California Expands Streamlined Certification Program to Include Geothermal Projects
A new bill has been signed into law in California, designating geothermal projects as eligible for a streamlined approval process under the California Environment Quality Act (CEQA).
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 531, sponsored by Rogers-D and Papan-D, which amends Section 25545 of the Public Resources Code to include geothermal projects as "environmental leadership development projects."
The bill seeks to include geothermal projects under the classification of “environmental leadership development projects,” and thus subject to a streamlined approval process under the CEQA.
- Solar PV
- Wind power
- Energy storage
- Hydrogen production facilities
are already granted benefits under the existing law, which provides that the Energy Commission’s certification is in lieu of any permit, certificate, or similar document required by any governmental agency and supersedes any applicable statute, ordinance, or regulation, except as specified.
Author's summary: California passes bill to simplify geothermal project approvals.