Solar energy: official state energy.

Assembly Member Wallis's legislation to designate solar energy as California's official state energy builds upon the state's extensive collection of official symbols while highlighting its position as a global leader in solar power development and adoption. The measure would add solar energy alongside existing state emblems like the California redwood tree and the golden poppy.

The bill's findings detail California's pioneering role in solar energy, from early solar water heating in the 1920s to the current presence of over 2.1 million solar installations generating approximately 50 gigawatts of capacity. As of 2024, solar power provided more than 31 percent of California's electricity generation, with the state's solar capacity exceeding that of 42 other states combined. The legislation notes California's home to major utility-scale facilities like the Desert Sunlight Solar Farm in Riverside County and the Solar Star installation in Kern County.

The designation carries no regulatory requirements or fiscal impacts, requiring only a majority vote without appropriations or committee review. The measure adds a single line to the Government Code establishing solar energy as the official state energy, joining other symbolic designations that represent California's natural and cultural heritage.