The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 designates the State Air Resources Board (state board) as the state agency responsible for monitoring and regulating sources emitting greenhouse gases. Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) with regulatory jurisdiction over public utilities, including electrical corporations, as provided. Existing law requires the PUC and the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission) to undertake specified actions to advance the states clean energy and pollution reduction objectives.

Existing law requires various state entities responsible for the states energy, climate change, and air quality goals to produce various reports relating to those duties.

Existing law finds and declares that the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) was organized as a nonprofit corporation at the request of the Legislature for the specific purpose of offering expert advice to the state government on public policy issues significantly related to science and technology.

Existing law creates the Governors Office of Business and Economic Development, known as GO-Biz, and requires GO-Biz to serve the Governor as the lead entity for economic strategy and the marketing of California on issues relating to business development, private sector investment, and economic growth. Existing law authorizes GO-Biz to undertake various activities relating to economic development, including the provision of prescribed information.

This bill would request the CCST, in its discretion, every 3 years, to assess the infrastructure project types, scale, and pace necessary to achieve the states energy, climate change, and air quality goals, as specified. The bill would also require GO-Biz, in consultation with the Energy Commission, the PUC, and the state board, to prepare an assessment of the barriers, challenges, and impediments limiting the deployment and development of clean energy projects, as specified. The bill would require GO-Biz to submit this assessment to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2026. The bill would also require the assessment to be considered and incorporated into the work carried out by the Infrastructure Strike Team convened by the Governor.

This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 designates the State Air Resources Board (state board) as the state agency responsible for monitoring and regulating sources emitting greenhouse gases. Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) with regulatory jurisdiction over public utilities, including electrical corporations, as provided. Existing law requires the PUC and the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission) to undertake specified actions to advance the states clean energy and pollution reduction objectives.

Existing law requires various state entities responsible for the states energy, climate change, and air quality goals to produce various reports relating to those duties.

Existing law finds and declares that the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) was organized as a nonprofit corporation at the request of the Legislature for the specific purpose of offering expert advice to the state government on public policy issues significantly related to science and technology.

Existing law creates the Governors Office of Business and Economic Development, known as GO-Biz, and requires GO-Biz to serve the Governor as the lead entity for economic strategy and the marketing of California on issues relating to business development, private sector investment, and economic growth. Existing law authorizes GO-Biz to undertake various activities relating to economic development, including the provision of prescribed information.

This bill would request the CCST, in its discretion, every 3 years, to assess the infrastructure project types, scale, and pace necessary to achieve the states energy, climate change, and air quality goals, as specified. The bill would also require GO-Biz, in consultation with the Energy Commission, the PUC, and the state board, to prepare an assessment of the barriers, challenges, and impediments limiting the deployment and development of clean energy projects, as specified. The bill would require GO-Biz to submit this assessment to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2026. The bill would also require the assessment to be considered and incorporated into the work carried out by the Infrastructure Strike Team convened by the Governor.

This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 designates the State Air Resources Board as the state agency responsible for monitoring and regulating sources emitting greenhouse gases. Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) with regulatory jurisdiction over public utilities, including electrical corporations, as provided. Existing law requires the PUC and the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission) to undertake specified actions to advance the states clean energy and pollution reduction objectives. Existing law also establishes an Independent System Operator (ISO) as a nonprofit public benefit corporation and requires the ISO to ensure efficient use and reliable operation of the electrical transmission grid, as specified.

Existing law requires various state entities responsible for the states energy, climate change, and air quality goals to produce various reports relating to those duties.

Existing law finds and declares that the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) was organized as a nonprofit corporation at the request of the Legislature for the specific purpose of offering expert advice to the state government on public policy issues significantly related to science and technology.

This bill would request the CCST, in its discretion, every 2 3 years, to perform a literature review as an ongoing series of systematic reviews, including source materials, to assess the infrastructure project types, scale, and pace necessary to achieve the states energy, climate change, and air quality goals, as specified. The bill would also require, on an annual basis, the Office of Planning and Research to provide to the Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies, require GO-Biz, in consultation with the Energy Commission, the PUC, and the state board, and the ISO, a progress report regarding the number of permit applications, the number of permitted projects approved, and the number of projects commissioned, for each of the infrastructure categories identified in the most recent literature review, as provided. The bill would provide that the funding required for these purposes would be provided upon appropriation by the Legislature, as specified. board, to prepare an assessment of the barriers, challenges, and impediments limiting the deployment and development of clean energy projects, as specified. The bill would require GO-Biz to submit this assessment to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2026. The bill would also require the assessment to be considered and incorporated into the work carried out by the Infrastructure Strike Team convened by the Governor.

