Hydrogen pipeline safety.

Senator Archuleta's hydrogen pipeline safety legislation establishes California's first comprehensive regulatory framework for hydrogen transport infrastructure, requiring the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to develop and enforce statewide safety standards by January 2028. The measure creates new requirements for pipeline design, construction materials, and continuous monitoring systems to prevent hydrogen leakage and detect operational anomalies.

Under the proposed standards, pipeline owners must use materials certified by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers for hydrogen compatibility and resistance to degradation. The legislation mandates installation of integrated monitoring technologies capable of immediately identifying leaks or irregularities and enabling rapid response measures. Pipeline operators must maintain detailed records of hydrogen concentration levels and any leakage incidents, submitting annual compliance reports to the PUC each December.

The bill divides oversight responsibilities between state agencies, with the PUC maintaining primary enforcement authority while the Energy Commission oversees private, intrastate hydrogen pipelines. This dual jurisdiction aims to provide specialized oversight based on pipeline classification. The measure classifies violations of these requirements as criminal offenses under the Public Utilities Act, creating enforcement mechanisms through existing statutory frameworks.