California Air Resources Board

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 

This bill requires the facilities constructed by the Department of Water Resources (DWR) or under a DWR contract for the purposes of the Distributed Electricity Backup Assets Program or the Demand Side Grid Support Program to comply with CARB's Mandatory Reporting Regulation and the Cap-and-Trade program.

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Summary 

This bill creates the Climate Cashback Program to be administered by the Franchise Tax Board for the public purpose of mitigating the costs of transitioning to a low-carbon economy. The bill requires the Franchise Tax Board to develop and implement the program by December 31, 2024, to deliver quarterly per capita cashback payments to all California residents and sets other requirements for the operation of the program. Was not heard in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.

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Summary 

This bill requires the Governor's Office of Planning and Research, in consultation with CARB, CEC, and CPUC, to prepare an assessment of barriers limiting the deployment of clean energy projects that support the strategies identified in the Scoping Plan and advance the State's climate change goals. The bill requests California Council on Science and Technology to regularly assess the infrastructure project types, scale, and pace necessary to achieve the quantities of renewable energy and distribution networks to achieve the State's energy, climate, and air quality goals.

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Summary 

Requires CARB to include greenhouse gas emissions from wildland and forest fires in the Scoping Plan. Failed passage in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee and was granted reconsideration.  

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Summary 

Requires CARB to initiate a regulatory process, consistent with statutory requirements for the Cap-and-Trade program, to evaluate potential updates to the market-based compliance mechanism, and regulatory changes shall take effect no later than January 1, 2025. The bill specifies the topics the evaluation shall focus on relating to allowance supply and recommendations by the IEMAC and EJAC. The bill requires CARB, beginning January 1, 2028, in consultation with the IEMAC and EJAC, on a triennial basis to conduct an evaluation of the Cap-and-Trade program focusing on the topics specified in the evaluation. The bill requires the Chair of CARB to appear before the JLCCCP to present the results of the evaluation and any proposed revisions to the Cap-and-Trade regulation and authorizes CARB to revise those regulations afterward to more effectively meet the goals of SB 32 and the most recent Scoping Plan.  Moved to the inactive file.

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Summary 

Enacts the Park Creation and Outdoor, Access, and Clean Energy Bond Act of 2024, which would authorize $15.5 billion in bonds, if approved by voters, at the March 5, 2024, statewide primary election. As related to CARB, the bond allocates $150 million to CARB, and requires CARB to consult with the California Natural Resources Agency and State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection to fund projects that provide long-term capital infrastructure to convert forest and other vegetative waste removed for wildfire mitigation to uses that maximize reductions in the greenhouse gas emissions, provide local air quality benefits, and increase local community resilience against climate change impacts. The bill also provides $500 million upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the California Energy Commission, in coordination with CARB, for grants to assist in obtaining, or as a match for, federal grants. Hearing postponed in the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources.

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Summary 

By December 31, 2024, would have required CARB to establish a certification standard for natural gas producing low-methane emissions, and consider existing third-party natural gas certification standards during development. This bill also would have required CARB to encourage natural gas procurement on behalf of the State to shift to certified natural gas producing low methane emissions, where feasible, cost effective, and in the best interests of ratepayers. Held on suspense in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

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Summary 

Removes the requirement for public agencies to issue CEQA’s existing Statement of Overriding Concern for traffic only, when approving or carrying out a housing development project, as defined, a commercial project, or an industrial project. Hearing in the Senate Environmental Quality Committee canceled at the author's request.

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Summary 

Would have required CARB in consultation with the California Office of Planning and Research and the California Department of Transportation, to develop a methodology for assessing and spatially representing vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and develop maps to display average VMT per capita in the state at the local, regional, and statewide level. This bill also would have required the CARB to work with local agencies to assess whether regional maps of average VMT created by local agencies could be incorporated into the CARB maps, as specified. Would have required CARB to adopt the VMT methodology by January 1, 2025, publish the maps within 6 months, update both at least once every 4 years, and make both available on CARB's website. Held on suspense in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

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