Energy: transportation sector: hydrogen.

Existing law, enacted as part of the Clean Energy and Pollution Reduction Act of 2015, requires the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) , in consultation with the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission) and the State Air Resources Board (state board) , to direct electrical corporations to file applications for programs and investments to accelerate widespread transportation electrification, as defined, to achieve specified results. The PUC is required to approve, or modify and approve, programs and investments in transportation electrification, including those that deploy charging infrastructure, through a reasonable cost recovery mechanism, if they meet specified requirements. Existing law requires the PUC, in cooperation with the Energy Commission, the state board, air quality management districts and air pollution control districts, electrical and gas corporations, and the motor vehicle industry, to evaluate and implement policies to promote the development of equipment and infrastructure needed to facilitate the use of electric power and natural gas to fuel low-emission vehicles, as provided. Existing law requires the state board to adopt hydrogen fuel regulations that ensure that state funding for the production and use of hydrogen fuel contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, criteria air pollutant emissions, and toxic air contaminant emissions, and, among things, require that, on statewide basis, no less than 33.3% of the hydrogen produced or dispensed in California for motor vehicles be made from eligible renewable energy resources, as defined. This bill would require the PUC to additionally evaluate and implement policies to promote the development of equipment and infrastructure needed to facilitate the use of hydrogen to fuel low-emission vehicles, as provided. The bill would require the PUC, in consultation with the state board and the Energy Commission, to authorize gas corporations to file applications for investments in programs to accelerate zero-emission vehicle transportation, defined to include both transportation electrification and the use of hydrogen when it is used as a transportation fuel in fuel cell electric vehicles, to advance specified environmental objectives. The bill would require the PUC to approve, or modify and approve, programs and investments in zero-emission vehicle transportation, including hydrogen and hydrogen-related pipelines, hydrogen distribution, and make-ready infrastructure for hydrogen, using a reasonable cost recovery mechanism if they are consistent with the specified environmental objectives, do not unfairly compete with nonutility enterprises, include performance accountability measures, are in the interest of ratepayers, as defined, do not result in cost shifts in customer rates or a net increase in emissions from the energy sector as determined by the state board, and otherwise meet any applicable renewable or emissions standard or requirement of then existing laws and regulations.