On October 6, Governor Newsom signed AB 531 (Rogers, D-Santa Rosa), which expands the California Energy Commission’s (CEC) AB 205 opt-in-permitting program to include smaller geothermal energy projects under 50MW. In doing so, the law allows project developers to bypass local permitting processes and instead seek approval directly through the state.
RCRC opposed AB 531 and urged the Governor to veto the measure, while simultaneously noting strong local and organizational support for geothermal energy production. RCRC’s opposition focused on the bill’s usurpation of traditional local permitting authority. Smaller geothermal energy projects are traditionally subject to local discretionary permitting.
Local governments best know the communities impacted by smaller geothermal projects, are tasked with balancing competing land uses, and are best positioned to identify and mitigate any impacts the project will have on the affected community. RCRC’s suggestions to ensure projects have local support from the host community were rejected. RCRC will continue to advocate for pathways that provide greater technical assistance and flexibility for local governments to permit renewable energy projects.
AB 531 was co-sponsored by Sonoma Clean Power (SCP), a consumer choice aggregator serving Sonoma and Mendocino Counties, and was supported by the California Consumer Choice Association (CalCCA), a statewide association representing Consumer Choice Aggregators (CCAs).
RCRC’s veto request can be found here.
For more information, contact RCRC Senior Policy Advocate, John Kennedy.