SB-842
Energy & Environment

Energy: firm zero-carbon resources.

Engrossed
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
0
0
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Requires the Public Utilities Commission to assess zero-carbon energy needs and opportunities by December 2026.
  • Mandates identification of priority regions for deploying firm zero-carbon resources to ensure grid reliability.
  • Establishes requirements to analyze market barriers and solutions for zero-carbon energy deployment.
  • Creates a framework to evaluate clean energy resources for local and system-wide reliability.

Summary

Senator Stern's proposal for evaluating firm zero-carbon resources directs the California Public Utilities Commission to produce a comprehensive assessment of how these energy sources can enhance grid reliability. The legislation requires the Commission, working with the Independent System Operator, to deliver a report by December 2026 examining opportunities and needs for deploying firm zero-carbon resources - renewable energy sources capable of providing consistent, dispatchable power - across multiple timeframes.

The mandated report must analyze several key elements: the specific attributes needed for maintaining reliable power delivery, scenarios projecting resource requirements over various periods, and priority regions for deployment. The Commission must also identify barriers preventing wider adoption of these resources and propose solutions, such as potential new market mechanisms like multiday firm capacity products or flexible ramping services. The report will outline implementation timelines and regulatory processes needed to enact any recommended changes.

The measure adds these requirements to the Public Utilities Code while maintaining existing enforcement provisions that classify violations of Commission orders as criminal offenses. While the bill creates obligations affecting local agencies, it specifies that no state reimbursement is required since any local costs would stem from changes to criminal statutes under the California Constitution.

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Assembly Committee
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Assembly Utilities And Energy Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Utilities And Energy Hearing
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar
Vote on Senate Floor
Senate Floor
Vote on Senate Floor
Senate 3rd Reading SB842 Stern
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Do pass as amended
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Placed on suspense file
Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Hearing
Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Introduced
Senate Floor
Introduced
Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Contacts

Profile
Henry SternD
Senator
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 16 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 4
Select All Legislators
Profile
Henry SternD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gregg HartD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Blanca PachecoD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gail PellerinD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Kate SanchezR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Tri TaR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jessica CalozaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mark GonzalezD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Heather HadwickR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jose SolacheD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Sade ElhawaryD
Assemblymember
Committee Member

Similar Past Legislation

Bill NumberTitleIntroduced DateStatusLink to Bill
Energy: firm renewable energy resources and firm zero-carbon resources: procurement.
February 2022
Failed
Electricity: eligible renewable energy and zero-carbon resources: state agencies: procurement.
February 2021
Failed
Energy: firm zero-carbon resources.
February 2021
Passed
Showing 3 of 3 items
Page 1 of 1

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Henry Stern
Henry SternD
California State Senator
40% progression
Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (6/4/2025)

Latest Voting History

July 9, 2025
PASS
Assembly Committee
Assembly Utilities And Energy Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
180018PASS

Key Takeaways

  • Requires the Public Utilities Commission to assess zero-carbon energy needs and opportunities by December 2026.
  • Mandates identification of priority regions for deploying firm zero-carbon resources to ensure grid reliability.
  • Establishes requirements to analyze market barriers and solutions for zero-carbon energy deployment.
  • Creates a framework to evaluate clean energy resources for local and system-wide reliability.

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Henry Stern
Henry SternD
California State Senator

Summary

Senator Stern's proposal for evaluating firm zero-carbon resources directs the California Public Utilities Commission to produce a comprehensive assessment of how these energy sources can enhance grid reliability. The legislation requires the Commission, working with the Independent System Operator, to deliver a report by December 2026 examining opportunities and needs for deploying firm zero-carbon resources - renewable energy sources capable of providing consistent, dispatchable power - across multiple timeframes.

The mandated report must analyze several key elements: the specific attributes needed for maintaining reliable power delivery, scenarios projecting resource requirements over various periods, and priority regions for deployment. The Commission must also identify barriers preventing wider adoption of these resources and propose solutions, such as potential new market mechanisms like multiday firm capacity products or flexible ramping services. The report will outline implementation timelines and regulatory processes needed to enact any recommended changes.

The measure adds these requirements to the Public Utilities Code while maintaining existing enforcement provisions that classify violations of Commission orders as criminal offenses. While the bill creates obligations affecting local agencies, it specifies that no state reimbursement is required since any local costs would stem from changes to criminal statutes under the California Constitution.

40% progression
Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (6/4/2025)

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Assembly Committee
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Assembly Utilities And Energy Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Utilities And Energy Hearing
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar
Vote on Senate Floor
Senate Floor
Vote on Senate Floor
Senate 3rd Reading SB842 Stern
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Do pass as amended
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Placed on suspense file
Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Hearing
Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Introduced
Senate Floor
Introduced
Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Latest Voting History

July 9, 2025
PASS
Assembly Committee
Assembly Utilities And Energy Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
180018PASS

Contacts

Profile
Henry SternD
Senator
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 16 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 4
Select All Legislators
Profile
Henry SternD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gregg HartD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Blanca PachecoD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gail PellerinD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Kate SanchezR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Tri TaR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jessica CalozaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mark GonzalezD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Heather HadwickR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jose SolacheD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Sade ElhawaryD
Assemblymember
Committee Member

Similar Past Legislation

Bill NumberTitleIntroduced DateStatusLink to Bill
Energy: firm renewable energy resources and firm zero-carbon resources: procurement.
February 2022
Failed
Electricity: eligible renewable energy and zero-carbon resources: state agencies: procurement.
February 2021
Failed
Energy: firm zero-carbon resources.
February 2021
Passed
Showing 3 of 3 items
Page 1 of 1