Bill > SB887

This bill amends the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to address the environmental impacts of data centers and clean energy projects. Specifically, it prohibits the use of categorical exemptions, which are pre-approved environmental clearances for projects deemed to have no significant environmental impact, for data center development and operation, meaning these projects will now undergo a more thorough CEQA review. Additionally, the bill expands the "environmental leadership development project" program, which offers streamlined CEQA review for certain projects, to include data centers that meet stringent conditions related to energy use, water conservation, and community benefits, as well as certain geothermal powerplants. The State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission will establish uniform standards for these data center conditions and oversee compliance. The bill also clarifies how greenhouse gas emissions impacts for these leadership projects, including data centers, should be quantified and mitigated, prioritizing direct emissions reductions and local offsets.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Transportation and Infrastructure

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB887