Batteries Now #1 Morning Power Source in California

For the first time, batteries and solar powered California around the clock, with batteries running as the number one morning electricity source at nearly 6,000 megawatts. Tim Montague and John Weaver break down this milestone and a packed week of clean energy news, from a Supreme Court ruling striking down global tariffs to a Republican push to reinstate the 30% solar ITC. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTSCalifornia achieved 24/7 solar and battery power for the first time. Batteries discharged through the night and morning, charged on near-free midday solar, then discharged again in the evening. (PV Magazine)Republican House member Brian Fitzpatrick voted against the "One Big Bill" over the removal of solar and wind tax credits and now pushes to reinstate the ITC. (E&E News)The Supreme Court ruled Trump's global tariffs illegal. John clarifies this removes the 10-20% blanket tariffs on goods like copper, steel, and aluminum. Solar module tariffs, battery tariffs from China (40-60%), and Southeast Asian tariffs remain in place. Indonesia's solar imports surged from 6 megawatts to 2.5 gigawatts of modules in under two years. Petitioners in the AD/CVD investigation now cite "critical circumstances." Expect new tariff action targeting Indonesian modules. (Solar Power World)Hithium completed the world's first open-door fire safety test on a 6.25 MWh battery energy storage system. Even with doors open and safety systems disabled, adjacent battery units were undamaged. (ESS News)Tim reports the number of battery companies at Intersolar roughly doubled year over year, now outnumbering solar module companies.With the ITC phase-out approaching, electricity prices climbing, and battery deployments accelerating, the stories covered here directly affect procurement decisions, financial modeling, and market strategy in 2026. Support the showConnect with Tim  Clean Power Hour  Clean Power Hour on YouTubeTim on TwitterTim on LinkedIn Email [email protected] Review Clean Power Hour on Apple PodcastsThe Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email:  [email protected] sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems.  Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com