The California town of Clovis is considered a bellwether for the state’s evolving renewable energy industry. Known for being the first city in the world to fully install a solar grid, the community now serves as a laboratory for groundbreaking initiatives, educating thousands of residents about climate change and the importance of keeping the lights on.
What Is A Solar Grid?
A solar grid provides the technical capacity to generate electricity using photovoltaic solar panels, allowing homeowners and businesses to receive reliable power from renewable resources. It also reduces their carbon footprint by reducing the need for traditional electricity generation. Finally, a solar grid establishes a connection to the greater renewable energy community, potentially providing access to cheaper electricity and further reducing emissions.
The community of Clovis, California, was first to adopt this technology fully. In 2014, the city’s utility company, Clovis Electric, became the first in California to commit to 100% renewable energy by renaming itself as Clean Energy Connect.
Why Clovis, California?
Located in central California, Clovis is perfectly situated for taking advantage of the state’s abundant sunshine. With an average of nearly 300 days of sunshine per year, the city’s year-round climate makes it the perfect place to generate electricity from solar panels.
Additionally, the region’s geography is such that it gets the most out of solar energy. The San Francisco Bay Area is to the west, while the Sacramento Valley slumbers to the east. This creates a natural wind tunnel that funnels west to east, with the wind speed increasing by the time it reaches the peak of its path. This phenomenon, known as the valley breeze, makes Clovis a great place to generate power from wind turbines, too.
City Leading the Way
Since Clovis fully implemented its solar system, it has achieved impressive results. In 2025, the city generated more than 5 MW of power, significantly reducing its carbon footprint and saving the community money.
This impressive feat of generating solar power led the New York Times to name Clovis the ‘Greenest City’ in America. It also got the attention of world leaders and policymakers, who have been visiting the city regularly to learn more about its pioneering initiatives.
Impact On The Community
The community of Clovis benefits in a number of ways from its solar-generating efforts. For starters, the city now has the opportunity to generate its own power, which reduces its reliance on the grid. Additionally, citizens can work remotely, powering their homes with solar energy and reducing their carbon footprint, as well as ensuring they have the electricity they need when they need it.
The city also benefits from the development of a local economy around sustainable energy, with residents purchasing goods and services from local businesses.
Statewide Reception
Since Clovis achieved such notable results with its solar power system, other California cities have followed suit. Both Redding and Davis, California, have now committed to 100% renewable energy. This comes after Governor Gavin Newsom’s (D) administration established a new framework to support the efficient use of renewable energy in California.
Overall, Governor Newsom and the state of California have placed a significant emphasis on transitioning to clean energy. This includes supporting research and development in renewable energy technologies, as well as increasing the access to capital for local businesses. As a result, the renewable energy industry in California has seen a marked increase in interest.
Going Forward
Although the city of Clovis benefits immensely from its innovative approach to renewable energy, it faces numerous challenges going forward. One major issue the city needs to overcome is the intermittency of solar power. Unlike a steady stream of power from a traditional energy source, solar electricity can be difficult to store, and it can be unpredictable. This means that it is not always available when needed, which could create major problems if the electricity cannot be stored.
Additionally, solar panels require constant maintenance and attention to ensure they continue to function properly. This places a major burden on the city’s resources, as well as the time of its residents. To ensure a sustainable and thriving local economy, Clovis will need to continue developing ways to lessen the impact of its pioneering efforts.
Looking to the future, what will Clovis need to achieve sustainable, renewable power?
Well, first off, the city will need to continue expanding its solar power system. At the moment, it generates more than 5 MW of power, with the capacity able to increase as much as 10-fold. Second, it needs to find ways to store the power it generates. One possibility could be large lithium-ion batteries that can be charged by the sun. These could be used in a manner similar to how we use power banks today, storing electricity for when the sun doesn’t shine and when it dims on hot summer days – making it accessible when needed.
Finally, the city will need to develop ways to reduce the amount of power it uses. This could involve upgrading the energy efficiency of the buildings within its boundaries or finding ways to generate electricity only when needed. One possibility could be generating power in the early morning hours and late at night, when electricity usage is at its lowest – making the load more manageable for the system.
Clovis is considered a bellwether for the state’s evolving renewable energy industry. Its innovative approach to generating power from the sun has served as a model for other California cities and led to major shifts in energy policy that support sustainability and local resilience.