California Air Resources Board

Summary 

This bill extends deadlines for the California Geological Energy Management Division (CalGEM) in consultation with CARB, to complete posting data, conduct peer review, and post the results of a study of fugitive greenhouse gas, toxic air contaminant, and volatile organic compound emissions from idle, idle deserted, and abandoned wells in the State. The bill extends the deadlines for posting collected data and conducting peer review from 2022 to 2026 and for posting the results of the study to their website from 2023 to 2028. Finally, the bill extends the sunset for these provisions from 2024 to 2029.

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Summary 

Requires CARB, in administering the Low Carbon Fuel Standard, to deem a Tier 2 pathway application certified if CARB does not take action within 15 days or receipt, or if the application has been pending for more than 60 days as of January 1, 2024. The bill also requires CARB to revise the alternative diesel fuel regulations to authorize the sale of alternative diesel fuel that contains up to 20 percent biodiesel by volume. Was not heard in the Assembly Transportation Committee.

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Summary 

This bill would have exempted transportation fuels from the Cap-and-Trade program. It also would have required CARB to grant variances to gasoline specifications as specified and would have waived the Reid Vapor Pressure requirement to allow for the early transition to winter-blend gasoline when CARB determines the gasoline market is experiencing a sudden and unusual rise in prices. Failed passage in the Assembly Transportation Committee.

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Summary

Would have required CARB, prior to December 31, 2024, to complete an assessment of renewable hydrogen production, distribution, transmission, as defined by CARB, and application within the State. Held on suspense in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Requires CARB, in consultation with the California Energy Commission, the California Public Utilities Commission, and the California Workforce Development Board, to conduct an evaluation on hydrogen and post the evaluation on CARB’s website by June 1, 2024, including policy recommendations to accelerate the production and use of hydrogen, and specifically to accelerate the production and use of green hydrogen, in California.

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Summary

Would have defined “renewable hydrogen” and tasked the California Public Utilities Commission with considering establishing renewable hydrogen procurement goals for each gas utility and transporter and  evaluating whether it is just and reasonable to allow a gas utility to recover from its ratepayers the costs of infrastructure built to deliver biomethane, renewable hydrogen, or both from a producer to the pipeline. Held on suspense in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Would have authorized a gas corporation that serves an area that will host the 2028 Olympics to identify and propose a green hydrogen project, as defined, or multiple projects, in cooperation with the United States Olympic Paralympic Committee, the City of Los Angeles, or the County of Los Angeles to achieve described purposes. If a green hydrogen project was identified and proposed, the bill would have authorized the gas corporation to file an application with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for approval to undertake the project or projects. The bill would have required CPUC to approve, or modify and approve, a project or projects and associated investments in green hydrogen and hydrogen-related infrastructure, and to authorize recovery of those expenses incurred through a reasonable cost recovery mechanism. Was not heard in the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee.

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Summary

Would have, until January 1, 2032, required the California Energy Commission to establish and implement a program to provide financial incentives to produce renewable propane, renewable hydrogen, and renewable dimethyl ether that met certain requirements and were used as an energy source for buildings in the State. Was not heard in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.

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Summary

Would have required CARB to phase in a 100 percent green and zero carbon hydrogen fuel standard by 2045. The bill would have provided 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 have had to annually certify green hydrogen production and available hydrogen fueling stations to the Franchise Tax Board. Green hydrogen was defined to be hydrogen not produced from fossil fuel feedstock sources. Was not heard in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.

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Summary 

Would have required the California Public Utilities Commission to consider minimizing or closing the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility as part of an existing proceeding and submit a report on demand reduction through investments in clean hydrogen projects to the Legislature annually. Failed passage on the Senate Floor.  

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