Existing law requires a city, county, or city and county (local government) to administratively approve an application to install an electric vehicle charging station (EV station) through the issuance of a building permit or similar nondiscretionary permit. Existing law requires those EV stations to meet all applicable safety and performance standards established by specified entities. This bill would require this administrative approval to extend to EV stations with a canopy, as defined, or onsite energy storage systems sized to support charging. This bill would also require any electric vehicle supply equipment installed at the EV station to meet all applicable safety and performance standards. Existing law requires every local government to adopt, pursuant to specified deadlines, an ordinance that creates an expedited, streamlined permitting process for EV stations. Existing law requires the local government to adopt a checklist of all requirements with which the EV stations must comply with for expedited review. This bill would require the ordinance to also address expedited streamlining for any supporting infrastructure necessary for or accessory to the operation of EV stations, as described, and would clarify that the checklist may be amended. The bill would require the ordinance and checklist to be amended to implement the bill's provisions no later than December 31, 2027. This bill would further provide that if the local government has not adopted or amended such a checklist, an application to install an EV station must contain specified information about the proposed project to the building official of the local government, including, but not limited to, the specific location of the EV station. The bill would require the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) to develop and publicly post a standardized form that applicants may use and submit to the local government for purposes of satisfying this requirement. The bill would also require GO-Biz to develop and publicly post an optional template that applicants may use to document their application's compliance with specified provisions relating to the submittal of their EV station application. This bill would require a local government to provide, no later than 30 days after an application has been deemed approved, a written notice to the applicant of the date the application was deemed approved and identify all permits and authorizations that have been granted. The bill would authorize an applicant to proceed with project construction following that notice, as described. This bill would prohibit its provisions from being construed to limit a local agency's ability to, among other things, require plans or supporting documentation that are necessary to verify an electric vehicle charging station, including supporting infrastructure, meets all health and safety requirements of local, state, and federal law, as provided. This bill would make conforming changes and revise various definitions in these provisions, including by redefining an EV station for purposes of these provisions to mean a physical site where one or more devices with one or more charging ports and connectors for charging electric vehicles are available for use. By imposing additional duties on local agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 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.
Under existing law, it is the policy of the state that eligible renewable energy resources and zero-carbon resources supply 90% of all retail sales of electricity to California end-use customers by December 31, 2035, 95% of all retail sales of electricity to California end-use customers by December 31, 2040, 100% of all retail sales of electricity to California end-use customers by December 31, 2045, and 100% of electricity procured to serve all state agencies by December 31, 2035, as specified. Existing law requires the Department of Water Resources to procure eligible renewable energy resources and zero-carbon resources to satisfy those state agency obligations imposed on the State Water Resources Development System, commonly known as the State Water Project, pursuant to that policy. Existing law authorizes the department to defer, until no later than December 31, 2040, procuring zero-carbon electricity resource quantities equal to the amount of electricity provided under an existing contract to procure fossil generation entered into before January 1, 2010, if the department determines that the full achievement of the state agency obligations imposed on the State Water Project would require the early termination of the existing contract and that early termination of the existing contract would result in significant uneconomic costs. Existing law requires the department, in conducting procurement, to consider specified factors and requires that all resources procured be used first to meet the department's own electricity needs. This bill would require the department, in conducting that procurement, to also consider portfolio diversity, resource type, location, and hours of typical peak operation. The bill would expand the scope of the department's authorization to defer the procurement of those resource quantities to apply to an existing contract to procure fossil generation entered into before January 1, 2011, rather than January 1, 2010. The bill would authorize, on and after January 1, 2036, excess procurement of eligible renewable energy resources and zero-carbon resources, as defined, in one year to be applied to any subsequent year's obligation, as provided.
The Municipal Utility District Act establishes the formation of a municipal utility district for the provision of light, heat, water, or power within the district's jurisdiction. The act prohibits a district furnishing light, heat, water, or power from terminating residential service on account of nonpayment of a delinquent account unless the district provides a notice of delinquency and an opportunity to cure, as provided. This bill would authorize districts to offer customers the option of electronically receiving the required notice of delinquency, as specified. The bill would authorize districts furnishing service to fewer than 100,000 customers to offer residential customers a prepay option, as defined, for electrical service if certain conditions are met, including, among other things, that the district provides the customer with information on returning to standard billing and issues automated low-balance alerts to the customer before suspending the customer's electrical service, as provided. The bill would specify that the requirement to provide a notice of delinquency does not apply to customers participating in the prepay option.