This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 designates the State Air Resources Board as the state agency responsible for monitoring and regulating sources emitting greenhouse gases. Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) with regulatory jurisdiction over public utilities, including electrical corporations, as provided. Existing law requires the PUC and the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission) to undertake specified actions to advance the states clean energy and pollution reduction objectives. Existing law also establishes an Independent System Operator (ISO) as a nonprofit public benefit corporation and requires the ISO to ensure efficient use and reliable operation of the electrical transmission grid, as specified.

Existing law requires various state entities responsible for the states energy, climate change, and air quality goals to produce various reports relating to those duties.

Existing law finds and declares that the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) was organized as a nonprofit corporation at the request of the Legislature for the specific purpose of offering expert advice to the state government on public policy issues significantly related to science and technology.

This bill would request the CCST, in its discretion, every 2 years, to perform a literature review, review as an ongoing series of systematic reviews, including source materials, to assess the infrastructure project types, scale, and pace necessary to achieve the states energy, climate change, and air quality goals, as specified. The bill would also require, on an annual basis, the Office of Planning and Research to provide to the Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies, in consultation with the Energy Commission, the PUC, the state board, and the ISO, a progress report regarding the number of permit applications, the number of permitted projects approved, and the number of projects commissioned, for each of the infrastructure categories identified in the most recent literature review, as provided. The bill would provide that the funding required for these purposes would be provided upon appropriation by the Legislature, as specified.

This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 designates the State Air Resources Board as the state agency responsible for monitoring and regulating sources emitting greenhouse gases. Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) with regulatory jurisdiction over public utilities, including electrical corporations, as provided. Existing law requires the PUC and the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission) to undertake specified actions to advance the states clean energy and pollution reduction objectives. Existing law also establishes an Independent System Operator (ISO) as a nonprofit public benefit corporation and requires the ISO to ensure efficient use and reliable operation of the electrical transmission grid, as specified.

Existing law requires various state entities responsible for the states energy, climate change, and air quality goals to produce various reports relating to those duties.

Existing law finds and declares that the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) was organized as a nonprofit corporation at the request of the Legislature for the specific purpose of offering expert advice to the state government on public policy issues significantly related to science and technology.

This bill would request the CCST, in its discretion, every 2 years, to perform a literature review, including source materials, to assess the infrastructure project types, scale, and pace necessary to achieve the quantities of renewable energy, and the distribution and transmission networks necessary, to achieve the states energy, climate change, and air quality goals, as specified. The bill would also require, on an annual basis, the State Clearinghouse at the Office of Planning and Research to provide to the Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change, Change Policies, in consultation with the assistance of the Energy Commission, the PUC, the state board, and the ISO, a progress report regarding the number of permit applications, the number of permitted projects approved, and the number of projects commissioned, for each of the infrastructure categories identified in the CCST report, most recent literature review, as provided. The bill would provide that the funding required for these purposes would be provided upon appropriation by the Legislature, as specified.

The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 designates the State Air Resources Board as the state agency responsible for monitoring and regulating sources of emissions of greenhouse gases that cause global warming in order to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.

This bill would make a nonsubstantive change to this provision.

CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS

CSA1 Bill Id:AB 585

Author:(Robert Rivas and Petrie-Norris)

As Amended Ver:September 1, 2023

2/3 vote. Urgency

SUMMARY

Requests the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) to perform a triennial assessment of the infrastructure projects necessary to achieve the state's energy, climate change, and air quality goals, as specified. Requires the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) to prepare an assessment of the barriers, challenges, and impediments limiting the deployment of clean energy projects by January 1, 2026.

Senate Amendments

1. Add the requirement for GO-Biz to prepare an assessment of the barriers, challenges, and impediments limiting the deployment of clean energy projects.
2. Strike out the requirement for the Office of Planning and Research (OPR) to provide an annual progress report to the Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change (JLCCCP) regarding the status of infrastructure projects identified in the CCST report.
3. Change the interval for the CCST assessment from two to three years.
4. Add related findings.

COMMENTS

CCST was established in 1988 pursuant to Assembly Concurrent Resolution 162 (Farr and Garamendi) and modeled after the U.S. National Academies. CCST convenes experts from California's academic and research institutions to provide objective advice and analysis in response to requests from the governor, Legislature and other state entities on policy issues relating to science and technology. CCST's mission is carried out via two primary programs: Science Advice and the Science Policy Fellows. CCST delivers policy-relevant science information via briefings, workshops, and peer-reviewed reports and CCST recruits, trains, and places PhD scientists and engineers in a year-long fellowship, working as staff in the California state government.

CCST serves state offices on their science advice needs. For example CCST completed a report on underground natural gas storage in 2018 titled, "Long-Term Viability of Underground Natural Gas Storage in California: An Independent Review of Scientific and Technical Information." In this capacity, CCST works with their academic and research institution partners and other experts to develop assessments of the available information around a specified topic. CCST gathers information through meetings with experts, reviews of the scientific literature, submission of information by outside parties, and investigations by the author team and/or CCST staff. These commissioned reports then undergo independent external peer review.

