MANY MINDEDCalifornia mandates faster transmission projects to prevent renewable energy delays
California’s government signed Assembly Bill 2493 in October 2026. This law requires investor-owned utilities and independent transmission developers to submit project schedules for major transmission upgrades needing California Public Utilities Commission permits. The law addresses a critical gap: California must add 7 to 8 gigawatts of electricity capacity annually for the next two decades to meet climate targets. A November 2025 report shows 22 gigawatts of renewable generation and battery installations depend on transmission projects experiencing delays. Of those, 13.2 gigawatts are at risk of delay due to transmission project timelines. AB 2493 also creates a new transmission development monitor position within the California Public Utilities Commission to track progress and mandates that utilities and developers submit remedial actions if timelines are missed.
The law targets grid bottlenecks that currently block renewable energy integration. By requiring real-time project tracking and enforcing remedial actions, it aims to accelerate the deployment of transmission infrastructure needed to move renewable power from generation sites to consumers.
This directly supports energy abundance by reducing delays that would otherwise increase costs for clean electricity. Faster grid integration means more renewable power reaches households and businesses without the financial and environmental penalties of delayed projects. The law also strengthens grid security by ensuring transmission infrastructure keeps pace with renewable energy growth.
What to watch: The California Public Utilities Commission will update the 22 gigawatt figure as projects progress. The source is Canary Media’s California Wire newsletter (October 2026), which provides no data on California’s current renewable capacity.
Source: Canary Media