Bill > AB1359

This bill amends the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to allow a county, upon the request of an applicant, to assume the role of lead agency for geothermal exploratory projects, regardless of whether the county has adopted a geothermal element in its general plan. If a county assumes lead agency responsibility, the county and the Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) must confer to ensure that the environmental review includes necessary information to facilitate CalGEM's role as a responsible agency. The bill also removes the requirement that a county complete its lead agency responsibilities within 135 days of receiving the application. Additionally, the bill declares itself an urgency statute to accelerate progress towards the state's climate goals through the deployment of geothermal energy.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance, Justice, Labor and Employment

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB1359