Bill > SB654

This bill modifies the California Environmental Protection Agency's existing responsibilities regarding a greenhouse gas emissions registry focused on the water-energy nexus. Currently, the agency oversees a voluntary registry that allows businesses to register their greenhouse gas emissions. The bill changes the agency's role from developing the registry to administering it and authorizes the agency to enter into a new three-year contract with a nonprofit organization, with a budget cap of $2 million. The contract's objectives include helping entities establish emissions baselines, encouraging water and energy efficiency measures, enabling consistent emissions reduction tracking, recognizing participating entities, and recruiting broad participation across economic sectors and regions. The bill removes previous language about registry development and adds provisions for supporting water users through workshops, trainings, technical support, and climate action planning. The goal is to create a more flexible and supportive system for voluntary greenhouse gas emissions reporting and reduction, with a specific focus on the interconnections between water and energy systems in California.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB654