State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission: certification of facilities: electrical transmission facilities or projects.

Existing law authorizes a person proposing an eligible facility, including an electrical transmission line carrying electricity from certain other facilities that are located in the state to a point of junction with any interconnected electrical transmission system, to file an application, on or before June 30, 2029, with the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission) to certify a site and related facility for purposes of specified environmental review procedures. This bill would expand the facilities eligible to be certified pursuant to the provisions described above by the Energy Commission and deemed environmental leadership development projects to include electrical transmission projects. The bill would require an applicant applying for certification of an electrical transmission project to take certain actions, including, among other actions, to avoid or minimize significant environmental impacts in any disadvantaged community. Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) with regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations. Existing law prohibits an electrical corporation from beginning the construction of a line, plant, or system, or any extension of a line, plant, or system, without having first obtained from the PUC a certificate that the present or future public convenience and necessity require its construction. Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the PUC is a crime. The bill would authorize an electrical corporation that files an application with the PUC to authorize the new construction of any electrical transmission facility or electrical transmission project to simultaneously submit to the Energy Commission an application for certification of the facility, as specified. The bill would authorize the Energy Commission to recover the reasonable administrative costs incurred from evaluating an application, as specified. The bill would provide that the Energy Commission's certification of a facility proposed by an electrical corporation satisfies and replaces the PUC's obligations under the California Environmental Quality Act with respect to that facility. The bill would prohibit the PUC from approving an application until after the Energy Commission has issued a decision on certification of the proposed facility. Because these provisions would be part of the Public Utilities Act and a violation of these requirements or a PUC action implementing these requirements would therefore be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would require an applicant applying for certification of an electrical transmission project to take certain actions, including, among other actions, to avoid or minimize significant environmental impacts to any disadvantaged community. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.