's total energy use. Californians have more registered motor vehicles and travel longer distances than residents of any other state, contributing to the high energy consumption in this sector. California is the largest consumer of jet fuel in the nation and the second-largest consumer of motor gasoline after Texas. The state accounts for one-tenth of US motor gasoline consumption and about one-seventh of the nation's jet fuel consumption.
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Frequently asked questions
California's fossil fuel usage has been declining over the years, with clean power sources on the rise. In 2020, fossil fuel sources totalled 40% of the state's energy mix, with natural gas being the cleanest fossil fuel.
California has some of the most ambitious renewable energy goals in the US. Senate Bill 100 (2018) mandates that 100% of California's electric retail sales be supplied by renewable and zero-carbon energy sources by 2045.
California's energy consumption is dominated by the transportation sector, due to the high number of motor vehicles and long commutes. The state is also responsible for about 20% of total jet fuel consumption in the US.
