California Air Resources Board

Summary

Would prohibit the use of well stimulation techniques in oil and gas wells beginning January 1, 2022. The bill would require CalGEM to adopt a safety regulation for oil and gas facilities including setbacks from sensitive receptors, as defined in statute and as defined by CARB. The bill failed passage in the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee and was granted reconsideration.

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Summary

Would have required CARB by January 1, 2023, to develop and adopt regulations requiring corporations with revenues in excess of $1 billion doing business in California to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions. The bill also would have required CARB, by July 1, 2025 to prepare a report on the greenhouse gas emissions of reporting entities, including estimates of reductions needed to maintain global temperatures within 1.5 degrees Celsius, estimate of emissions based on California’s current climate programs, and recommendations for reporting entities to reduce their emissions. Held on suspense in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Requires CARB to include specified carbon dioxide removal targets as part of its Scoping Plan. The bill also requires the Natural Resources Agency to maintain a registry of carbon sequestration projects seeking funding. Finally, the bill requires the Natural Resources Agency, in coordination with CARB and other relevant agencies, to establish the Natural and Working Lands Climate Smart Strategy.

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Summary

Would designate the California Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (CEC) as the lead agency and specified State agencies, including CARB, as responsible agencies, for carbon capture and storage projects under California Environmental Quality Act. The bill would require CEC to coordinate the development of performance standards for carbon capture and storage sites, as specified. Was not heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Would require CARB to develop a carbon offset credit for whole orchard recycling. The bill would appropriate an unspecified sum from the General Fund to California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) for purposes of providing grants to the University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources division and the California State University for research to assess the co-benefits from healthy soil practices. Was not heard in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.

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Summary

Would require CARB to recognize the use of renewable natural gas delivered via common carrier pipeline to displace the existing use of natural gas in oil production as generating an innovative crude production method credit under the Low Carbon Fuel Standard. Was not heard in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.

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Summary

Would establish the policy of the State to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible, but no later than 2045, and to ensure that greenhouse gas emissions are reduced to at least 90 percent below the Statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit by 2045. The bill also would set limitations on the use of direct air capture climate solutions. Moved to the Senate Inactive File.

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Summary

Would require the Department of General Services by January 1, 2024 to set a maximum acceptable global warming potential for concrete and decrease that maximum January 1, 2027 and every three years thereafter. Beginning January 1, 2023, the bill would require an awarding authority to apply a performance discount rate of 5 percent for concrete with a global warming potential 20 percent lower than the maximum. Was not heard in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.

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Summary

Would require CARB, as part of the next Scoping Plan update, to develop a plan to use sustainable aviation fuels to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from aircraft in the State by 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 and to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. Was not heard in the Senate Environmental Quality Committee.

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Summary

Would establish the Smart Climate Agriculture Program to, among other things, provide grants to persons farming on small to midsize farms to transition from raising livestock or growing feed crops to plant-based agriculture. Was not heard in the Assembly Agriculture Committee.

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