California Air Resources Board

Summary

Would have required additional transparency in the operations of the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) and required specified annual reporting requirements by the CAISO to the Legislature.  The bill also would have required the CAISO to work with CARB, the California Energy Commission, and the California Public Utilities Commission to support State policy goals, make data available to State agencies in any format requested, and assist with the development and implementation of policies designed to achieve long-term resource planning objectives.  Was not heard in the Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee.

View full bill text here

Summary

Would have revised the statutory definition of transportation electrification to explicitly include renewable hydrogen and fuel cell electric vehicles, if the hydrogen meets certain renewable content requirements.  The bill also would have required the California Public Utilities Commission to approve, or modify and approve, programs and investments in transportation electrification, including hydrogen and hydrogen‑related distribution, pipelines, and make-ready infrastructure for hydrogen, utilizing a reasonable cost recovery mechanism if they are consistent with the specified environmental objectives, do not unfairly compete with nonutility enterprises, include performance accountability measures, and are in the interest of ratepayers.  Was not heard in the Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee.

View full bill text here

Summary

Would have required the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to develop and implement backup power rules for telecommunication services in areas that the CPUC has determined to be at high risk of wildfire.  The bill at one time included language on electrical system reliability and backup generation that could have involved cleaner backup generation technology of interest to CARB.  Held on suspense in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

View full bill text here

Summary

Authorizes the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to petition a court to appoint a receiver to assume possession of Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s property and to operate its electrical and gas systems if the CPUC determines in a proceeding that the appointment of a receiver is warranted pursuant to the processes or procedures set forth in a specified CPUC investigation.  The bill also authorizes a court to appoint such a receiver and would require the receiver to control and operate Pacific Gas and Electric Company upon such terms and conditions as the court prescribes.

View full bill text here

Summary

Would have required that the State’s renewable energy and climate change programs include electrical generating facilities that use nuclear energy as renewable electrical generation facilities, eligible renewable energy resources, and zero-carbon resources.  Remains at the Assembly Desk.

View full bill text here

Summary

Would have required the State’s renewable energy and climate change programs to include hydroelectric generation facilities as renewable electrical generation facilities, eligible renewable energy resources, and zero-carbon resources.  The bill also would have required that those programs not differentiate between the electricity generated by hydroelectric facilities and the electricity generated by other renewable electrical generation facilities, eligible renewable energy resources, and zero-carbon resources.  Remains at the Assembly Desk.

View full bill text here

Summary

Expands the statutory definition of biomethane for the gas utility biomethane procurement program under development by the California Public Utilities Commission by adding the use of noncombustion thermal conversion of woody and other waste material, including agricultural and wood waste.

View full bill text here

Summary

Spot bill expressing the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would incentivize the use of fuel cells to address reliability issues associated with public safety power shutoffs.  Was not heard in the Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee.

View full bill text here

Summary

Would have required the California Public Utilities Commission, in consultation with the California Energy Commission and CARB, to establish a critical consumption program for hydrogen production and processing and to establish a framework for directing electricity generated by eligible renewable energy resources to the production and processing of hydrogen at specified times.  Was not heard in the Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee.

View full bill text here

Summary

Would have required a person who extracts or uses water from a groundwater basin within 20 miles of Joshua Tree National Park, for purposes of construction and operation of a closed-loop pumped hydroelectric energy storage system, to submit to the State Water Resources Control Board, any plans, technical reports, or monitoring data reports required under any license for hydroelectric generation issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.  Held on suspense in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

View full bill text here