CaliforniaPower facility and site certifications: thermal powerplants: geothermal resources.
What it does
Existing law vests the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission with the exclusive jurisdiction to certify the construction of a thermal powerplant, as defined. Existing law prohibits a person from constructing a thermal powerplant unless that person obtains certification from the commission. Existing law authorizes the commission to exempt from the certification requirement a thermal powerplant with a generating capacity of up to 100 megawatts and modifications to existing generating facilities that do not add capacity in excess of 100 megawatts, if the commission finds that no substantial adverse impact on the environment or energy resources will result from the project.
More detail
Existing law makes the commission the lead agency for purposes of environmental review pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for all projects that require certification and for projects that are exempted by the commission.
This bill would additionally authorize the commission to exempt from the certification requirement, only until January 1, 2030, a thermal powerplant that generates electricity using exclusively geothermal resources and is found by the commission to meet specified criteria, including that the person proposing the powerplant files an application on or before June 30, 2029, with the local governmental agency that has land use and related jurisdiction over the area in which the powerplant is located, that the local governmental agency will be the lead agency for the project and will require a discretionary permit that is subject to environmental review pursuant to CEQA, that the person proposing the powerplant certifies that specified skilled and trained workforce requirements will be followed if the exemption is granted, and that the powerplant has a net generating capacity of 50 to 150 megawatts or that modifications are being made to the powerplant to add capacity resulting in total net generating capacity of 50 to 150 megawatts, and for any plan for multiple geothermal powerplants that use at least one common infrastructure component and those powerplants, in total, have a net generating capacity of 50 or more megawatts. Upon the commission granting an exemption, the bill would require the local governmental agency to be the lead agency for purposes of CEQA to certify the site and related facility, as provided. The bill would, until January 1, 2030, make the local governmental agency that has land use and related jurisdiction over the area of the proposed site and related facility the lead agency pursuant to CEQA for any project that the commission exempts from the certification requirement and that generates electricity using geothermal resources as provided.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2025
- Jun 26In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.Latest
- Jun 19From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on E., U & C.Major
- Jun 4Referred to Coms. on E., U & C. and E.Q.Minor
- May 23In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- Vote recorded AB 1016 Jeff Gonzalez Assembly Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 23Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 69. Noes 1. Page 1656.)Passed Assembly
- May 15Read 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
- May 7Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- May 6Read second time and amended.Major
- May 5From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (May 1).Major
- May 1
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 28Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES.Minor
- Apr 24From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on NAT. RES. Read second time and amended.Major
- Apr 24From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on NAT. RES. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (April 23). Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES.Minor
- Apr 23
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Natural Resources]. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 26Re-referred to Com. on U. & E.Minor
- Mar 25From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on U. & E. Read second time and amended.Major
- Mar 24Referred to Coms. on U. & E. and NAT. RES.Minor
- Feb 21From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.
- Feb 20Read first time. To print.Introduced