Existing law establishes the Geologic Energy Management Division in the Department of Conservation under the direction of the State Oil and Gas Supervisor, who is required to supervise the drilling, operation, maintenance, and abandonment of oil and gas wells in the state and the operation, maintenance, and removal or abandonment of tanks and facilities related to oil and gas production within an oil and gas field so as to prevent damage to life, health, property, and natural resources. Existing law establishes the California State University under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University as one of the segments of public postsecondary education in the state. This bill would require the department, consistent with its statutory authority and in coordination with other state or federal regulatory agencies, to prioritize granting approvals for specified types of low-carbon or carbon-reducing technologies and applications. The bill would authorize the department to establish the Subsurface Low-Carbon Demonstration Project Program to facilitate partnerships among the state, the California State University system, private industry, and public entities to study and demonstrate innovative subsurface technologies using existing and idle wells. The bill would authorize the department to establish various programs in partnership with the California State University and California State University, Bakersfield, including (1) the Regional Subsurface Energy Transition and Applied Research Program and (2) a subsurface energy research field station for applied research, field testing, monitoring, and demonstration of subsurface technologies. The bill would also authorize the department to (3) collaborate with the California Energy Research Center at California State University, Bakersfield, and recognize the center as a state-affiliated applied research, technical assistance, and policy support partner, as provided, and (4) designate and support the California Core Repository at California State University, Bakersfield, as an official state-affiliated repository, as provided. This bill would authorize the department to establish and administer an official department office at California State University, Bakersfield, and would authorize the California State University to support and collaborate on activities across the full scope of the department's statutory responsibilities, as provided. This bill would explicitly authorize university-based researchers associated with any of the above-described programs to serve on advisory panels, technical working groups, and research committees in an advisory capacity, and provide scientific expertise to inform regulatory development, interagency coordination, and public communication. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for California State University, Bakersfield.
Existing law establishes the Department of Housing and Community Development in the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency. Existing law, the California Building Standards Law, establishes the California Building Standards Commission. Existing law requires the commission to approve and adopt building standards and to codify those standards in the California Building Standards Code. Existing law, the State Housing Law, establishes statewide construction and occupancy standards for buildings used for human habitation. Existing law, until January 1, 2033, requires the commission and the department, commencing with the next triennial edition of the code adopted after January 1, 2023, to research and develop, and authorizes the commission and the department to propose for adoption by the commission, mandatory building standards for the installation of electric vehicle charging stations in existing multifamily dwellings, hotels, motels, and nonresidential developments, as specified. This bill would authorize the commission, commencing with the first triennial edition of the code adopted after June 1, 2031, to adopt, approve, codify, and publish building energy standards for building electrical circuit features to enable a qualified plug-in photovoltaic system, as defined, to function as an energy source within the electrical circuit of a single-family residential dwelling, multiunit residential dwelling, or nonresidential development, that is constructed after that edition is adopted, as specified. The bill would, for purposes of that requirement, require the department to research, develop, and propose for adoption building standards for a qualified plug-in photovoltaic system to function as an energy source within the electrical circuit of a single-family residential dwelling, multiunit residential dwelling, or nonresidential development, as specified. The bill would require the commission and the department, in satisfying those requirements, to, among other things, consult with certain interested parties and invite the participation of the public at large in the development of those building energy standards through open consensus-based processes.
Existing law, the Warren-Alquist State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Act, establishes the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission and prescribes the authorities, duties, and responsibilities of the commission pertaining to energy matters. This bill would require the commission, in consultation with the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development and other relevant state agencies, to identify and designate Strategic Clean Energy and Critical Mineral Development Zones. The bill would authorize the county in which a proposed zone is located to submit a request for designation and would authorize the county board of supervisors to, by resolution, authorize the request for designation. The bill would authorize multiple counties to submit a request for designation if a proposed zone crosses the jurisdictional boundaries of the counties, as provided. The bill would require the commission to approve or deny a complete submission within 180 days. The bill would require a zone to consist only of geographic areas located within the jurisdictional boundaries of the county submitting the request for designation and would require that certain criteria be satisfied, including that the zone be in an area identified by state or federal agencies as containing significant deposits or identified production potential of critical minerals used in battery, clean energy, or advanced manufacturing supply chains, as specified. The bill would require the commission to review the designated zones at least every 5 years and authorize the commission to update the designated zones as appropriate based on changes in energy resources, infrastructure, or economic development planning. The bill would require state agencies administering programs related to economic development, advanced manufacturing, workforce development, or critical mineral supply chains to give priority consideration to projects, infrastructure investments, and technical assistance located within designated zones that support large-scale clean energy production or energy-intensive industrial development. The bill would require the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development to consider designated zones when administering programs intended to support advanced manufacturing, clean technology industries, energy storage supply chains, and other energy-intensive industries. The bill would authorize the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development to coordinate with the commission and other relevant state agencies to support site readiness, infrastructure development, and attracting investment within designated zones. The bill would require the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development and state agencies administering programs related to economic development, advanced manufacturing, workforce development, or critical mineral supply chains to give priority consideration to projects that will provide for the payment of prevailing wages, the employment of apprentices from state-approved projects, and the use of a skilled and trained workforce.
