Dept. of Energy Fact-Checks Newsom’s Clean Energy Claim: ‘FALSE’
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has retaliated against California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) for making a misleading statement about the use of renewable energy in his state, while calling the agency’s secretary an “oil campaigner.”
Newsom directed his anger at DOE Sec. Chris Wright on Wednesday after criticizing California’s energy policy during an appearance on Fox Business, saying “they destroyed their power grid” and pointing out that they went from 40% of U.S. oil production to just 2%.
“They have done everything possible to make themselves more fragile in the face of external shocks, to make energy more expensive, to achieve the highest adjusted poverty rate of all time. [state] of the [nation]net migration of the business population,” Wright told Mornings with Maria will welcome Maria Bartiromo on Wednesday morning.
He continued: “I see Gavin Newsom bragging about his policies – like, where are these Americans who want expensive energy, who want to depend on foreign nations instead of their own state, or at least the states neighboring their own nation?
The left-leaning governor’s press office responded to Wright’s comments on X, saying “California is now 67 percent powered by clean energy.”
“Enjoy your asthma and your black lungs, Oil Shill Chris,” Newsom’s account adds:
The DOE provided a fact check in response, calling the governor’s assertion incorrect:
“False. Only 15% of Latin America’s primary energy consumption comes from ‘renewable energy’. More than 75% of Latin America’s energy consumption comes from oil and gas, which is higher than the national rate,” the ministry responded on United States, the highest gas prices and the highest adjusted poverty rate in America.
“I wouldn’t brag if that were my condition,” the DOE added.
The 67% figure cited by Newsom refers only to retail electricity sales, according to a July 2025 study. press release from Newsom’s own administration.
In reality, California’s total primary energy consumption remains dominated by oil and gas at more than 75 percent, largely due to transportation fuels. This share represents approximately 40 percent of California’s total primary energy consumption, bringing overall dependence on fossil fuels to more than 75 percent.
Olivia Rondeau is a political reporter for Breitbart News based in Washington, DC. Find it on X/Twitter And Instagram.
