State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission: seaports: plan: alternative fuels.

Senator Caballero, with coauthors Senators Arreguín and Richardson and Assembly Member Ransom, anchors SB 298 in a planning mandate to map the use of alternative fuels for oceangoing vessels that call at California’s public seaports. The measure directs the Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to develop a plan by December 31, 2030 that identifies infrastructure trends, permitting barriers, feasible seaport facilities, and a forecast of demand and supply for alternative fuels, including estimated costs and timelines to the extent feasible.

The plan would be developed in coordination with the State Lands Commission, the Transportation Agency, and the state air resources board, with the ARB supplying information on fuels that comply with its regulations. A working group representing port authorities, marine terminal operators, ocean carriers, waterfront labor, cargo owners, environmental and community groups, fuel providers and suppliers, barge and storage operators, and related regulatory bodies would advise the Energy Commission on the information being developed. The plan’s scope is limited to alternative fuels for oceangoing vessels and would not evaluate cargo handling equipment or related port infrastructure.

The bill’s findings reference AB 14’s freight planning obligations and IMO targets, asserting that California’s port system should pursue alternative fuels to meet emissions reduction goals and remain competitive. The accompanying intent statements indicate the plan is meant to support development and deployment of maritime alternative fuels, while explicitly avoiding promotion of fully automated cargo handling equipment in the plan. The proposal adds a new provision to the Health and Safety Code with no appropriation explicit in the measure; enforcement provisions are not specified, and implementation would hinge on subsequent budgeting or regulatory actions. The Energy Commission would rely on information from the ARB and coordinate with multiple agencies to produce the plan.

Viewed in context, the measure situates maritime decarbonization within California’s broader regulatory framework for air quality and freight planning, aligning with ARB standards and international targets. Its narrow scope—focusing solely on alternative fuels for oceangoing vessels—establishes a planning boundary that omits cargo handling infrastructure. The plan’s outputs could influence future regulatory actions or funding decisions related to seaport fueling infrastructure, while the fixed deadline provides a clear timeline for deliverables and potential subsequent policy considerations.