According to the Author

California has set ambitious climate goals, but is not building clean infrastructure – such as renewable energy generation and electric vehicle charging – fast enough to achieve them on schedule. AB 585 requires the state to regularly assess clean infrastructure needs across sectors and publish annual progress reports identifying where faster buildout of clean infrastructure is necessary. In addition to analyzing progress toward building the clean infrastructure needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, AB 585 also requires improved reporting on progress toward building infrastructure that reduces criteria air pollutants that do not warm the climate but do impact human health, such as particulate matter and sulfur dioxide. Together, these important provisions will help keep California on schedule to meet our ambitious climate goals and dramatically improve air quality for all.

Arguments in Support

According to the California Council for Environmental and Economic Balance, this legislation will provide the comprehensive overview necessary to allow policymakers and the public to take strategic action toward achieving carbon neutrality.

Arguments in Opposition

None received.

FISCAL COMMENTS

According to the Senate Appropriations Committee:

1. Unknown but likely significant ongoing costs (General Fund or special fund) for GO-Biz to implement the provisions of this bill.
2. Unknown but likely significant ongoing cost pressure (General Fund or special fund) for the Legislature to provide funding for CCST to perform literature reviews. CCST is a nonprofit organization with various funding sources, including private and state funds.
3. Unknown, potentially significant costs (General Fund or special fund) for the Air Resources Board, the Energy Commission, and the Public Utilities Commission to assist GO-Biz.

VOTES:

ASM NATURAL RESOURCES: 11-0-0

YES: Luz Rivas, Flora, Addis, Friedman, Hoover, Mathis, Muratsuchi, Pellerin, Ward, Wood, Zbur

ASM APPROPRIATIONS: 11-0-5

YES: Holden, Bryan, Calderon, Wendy Carrillo, Mike Fong, Hart, Lowenthal, Papan, Pellerin, Weber, Ortega

ABS, ABST OR NV: Megan Dahle, Dixon, Mathis, Robert Rivas, Sanchez

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 80-0-0

YES: Addis, Aguiar-Curry, Alanis, Alvarez, Arambula, Bains, Bauer-Kahan, Bennett, Berman, Boerner, Bonta, Bryan, Calderon, Juan Carrillo, Wendy Carrillo, Cervantes, Chen, Connolly, Megan Dahle, Davies, Dixon, Essayli, Flora, Mike Fong, Vince Fong, Friedman, Gabriel, Gallagher, Garcia, Gipson, Grayson, Haney, Hart, Holden, Hoover, Irwin, Jackson, Jones‑Sawyer, Kalra, Lackey, Lee, Low, Lowenthal, Maienschein, Mathis, McCarty, McKinnor, Muratsuchi, Stephanie Nguyen, Ortega, Pacheco, Papan, Jim Patterson, Joe Patterson, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, Reyes, Luz Rivas, Robert Rivas, Rodriguez, Blanca Rubio, Sanchez, Santiago, Schiavo, Soria, Ta, Ting, Valencia, Villapudua, Waldron, Wallis, Ward, Weber, Wicks, Wilson, Wood, Zbur, Rendon

SENATE FLOOR: 39-0-1

YES: Allen, Alvarado-Gil, Archuleta, Ashby, Atkins, Becker, Blakespear, Bradford, Cortese, Dahle, Dodd, Durazo, Eggman, Glazer, Gonzalez, Grove, Hurtado, Jones, Laird, Limón, McGuire, Menjivar, Min, Newman, Nguyen, Niello, Ochoa Bogh, Padilla, Portantino, Roth, Rubio, Seyarto, Skinner, Smallwood-Cuevas, Stern, Umberg, Wahab, Wiener, Wilk

ABS, ABST OR NV: Caballero

UPDATED

VERSION: September 1, 2023

CONSULTANT: Lawrence Lingbloom / NAT. RES. / (916) 319-2092 FN: 0001860

 THIRD READING  

Bill No: AB 585

Author: Robert Rivas (D) and Petrie-Norris (D)

Amended: 9/1/23 in Senate

Vote: 27 - Urgency

SENATE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE: 7-0, 7/5/23

AYES: Allen, Dahle, Gonzalez, Hurtado, Menjivar, Nguyen, Skinner

SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: 7-0, 9/1/23

AYES: Portantino, Jones, Ashby, Bradford, Seyarto, Wahab, Wiener

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 80-0, 5/31/23 - See last page for vote

SUBJECT: Climate change: infrastructure and clean energy projects: assessments

SOURCE: California Council for Environmental & Economic Balance

DIGEST:

