California’s utility-scale solar plants are generating more electricity than natural gas for most days of the year in 2026, according to new data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).
The EIA says that during the first five months of 2026, utility-scale solar generation in the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) rose 21% compared to the same period in 2024. Over the same timeframe, electricity generation from natural gas plants plunged 60%.
Source: EIA
Solar didn’t just edge out gas occasionally, either. Utility-scale solar generated more electricity than natural gas on 82% of days between January and May 2026. That’s a huge jump from just 21% of days during the same period in both 2024 and 2025.
The shift comes as California continues adding solar and battery storage at a rapid pace.
