California Air Resources Board

Summary

Would have required the California Energy Commission (CEC), by July 1, 2022, to create a three-year appliance rebate program to provide eligible residential customers—defined as those with annual household incomes that are no greater than 200 percent of the federal poverty guideline levels—of an electric utility or gas utility with monetary incentives to purchase new appliances that meet energy star or similar energy efficiency standards approved by CEC. Held on suspense in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Requires the California Energy Commission to consider in the investment planning process for the Electric Program Investment Charge Program (EPIC) bioenergy projects for biomass conversion.

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Summary

Would require the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the California Energy Commission, and CARB, in consultation with all balancing authorities, to develop a strategy by January 1, 2024, on how to achieve the SB 100 policy of achieving the 100 percent renewable and zero-carbon resources goal by the end of 2045 in a cost-effective and environmentally beneficial manner. Specifically, the strategy must achieve a target of at least five Gigawatt-hours of “operational long-term backup electricity” by the end of 2030. The strategy must address carbon sequestration and storage of emissions from conventional power plants. The strategy must also achieve a target of at least an additional five Gigawatt-hours of operational long-term backup electricity in each subsequent year beginning 2031 through 2045. By January 1, 2024, CPUC is required to submit the strategy in a report to the Legislature and every four years thereafter through January 1, 2044 detailing the progress made on achieving the targets of the strategy. Was not heard in the Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee.

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Summary

Expands the list of eligible projects under the California Energy Commission's Energy Conservation Assistance Account (ECAA) to include installation of energy storage systems and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Also expands the eligible entities who can participate in the ECAA program to include California Native American tribes.

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Summary

Requires the California Energy Commission (CEC) to evaluate and quantify the maximum feasible offshore wind energy generation capacity in waters off the California coast. The bill also requires CEC, by June 1, 2022, to establish offshore wind planning goals for 2030 and 2045. Lastly, AB 525 requires CEC to coordinate with specified State and local agencies to develop a five-part strategic plan for offshore wind development and to submit the plan to the California Natural Resources Agency and the Legislature by June 30, 2023.

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Summary

Would have required the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to establish a renewable gas, as defined, procurement program requiring each gas corporation to procure renewable gas in an amount so that, by January 1, 2030, at least 20 percent of the total volume of gas delivered to customers in California by that gas corporation is renewable gas.  The bill would have also required CPUC, in designing and implementing the program, to ensure that the renewable gas procurement program is a cost-effective means to achieve forecast reductions in emissions of short‑lived climate pollutants pursuant to specified laws and that the program complies with all applicable state and federal laws.  Was not heard in the Senate Environmental Quality Committee.

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Summary

Would have required CARB, by December 31, 2022, as a part of the Scoping Plan, to prepare a strategic plan for accelerating the production and use of green electrolytic hydrogen in California and an analysis of how curtailed power could be better utilized to help meet the State’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals.  Was not heard in the Senate Energy, Utilities, and Communications Committee.

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Summary

Ensures that existing consumer protections for electrical service provided to master-metered customers are also explicitly provided to sub-metered residents and tenants of mobile home parks, apartment buildings, or similar residential complexes, regardless of whether the electrical generation is provided by an entity other than an electrical corporation.  This bill also explicitly requires that any credit to customers from the revenues from the sale of GHG allowances directly allocated to electrical corporations must also be distributed to sub-metered customers by a master-metered customer.

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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.

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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.

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