Hydrogen underground storage: study.

Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) with regulatory authority over public utilities, including gas corporations. Existing law authorizes the PUC to establish rules and to fix the rates and charges for all public utilities, subject to control by the Legislature, and requires that the rates and charges of a public utility be just and reasonable. Existing law also requires the PUC and the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission) to take specified actions in furtherance of meeting the state's clean energy and pollution reduction objectives. Existing law requests the California Council on Science and Technology (council) to undertake and complete various studies, including studies relating to energy and energy storage resources. This bill would request the council, in consultation with the PUC and the Energy Commission, to undertake and, within 12 months of entering into the contract, complete a study analyzing the role of hydrogen underground storage facilities and hydrogen infrastructure in the state's long-term greenhouse gas reduction strategies, as specified. The bill would require the study to include specified analyses and policy recommendations. If the council agrees to undertake and complete the study, the bill would require the council to transmit the study, upon completion, to the PUC and to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature for their consideration.