Climate Issues in the 2026 Governor’s Race: Energy Transition

California is pursuing some of the world’s most ambitious clean energy goals, including a legally mandated zero-emissions electricity sector and statewide GHG emissions neutrality by 2045. When it comes to the energy transition, the stakes for the incoming governor are high: a massive surge in electricity demand from electric vehicles, building electrification, and data centers could increase grid costs and strain reliability; winding down oil production and refining will have significant implications for consumers and workers; switching from fossil gas to electricity poses huge infrastructure complications; and the state must navigate these issues with reduced federal support.