Kern County continues to stand at the center of California’s evolving energy landscape, and this year’s Kern EDC Energy Summit reinforced how pivotal the region will be in meeting the state’s future power needs. The Utilities Panel, featuring leaders from Southern California Edison (SCE), SoCalGas, and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), offered a clear look at the challenges and opportunities ahead. Their insights point to a future defined by rapid infrastructure deployment, diversified clean energy resources, and proactive collaboration with commercial and industrial customers.
Agilitech was onsite to capture the perspectives shaping tomorrow’s energy environment. The following are the major themes and takeaways that will influence how businesses plan, invest, and operate in the coming decade.
Doubling the Speed of Grid Infrastructure Buildout
SCE highlighted one of its core priorities: accelerating the pace of grid capacity expansion. The utility is focused on improving power capacity density and deploying compact, using prefabricated substations that require only a fraction of the footprint and installation time of traditional infrastructure.
This acceleration is essential to support the surge in electrification, data center growth, and industrial development across California. SCE also emphasized the importance of leveraging customer side assets to better utilize existing infrastructure while maintaining affordability, with tools like Demand Response programs for EV charging stations.
For businesses, this signals a future where proactive planning and early coordination with utilities will be key to securing adequate power capacity.
Kern County’s Leadership in Renewable Gas and Future Hydrogen
SoCalGas underscored a point of regional importance: most of California’s renewable natural gas is produced in Kern County through biogas facilities across the San Joaquin Valley, such as CalBio and their dairy farm renewable gas plant.
Expanding this success will require open access, common carrier pipeline infrastructure that allows renewable gas and future hydrogen to move more freely throughout the state. SoCalGas shared that the technology to integrate hydrogen safely and effectively already exists, and the utility is working with regulators and policymakers to position Kern County as a hub for hydrogen enabled solutions.
For local businesses, this creates opportunities not only in clean fuel procurement but also in participating in emerging clean gas markets.
Nuclear Power and Large Hydro as Affordability Anchors
PG&E delivered one of the strongest messages of the panel. Diablo Canyon continues to generate 10 percent of the state’s electricity and remains California’s largest clean energy producer. Its output flows directly into Kern County through the Midway Substation, providing hundreds of millions of dollars in customer savings by supplying round the clock, carbon free baseload power.
With predicted load growth of more than 10 gigawatts by 2035 and 20 gigawatts by 2045, PG&E stressed the need for policies that support a diverse mix of clean energy resources, including nuclear and large hydro. This diversity is essential to maintaining affordability as the state electrifies transportation, manufacturing, and other sectors.
Planning Ahead with Customers
SCE also shared a meaningful shift in its customer engagement strategy. The utility no longer waits for businesses to submit load requests after development decisions have already been made. Instead, SCE now operates a dedicated team focused on early communication with customers and communities so they can plan infrastructure proactively.
This approach is particularly relevant for industries driving major new loads, including data centers. SCE noted that it is encouraging operators to consider distributing demand across multiple smaller sites to reduce strain on any single substation.
For Agilitech clients, this reinforces the importance of early utility communication in project planning and long term operational strategy.
Agilitech’s Take: A Call to Action for Business Leaders
PG&E closed the panel with a direct message to the business community: engage in the energy conversation. The utility encouraged leaders to advocate for common sense first energy policy, support diversified clean energy development, and gain firsthand understanding of grid infrastructure needs by visiting operating facilities.
Agilitech Renewable Project Developer, Bo Jones, echoed this message, emphasizing that Kern County’s future success depends on strengthening the conditions that allow utilities and private enterprises to build energy capacity at scale. Advocating for policy alignment, participating in industry dialogue, and supporting a mix of generation technologies are essential steps for businesses that want to drive competitive advantage through energy resilience.
What This Means for Businesses in Kern County
One theme came through clearly. The future of energy in California will require unprecedented collaboration. Utilities are investing. Policymakers are evaluating major shifts. Technologies are advancing quickly. Businesses that stay informed and engaged will be best positioned to manage risk, secure reliable power, and capitalize on opportunities created by this transformation.
At Agilitech, we are committed to helping businesses navigate complexity with clarity. Whether through custom solar and storage systems, microgrid strategies, energy planning, or EPC services, our focus remains consistent. We are dedicated to Powering Possibilities for clients across Kern County and beyond.
If your organization is evaluating its energy strategy in the face of growing grid pressures and policy complexity, let’s talk about how to Power Possibilities—custom solar + storage systems, microgrids, EPC services—all designed for commercial and industrial success in Kern County and beyond.
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