Existing law requires all new building and major renovation projects larger than 10,000 gross square feet undertaken by state agencies, and for which the project schematic design documents are initiated by the state agency on or after January 1, 2024, to obtain the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design or "LEED" Gold or higher certification, except as provided. Existing law requires state agencies to obtain LEED Silver certification for new buildings or major renovations, as described above, if the state agency concerned makes a finding that achieving LEED Gold conflicts with critical operational or security requirements, is demonstrably cost ineffective, or conflicts with California Building Code requirements. This bill would, as an alternative to obtaining LEED Gold certification as described above, allow building or renovation projects to obtain Three Green Globes or higher certification, as specified. This bill would, as an alternative to obtaining LEED Silver as described above, allow building or renovation projects to obtain Two Green Globes certification, as specified. The bill would make its requirements apply to projects for which the project schematic design documents are initiated by a state agency on or after January 1, 2027.
Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations. Under existing law, the commission administers, or otherwise oversees, various public purpose programs, including energy efficiency and conservation programs, cost-effective energy efficiency programs, rate assistance programs for eligible food banks, and home insulation financial assistance programs. Under existing law, those programs are generally funded through a charge on electrical service, which is collected through customer rates. This bill would establish the Public Utilities Public Purpose Programs Fund. The bill would require the commission, no later than January 1 of each year, commencing January 1, 2027, to determine and publish the amount necessary to fund certain public purpose programs and programs administered by electrical regional energy networks for the following fiscal year, as provided. The bill would require the Controller to transfer, on July 1 of each fiscal year, from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to the Public Utilities Public Purpose Programs Fund moneys appropriated by the Legislature for that purpose. The bill would require all moneys in the Public Utilities Public Purpose Programs Fund to be allocated by the commission, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to fund the public purpose programs and programs administered by electrical regional energy networks, as provided. The bill would repeal various charges on electrical service that fund public purpose programs and, instead, provide mechanisms for funding those public purpose programs through the Public Utilities Public Purpose Programs Fund, as specified. Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime. Because certain of the above provisions would be part of the act and a violation of a commission action implementing this bill's requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 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.
Existing law authorizes a community choice aggregator to aggregate the electrical load of interested electricity consumers within its boundaries and requires a community choice aggregator to file an implementation plan with the Public Utilities Commission, to register with the commission, and to enter into an operating service agreement with an electrical corporation. Existing law requires the Energy Unit within the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development to establish a Transmission Infrastructure Accelerator (accelerator) to develop a financing and development strategy for eligible transmission projects, as defined, to receive California Transmission Accelerator financing, and requires the accelerator to take the necessary steps to accelerate the development and deployment of those projects to maximize ratepayer savings. This bill would authorize a community choice aggregator to sponsor, develop, finance, construct, operate, lease, purchase, and own an eligible transmission project, regardless of whether the electrical transmission lines are used for the purpose of conveying electricity to the customers of the community choice aggregator. Under existing law, a violation of an order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime. Because a violation of a commission action implementing the provisions of this bill would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 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.
Existing law requires, by December 31, 2026, the State Air Resources Board, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, as provided, to develop a framework for measuring the average carbon intensity of the materials used in the construction of new buildings, including those for residential uses. Existing law requires, by December 31, 2028, the state board to develop a comprehensive strategy for the state's building sector to achieve a 40% net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of building materials, as specified, as soon as possible, but no later than December 31, 2035. Existing law authorizes the state board to establish an embodied carbon trading system, as defined, in compliance with these requirements, as provided. This bill would require the state board to determine whether using building materials with lower embodied carbon would be cost effective during the first 2-year period of their use compared to using conventional building materials before implementing the above-described provisions. If the state board determines that using building materials with lower embodied carbon would not be cost effective during the first 2-year period of their use compared to using conventional building materials, the bill would require the state board to delay or suspend, as applicable, implementation of those provisions for not less than 5 years, not to exceed 10 years in total.
