Emergency backup generators: critical facilities: exemptions.

Senator Ochoa Bogh's proposal addresses the operation of emergency backup generators at critical facilities during power shutoffs, establishing new parameters for air districts' regulation of these essential power sources. The legislation creates a framework for critical facilities to maintain operations during emergencies while working toward cleaner backup power solutions.

The bill requires air districts that adopt new rules on emergency backup generators after January 1, 2026, to permit critical facilities—including hospitals, emergency response centers, and water treatment plants—to exceed standard runtime limits during power losses or public safety shutoffs. These exceptions apply when facilities experience deenergization events or conduct testing under National Fire Protection Association Standard 110 protocols. To qualify for these allowances, facilities must document concrete steps toward implementing backup power technologies that align with state emission standards, such as initiating procurement processes or pursuing relevant funding opportunities.

The measure defines specific parameters for emergency backup generators, limiting their operation to 200 hours annually and restricting use to emergency scenarios or routine maintenance. It establishes distinct categories of power interruption events, differentiating between general power losses and public safety power shutoffs implemented during high fire risk conditions. The legislation also outlines the scope of affected facilities, encompassing essential public service providers from emergency response centers to water infrastructure needed for firefighting capabilities.

Local air districts maintain authority to establish and enforce these regulations through their existing fee structures, with no state reimbursement required for implementation costs. The bill positions these changes within California's broader framework for managing air quality and responding to increasing wildfire risks, while maintaining local control over specific regulatory approaches.