AB 1172: Integrated energy policy report: fusion energy.

Existing law requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to undertake various actions in furtherance of meeting the states clean energy and pollution reduction objectives. Existing law prohibits the commission from certifying a nuclear fission thermal powerplant, except for specified powerplants, and provides that a nuclear fission thermal powerplant, except for those specified powerplants, is not a permitted land use in California, unless certain conditions are met regarding, among other things, the existence of technology for the construction and operation of nuclear fuel rod reprocessing plants and of demonstrated technology or means for the disposal of high-level nuclear waste, as specified.

Existing law requires the commission, beginning November 1, 2003, and biennially thereafter, to adopt an integrated energy policy report that contains an overview of major energy trends and issues facing the state, presents policy recommendations based on an in-depth and integrated analysis of the most current and pressing energy issues facing the state, and includes an assessment and forecast of system reliability and the need for resource additions, efficiency, and conservation, as specified. Existing law also requires the commission, beginning November 1, 2004, and biennially thereafter, to prepare an energy policy review to update analyses from the integrated energy policy report or to raise energy issues that have emerged since the release of the integrated energy policy report, as specified.

This bill would require the commission, as part of the 2027 edition of the integrated energy policy report, to include an assessment of the potential for fusion energy to contribute to Californias power supply, as specified.