Geothermal plant, Salton Sea/ California (supply: flickr/ monikomad, artistic commons)
A brand new Meeting Invoice awaiting the Governor’s approval seeks to streamline the approval course of for geothermal power tasks in California.
A brand new invoice authored by Assemblymember Diane Papan seeks to streamline the event of geothermal power tasks within the state of California by altering outdated provisions associated to challenge approval. Meeting Invoice (AB) 1359 has simply been accredited by the State Legislature and is now headed to the Governor’s desk for signature.
Underneath present regulation, the drilling of exploratory wells for geothermal tasks is handled as a separate challenge beneath California Environmental High quality Act (CEQA), with the California Geologic Vitality Administration Division (CalGEM) designated because the lead company. Nevertheless, because of CalGEM’s useful resource constraints and backlog, geothermal exploration tasks have confronted multi-year delays, stalling the event of superior geothermal energy throughout the state.
AB 1359 addresses this subject by permitting candidates for tasks to request {that a} county by which a challenge is positioned act because the lead company for CEQA evaluate in lieu of CalGEM. By permitting counties to imagine this function, this aligns geothermal exploration with the CEQA course of for different renewable power tasks. This variation will allow geothermal builders to proceed extra effectively, facilitating the exploration and growth of geothermal assets.
“Geothermal power is a important part of California’s technique to eradicate fossil fuels and mitigate local weather change,” mentioned Assemblymember Papan. “By modernizing the regulatory framework, AB 1359 will assist unlock the total potential of geothermal power, offering a continuing, dependable supply of fresh energy that enhances different renewable sources like wind and photo voltaic.”
The brand new Meeting Invoice is the newest in a rising checklist of insurance policies that intention to assist facilitate the quicker growth of geothermal power tasks in the US. The streamlining of approval processes is a very vital subject that’s being addressed with current proposals, corresponding to a bipartisan invoice that seeks to use a categorical exclusion for geothermal exploration tasks.
Supply: Electronic mail correspondence
