In a nation increasingly divided over energy policy, two unexpected success stories have emerged from opposite ends of the political spectrum. While the rhetoric in Washington has turned sharply against the "green energy revolution," both California and Texas have engineered remarkable transformations of their electric grids — effectively eliminating the rolling blackouts that once plagued their systems during extreme weather.

As the Trump administration begins its second term with promises to roll back clean energy incentives and boost fossil fuel production — and even re-defining “energy” to not include solar and wind power — America's two largest states offer compelling evidence that the president's stance on renewable energy is fundamentally misguided.

The administration's skepticism toward green technology flies in the face of market realities that have made these solutions not just environmentally beneficial but economically superior.

It’s been an amazing year for battery storage, in particular, which “firms” variable renewable sources like solar and wind. By the end of 2024, California surpassed 13 GW of battery storage capacity, with Texas close behind. These formerly blackout- and brownout-prone states have achieved an unprecedented level of grid reliability through massive deployments of battery storage, despite facing increasingly severe weather challenges.

What's particularly instructive is how these states achieved similar results through different approaches. California pioneered the way with state-ordained incentives and mandates that pushed utilities into signing contracts for battery capacity. Texas, meanwhile, simply let private investors build whatever power plants they believed would make money in the competitive Electric Reliability Council of Texas market. Despite these differing philosophies, both states arrived at the same conclusion: batteries are essential for a reliable, affordable grid.

The results speak for themselves. During a heat wave in the summer of 2020, California ran short on power and had to initiate rolling blackouts. Now, when record heat hits and millions of Californians crank their air-conditioning, the state can call upon over 13 GW of batteries to shift its ample solar production into the evening hours when supplies run low. 

In 2023, ERCOT, Texas’s grid operator, issued 11 conservation notices during extreme weather, including notices for seven consecutive days in August. By contrast, 2024 saw no conservation calls during summer despite experiencing virtually identical peak demand.

The difference in both states? Massive battery capacity providing crucial grid flexibility when consumers needed it most.

This transformation didn't just improve reliability — it dramatically reduced costs. In Texas, August 2024 power prices were, on average, $160/MWh lower than the same month in 2023, with savings totaling approximately $750 million.

The battery revolution in both states demonstrates a fundamental reality that the Trump administration has failed to grasp: when clean energy technologies become cost-competitive, market forces drive rapid adoption regardless of political headwinds. Battery pack prices have plummeted 92% since 2010, making grid storage increasingly attractive to investors seeking returns.

California's grid transformation highlights how policies designed to address climate change have yielded unexpected reliability benefits. On Oct. 7, 2024, during a late-season heat wave, batteries discharged a record 8.35 GW into the California grid, representing over 21% of demand at that moment. This stored capacity — which would not have existed just a few years ago — prevented what would likely have required blackouts in the past.

Meanwhile, Texas demonstrates that even without climate-focused policies, the economic case for batteries has become overwhelming. In a system where companies can build whatever generation they believe will be profitable, batteries are winning because they deliver superior value for both investors and consumers.

The dramatic expansion of battery storage has significantly reduced renewable energy curtailment in both states. In California, curtailment of solar energy decreased by over 34% from 2023 to 2024, with batteries absorbing excess midday solar generation that would otherwise be wasted.

Similarly, in Texas, wind curtailment dropped by more than 40% as batteries increasingly charge during high-wind/low-demand periods, typically at night. This stored energy is then dispatched during peak demand hours, effectively transforming previously curtailed renewable energy into valuable peak capacity.

In 2024 alone, batteries helped avoid approximately 27,500 MWh of renewable curtailment in California and a similar amount in Texas, representing a combined economic value of over $750 million while simultaneously reducing reliance on fossil fuel peaker plants.

President Trump's characterization of renewable energy as expensive and unreliable has been thoroughly debunked by actual market performance, on the ground, in a state not known for environmental activism.

The rise of battery storage in both California and Texas challenges conventional wisdom about renewable energy integration. The administration has long argued that wind and solar's variability makes them unsuitable as primary power sources. Yet these states have shown that with sufficient battery capacity, renewables can deliver reliable service even during extreme weather events. The days of choosing between clean energy and reliable energy are over.

Perhaps most importantly, these success stories offer a path forward amid political polarization. While California and Texas took different routes to their battery booms, both arrived at similar outcomes: cleaner, more reliable and more affordable electricity. This suggests that the clean energy transition can succeed regardless of the political environment, so long as technologies are allowed to compete based on their performance.

Yet the developments in both California and Texas suggest that even aggressive intervention to favor fossil fuels may matter less than fundamental market dynamics. The American Clean Power Association's analysis reveals that battery storage now dominates ancillary services markets in Texas, providing up to 80% of regulation services in 2024. In California, battery storage has become essential for managing the evening ramp when solar generation decreases and demand increases. These shifts occurred because batteries simply perform these functions more efficiently and at lower cost than alternatives.

The market fundamentals driving battery adoption show no signs of reversing. BloombergNEF reports that battery prices have dropped to unprecedented lows, making storage economically viable for an expanding range of applications. Both California and Texas have proven that at scale, batteries can effectively eliminate concerns about renewable variability while simultaneously lowering system costs.

What does this mean for America's energy future? First, it suggests that the energy transition will continue regardless of the Trump administration's fossil fuel advocacy. Grid-scale batteries have proven their value across political contexts — in progressive California and conservative Texas alike.

Second, it reveals that the administration's characterization of renewable energy as unreliable and expensive is demonstrably false. In both states, the combination of renewable generation and battery storage has produced more reliable grids at lower costs than the fossil-dominated systems of just a few years ago.

Third, it points to a potential path for depolarizing the energy debate. When technologies compete on their merits — whether in a mandate-driven market like California's or a laissez-faire environment like Texas — the same solutions have emerged.

The remarkable transformations of both states' electric grids carry lessons for the Trump administration. The president's skepticism toward renewable energy contradicts the market realities playing out in America's largest and most energy-intensive states. Far from being costly boondoggles, technologies like battery storage and solar power are proving to be economic powerhouses that enhance grid reliability while lowering costs.

The future of America's energy system will ultimately be determined not by presidential declarations or ideological preferences, but by economic reality. And increasingly, that reality favors a system where battery storage and renewable energy play central roles in maintaining reliability and localized energy production, while reducing costs.