Conversion of electrical generation facilities using biomass.

Existing law establishes the Agricultural Biomass Utilization Account in the Department of Food and Agricultural Fund, which is administered by the Department of Food and Agriculture, in consultation with the State Air Resources Board and the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, for purposes of providing grants to persons that use agricultural biomass as a means for avoiding landfill use, preventing air pollution, and enhancing environmental quality. This bill would require the Department of Conservation, on or before December 1, 2025, to establish and administer the Biomass Technology Transition Program to support the conversion of biomass generation facilities using traditional combustion technologies to newer advanced bioenergy technology facilities, as defined. The bill would require the Department of Conservation, on or before December 1, 2025, to identify generation facilities with a generation capacity of 10 megawatts or greater that use, or are in the process of recommissioning or redeveloping those facilities to use, forest biomass waste or agricultural biomass waste, as defined, and the operators of those facilities have demonstrated to the Department of Conservation their intent to convert the facilities to advanced bioenergy technology facilities. The bill would require the Department of Conservation to request the relevant local air pollution control district or air quality management district to provide information for each identified generation facility about best available control technologies, and other potential advanced emission control technologies applicable to the district, that would be required if the generation facility requests a permit, as provided. The bill would require the Department of Conservation, on or before January 1, 2030, to establish a grant program to support the conversion of the generation facilities identified pursuant to the above-described provisions to advanced bioenergy technology facilities and would require an operator of a generation facility, in order to receive a grant, to develop and submit to the Department of Conservation business plans meeting specified guidelines. The bill would prohibit actions taken by the Department of Conservation and by operators of generation facilities pursuant to the above-described provisions from being funded by ratepayers.