CA Assembly Bill-2339 Energy: geothermal technologies
Assembly Bill No. 2339
CHAPTER 608
An act to add Section 25228 to the Public Resources Code, relating to energy.
[ Approved by Governor September 27, 2012. Filed with Secretary of State September 27, 2012. ]
AB 2339, Williams. Energy: geothermal technologies.
The Warren-Alquist State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Act establishes the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission) and requires the Energy Commission to, among other things, serve as a central repository within the state government for the collection, storage, retrieval, and dissemination of data and information on all forms of energy supply, demand, conservation, public safety, research, and related subjects. Existing law requires the Energy Commission to prepare an integrated energy policy report every 2 years.
This bill would require the Energy Commission, in consultation with the Public Utilities Commission and other stakeholders, to evaluate and recommend policies and implementation strategies to overcome barriers to the deployment and use of geothermal heat pump and geothermal ground loop technologies. The Energy Commission would be required to include those evaluations and recommendations in the integrated energy policy report that is required to be adopted for calendar year 2013.
Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 25228 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read:
25228.
(a) The commission, in consultation with the Public Utilities Commission, cities, counties, special districts, and other stakeholders, shall evaluate and recommend policies and implementation strategies to overcome barriers to the deployment and use of geothermal heat pump and geothermal ground loop technologies. In evaluating these policies and strategies, the commission shall consider all of the following:
(1) The quantitative benefits and costs to ratepayers specific to safer, more reliable, or less costly gas or electrical service and through greater energy efficiency, reduction of health and environmental impacts from air pollution, and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions related to electricity and natural gas production and use, through the use of geothermal heat pump and geothermal ground loop technologies.
(2) The existing statutory and permit requirements that impact the use of geothermal heat pumps and geothermal ground loop technologies and any other existing legal impediments to the use of geothermal heat pump and geothermal ground loop technologies.
(3) The impact of the use of the geothermal heat pump and geothermal ground loop technologies on achieving the state’s goals pursuant to the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (Division 25.5 (commencing with Section 38500) of the Health and Safety Code) and achieving the state’s energy efficiency goals.
(b) The commission shall include the evaluations and recommendations made pursuant to this section in the integrated energy policy report that is required to be adopted for calendar year 2013, pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 25302.
[CaliforniaGeo, The California Geothermal Heat Pump Association was the initiator and advocate for this legislation]