California Environmental Quality Act: geothermal exploratory projects.
- Streamlines approval for geothermal exploration projects that meet federal environmental standards.
- Requires private developers to certify projects meet prevailing wage requirements or qualify as public works.
- Aligns California with federal policy to boost in-state geothermal energy development.
- Aims to create local jobs and prevent California's clean energy investments from going to other states.
Assembly Member Papan's proposal to streamline environmental reviews for geothermal exploratory projects would establish an automatic California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance presumption for projects meeting federal categorical exclusion criteria. The measure aligns California's process with recent federal policy that exempts qualifying geothermal exploration from National Environmental Policy Act review.
Under the bill, geothermal exploratory projects that satisfy the federal categorical exclusion standards published in October 2024 would automatically fulfill CEQA requirements for state and local permits, funding, and approvals. For private projects utilizing this streamlined process, applicants must certify either that the entire project qualifies as a public work or that all construction workers will receive prevailing wages as determined by the state's Director of Industrial Relations. The prevailing wage provision requires inclusion in all project contracts and applies to both contractors and subcontractors, with allowances for registered apprentices to receive apprentice prevailing rates.
The legislation comes as California faces increasing demand for geothermal energy, driven by Public Utilities Commission procurement directives issued in 2021 and 2024. According to the bill's findings, while Nevada and Utah currently host the first commercial-scale next-generation geothermal projects due to their regulatory frameworks, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates California could develop 27.9 gigawatts of next-generation geothermal resources by 2050. The measure maintains the Geologic Energy Management Division's role as lead agency for geothermal exploratory projects, with continued authority to delegate this responsibility to counties with geothermal elements in their general plans.
This bill was recently introduced. Email the authors to let them know what you think about it.
Introduced By
Latest Voting History
 Al MuratsuchiD Assembly Member | Committee Member |  Not Contacted | |
 Ash KalraD Assembly Member | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
 Heath FloraR Assembly Member | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
 Buffy WicksD Assembly Member | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
 Isaac BryanD Assembly Member | Committee Member | Not Contacted |
- Streamlines approval for geothermal exploration projects that meet federal environmental standards.
- Requires private developers to certify projects meet prevailing wage requirements or qualify as public works.
- Aligns California with federal policy to boost in-state geothermal energy development.
- Aims to create local jobs and prevent California's clean energy investments from going to other states.
This bill was recently introduced. Email the authors to let them know what you think about it.
Introduced By
Assembly Member Papan's proposal to streamline environmental reviews for geothermal exploratory projects would establish an automatic California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance presumption for projects meeting federal categorical exclusion criteria. The measure aligns California's process with recent federal policy that exempts qualifying geothermal exploration from National Environmental Policy Act review.
Under the bill, geothermal exploratory projects that satisfy the federal categorical exclusion standards published in October 2024 would automatically fulfill CEQA requirements for state and local permits, funding, and approvals. For private projects utilizing this streamlined process, applicants must certify either that the entire project qualifies as a public work or that all construction workers will receive prevailing wages as determined by the state's Director of Industrial Relations. The prevailing wage provision requires inclusion in all project contracts and applies to both contractors and subcontractors, with allowances for registered apprentices to receive apprentice prevailing rates.
The legislation comes as California faces increasing demand for geothermal energy, driven by Public Utilities Commission procurement directives issued in 2021 and 2024. According to the bill's findings, while Nevada and Utah currently host the first commercial-scale next-generation geothermal projects due to their regulatory frameworks, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates California could develop 27.9 gigawatts of next-generation geothermal resources by 2050. The measure maintains the Geologic Energy Management Division's role as lead agency for geothermal exploratory projects, with continued authority to delegate this responsibility to counties with geothermal elements in their general plans.
Latest Voting History
Al MuratsuchiD Assembly Member | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
Ash KalraD Assembly Member | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
Heath FloraR Assembly Member | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
Buffy WicksD Assembly Member | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
Isaac BryanD Assembly Member | Committee Member | Not Contacted |