California Air Resources Board

Declares it is the established policy of the State that all dwelling units be able to attain and maintain a safe maximum indoor temperature and directs specified State agencies, including CARB, to consider this policy when carrying out its activities. The bill provides that it does not expand any obligation of the State to provide a safe maximum indoor temperature or require the expenditure of additional resources to develop infrastructure beyond the obligations that exist under current program requirements.

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Allows California gas corporations to include renewable natural gas interconnection in their rate base investments. Adds a provision regarding the displacement of conventional natural gas reducing greenhouse gas emissions as a potential eligibility element for California biomethane. Was not heard in the Senate Energy, Utilities, and Communications Committee.

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Would have, among other things, called for a comparative analysis of the benefits and challenges of transitioning California’s electrical corporations to a successor entity. Held on suspense in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

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Would have for the installation of residential heat pump HVAC systems and heat pump water heaters, required the California Energy Commission to develop standardized permitting checklists, establish limits and requirements for local agency permitting, and cap permit fees, among other things. The bill was sponsored by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. Held on suspense in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

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Urgency bill enacting various policies related to electrical corporations, including authorizing public financing and ownership of electric transmission infrastructure; addressing wildfire mitigation spending and financing; liability of wildfire property claims; permitting of clean energy projects; transparency of electrical corporations’ return on equity; enforcement of timeliness of energization projects; prohibitions on large electrical corporations from including in their equity rate base an additional $6 billion of wildfire mitigation capital expenditures.

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Extends the current January 1, 2026, sunset date for the California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority’s sales and use tax exclusion program to January 1, 2028, adds fusion energy as an eligible alternative source, and modifies the stated purpose of the program to promote high-quality jobs and ensure that California communities and workers benefit from projects receiving financial assistance under the program.

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Specifies thermal energy storage for multiple existing financial incentive programs administered by the California Energy Commission and the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank relating to industrial decarbonization. CARB is in a consultation role. The bill places additional requirements on program participants such as mandating project labor agreements and establishing a community benefits fund or agreement.

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Prohibits State agencies and local governments from adopting or enforcing a rule, regulation, resolution, or ordinance that directly or indirectly results in prohibiting the use of gas appliances in residential or nonresidential buildings, and the buying, selling, or use of gasoline-powered vehicles or equipment. Was not heard in the Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee.

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Prevents CARB or local air district regulations with restrictions on oxides of nitrogen emissions from gas-fired appliances from applying to appliances that would be installed with a propane conversion kit. Was not heard in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.

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Authorizes the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) and the electrical corporations whose transmission is operated by the CAISO to use voluntary energy markets governed by an independent regional organization, provided that specific requirements are met. This is an energy market expansion bill creating greater opportunity for renewable energy to be bought and sold. Requires greenhouse gas information and protocols be sufficient to enable compliance with the requirements of any State agency.

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