California Environmental Quality Act: geothermal exploratory projects: geothermal field development projects.

Assembly Member Papan's geothermal exploration bill creates a temporary exemption from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements for certain county-managed geothermal exploratory projects through 2031. The exemption applies to projects with up to six wells that meet specific environmental protection criteria, including limiting surface disturbance to 12 acres and maintaining minimum distances from sensitive habitats.

To qualify for the exemption, projects must avoid commercial production activities, protect historical and tribal cultural resources, and commit to full site reclamation. Project developers must submit detailed surveys of natural and cultural resources, while counties acting as lead agencies may require indemnity bonds to secure reclamation costs. The bill expands the definition of exploratory projects to include equipment for establishing well-reservoir connections and associated infrastructure like temporary roads and power distribution.

For subsequent geothermal field development at exempted exploratory sites, environmental reviews must use baseline conditions from before exploration activities began. The legislation aligns California's approach with recent federal policy that established similar categorical exclusions for geothermal exploration on federal lands, responding to increasing demand for geothermal energy resources in the state's utility markets.