CaliforniaGeothermal bill adds needed well connection work to exploration projects
The signed bill adds needed work connecting wells and reservoirs to geothermal exploration projects and clarifies how to measure their gap from commercially productive geothermal wells.
What it does
The signed bill adds equipment and work needed to connect wells and reservoirs to geothermal exploration projects. These projects have up to six wells and aim to check resources before field development.
The signed bill says how to measure the existing half-mile gap from geothermal wells that can produce commercially. The gap is measured from every point along an exploration well, including its surface location and bottom.
Argument forAdding needed connection work to projects of up to six wells could help developers test how wells and reservoirs connect before field development.
Argument againstThe bill's way of measuring the existing half-mile gap could limit where developers drill exploration wells near geothermal wells that can produce commercially.
More detail
The signed bill adds equipment and work connecting wells and reservoirs to the definition of a geothermal exploration project. A project may have no more than six wells and must mainly aim to check geothermal resources before field development begins. The equipment and work must be needed to connect wells and reservoirs.
The signed bill specifies how to measure the existing half-mile gap for geothermal exploration wells. The gap is between exploration wells and geothermal development wells that can produce commercial amounts of geothermal resources. Every point along the exploration well, including its surface location and bottom, must be at least half a mile from those development wells.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 30Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 927, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 30Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Sep 15Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 31Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 6967.).Major
- Vote recorded AB 2234 Papan Concurrence in Senate Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 30In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading AB2234 Papan By Laird. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 30Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.).Passed Senate
- Aug 28Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 27Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.Major
- Aug 26Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 26From special consent calendar
- Aug 25Ordered to special consent calendar.
- Aug 17Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 13Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 13From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 13).Major
- Aug 3In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Vote recorded Placed on suspense file. Result: pass.Upper
- Jul 6Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Major
- Jul 6From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 1).Major
- Jul 1
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 24From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on N.R. & W. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (June 24). Re-referred to Com. on N.R. & W.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Natural Resources and Water]. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 15From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on E.Q.Major
- Jun 10Referred to Coms. on E.Q. and N.R. & W.Minor
- May 28In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- May 27Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 5455.)Passed Assembly
- Vote recorded AB 2234 Papan Assembly Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 18Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- May 14From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (May 14).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 22In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Apr 7From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (April 6). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Apr 6
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 9Referred to Com. on NAT. RES.Minor
- Feb 20From printer. May be heard in committee March 22.
- Feb 19Read first time. To print.Introduced
Environment & Energy