California Air Resources Board

Summary

Requires the California Energy Commission, in consultation with the California Public Utilities Commission, Independent System Operator, and CARB, on or before December 31, 2023, to submit to the Legislature an assessment of firm zero-carbon resources that support a clean, reliable, and resilient electrical grid in California, as specified.

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Summary

Would have required the California Energy Commission to develop and implement a grant program for local governments to develop “community energy resilience plans” and expedite permit review of distributed energy resources by local governments. Held on suspense in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Requires the California Energy Commission to develop and publish guidance on best practices to help reduce barriers for building owners to transition to electric equipment and appliances, and install electric vehicle charging equipment. The bill also authorizes awarding of moneys from an existing grant program, funded by surcharges on energy ratepayer utility bills, for technological advancements that reduce the costs of electrifying building-related applications.

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Summary

Would revise the SB 100 policy to establish a goal that 100 percent of electrical load be supplied by eligible clean energy resources, as defined. The bill would establish the California 24/7 Clean Energy Standard Program, that would phase in clean energy requirements through 2035. The bill would require the California Energy Commission (CEC), in consultation with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and California balancing authorities, to establish compliance periods and subperiods that meet certain criteria. The bill would require CPUC to establish for each retail seller, and CEC for each local publicly owned electric utility, clean energy procurement requirements for each compliance period and subperiod, as provided. Was not heard in the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee.

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Summary

Would have required each city and county to make a one-time amendment to any of the following during the next update occurring after January 1, 2023 to identify goals and strategies to decarbonize new buildings, as specified: (1) its general plan; (2) a climate action or greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction plan; or (3) building standards. The bill would have authorized the California Energy Commission to review the proposed amendments and provide specified feedback to the city or county. Held on suspense in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Would have explicitly incorporated building decarbonization within several aspects of electric utility ratepayer-funded programs and within future, yet to be provided, federal moneys to address economic recovery, and would incorporate requirements for prevailing wage, among other things. Held on suspense in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Would, on or after January 1, 2022, prohibit a State agency from designing or constructing a State facility that is connected to the natural gas grid. Was not heard in the Assembly Governmental Organization Committee.

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Summary

Would have required CARB, by December 31, 2022, as a part of the Scoping Plan, to prepare an evaluation of the role of hydrogen, and particularly green hydrogen, in achieving California’s climate goals. CARB, in consultation with the California Energy Commission (CEC), the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the California Workforce Development Board, and labor groups, would have been required to prepare a separate evaluation by June 1, 2023 to be posted on CARB’s internet website.

Also, by June 1, 2023, CARB, in conjunction with CEC and CPUC, would have had to: (1) jointly develop recommendations to the Legislature on definitions for different categories of hydrogen and potential end uses for those categories of hydrogen; (2) provide guidance to the Legislature on which categories of hydrogen may be used to meet eligibility requirements for those programs under each State entity’s jurisdiction; (3) jointly develop prohibitions against double counting of environmental attributes associated with production, distribution, and use of hydrogen; and, (4) calculate life-cycle carbon dioxide intensity values for hydrogen pathways that reflect the fuels, feedstocks, and production processes used for their production. Held on suspense in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Would require the California Public Utilities Commission to develop and implement a Clean Community Microgrid Incentive Program by 2022 to fund community microgrids that support the critical needs of vulnerable communities that utilize distributed energy resources for the generation of electricity. Was not heard in the Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee.

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Summary

Would require CARB to phase in a 100 percent green and zero carbon hydrogen fuel standard by 2045. The bill would provide a ten year, steadily declining set of personal and corporate income tax credits for green hydrogen production and distribution, as well as for hydrogen fueling stations. CARB would annually certify green hydrogen production and available hydrogen fueling stations to the Franchise Tax Board. Green hydrogen is defined to be hydrogen not produced from fossil fuel feedstock sources. Was not heard in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.

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