This bill requests the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) to perform a triennial literature review to assess the infrastructure projects necessary to achieve the quantities of renewable energy, and the distribution and transmission networks necessary, to achieve the state’s energy, climate change, and air quality goals. Requires the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) to prepare an assessment of barriers limiting the deployment of clean energy projects by January 1, 2026.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1. Requires, under the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 and updates thereof, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to ensure that statewide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are reduced to at least 40% below the 1990 level by 2030. (Health and Safety Code (HSC) § 38500 et seq.)
2. States, under the California Climate Crisis Act, that it is the policy of the state to achieve net zero GHG emissions no later than 2045, and to ensure that by 2045 statewide anthropogenic GHG emissions are reduced to at least 85% below the 1990 level. (HSC § 38562.2)
3. States that is the goal of the state to procure 100% of electricity from eligible renewable energy resources and zero-carbon resources by December 31, 2045. (PUC § 454.53)

This bill:

1. Requests CCST, every three years, to assess the infrastructure project types, scale, and pace necessary to achieve the state’s energy, climate change, and air quality goals, including reviewing specified state agency reports regarding energy, climate change, and air quality.
   1. Requests CCST to commit to regular updates of the assessment at its discretion.
   2. Provides that the list of infrastructure projects shall include all of the following:
      1. Deployment of or upgrades to renewable and carbon-free energy capacity, substations, transformers, distribution and transmission lines, and renewable hydrogen production and distribution;
      2. Deployment of or upgrades to electric vehicle charging stations, hydrogen refueling stations, refinery conversions, sustainable aviation fuels, and other low- and zero-carbon transportation fuels;
      3. Deployment and retrofitting of buildings to reduce GHG emissions;
      4. Projects addressing short-lived climate pollutants;
      5. Natural carbon sequestration and nature-based climate solutions;
      6. Carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration projects;
      7. Projects addressing criteria air pollutants; and
      8. Any other project types necessary to meet the state’s energy, climate change, and air quality goals.
2. Requires GO-Biz, in consultation with the State Air Resources Board (CARB), California Energy Commission (CEC), and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to prepare and submit to the Legislature by January 1, 2026 an assessment of the barriers, challenges, and impediments limiting the deployment and development of clean energy projects that support the strategies identified in CARB’s scoping plan and advance state clean energy and climate goals.
   1. The assessment shall include:
      1. At least three clean energy project types;
      2. Specific challenges impacting the different stages of clean energy project development;
      3. Different methods for developing and deploying clean energy projects; and
      4. Recommended approaches, models, or strategies for addressing the identified barriers, challenges, and impediments to project delivery.
   2. GO-Biz shall consider the same reports CCST is to consider in its assessment.
   3. The assessment shall be considered and incorporated into the work carried out by the Infrastructure Strike Team established by Executive Order No. N-8-23.

Background

1. Achieving California’s climate goals. California has set ambitious climate goals, including carbon neutrality by 2045 and a goal to produce all electricity from renewable and carbon-free sources by that same year. Meeting California’s climate goals will require a massive buildout of infrastructure across many sectors of the economy. In the energy sector, for example, the CARB’s 2022 Scoping Plan estimates that in order to power new electric vehicles, clean industries, and more, our state will need roughly 150% as much electricity by 2045 as is available today. Such expansion will need more transmission lines, energy storage, demand response, and other related resources. Because only about half of our state’s electricity is currently derived from renewable and carbon-free sources, this means that California will need to add three times as much clean energy capacity as is available today in just 22 years. To achieve that goal, California should be adding roughly seven gigawatts (GW) of new clean energy per year between now and 2045. Currently, the state is only adding about two to three GW per year on average.
2. CCST. The California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) was established in 1988 pursuant to ACR 162 (Farr and Garamendi) and modeled after the U.S. National Academies. CCST convenes experts from California’s academic and research institutions to provide objective advice and analysis in response to requests from the Governor, Legislature and other state entities on policy issues relating to science and technology. CCST’s mission is carried out via two primary programs: Science Advice and the Science Policy Fellows. CCST delivers policy-relevant science information via briefings, workshops, and peer-reviewed reports and CCST recruits, trains, and places PhD scientists and engineers in a year-long fellowship, working as staff in the California state government.

CCST serves state offices on their science advice needs. For example CCST completed a report on underground natural gas storage in 2018 titled, “Long-Term Viability of Underground Natural Gas Storage in California: An Independent Review of Scientific and Technical Information.” In this capacity, CCST works with their academic and research institution partners and other experts to develop assessments of the available information around a specified topic. CCST gathers information through meetings with experts, reviews of the scientific literature, submission of information by outside parties, and investigations by the author team and/or CCST staff. These commissioned reports then undergo independent external peer review.

1. Literature to review. State agencies and other entities publish a number of reports from different lenses relevant to progress towards achieving the state’s climate goals. Effectively consolidating information from these reports to inform an effective infrastructure strategy remains a challenge. This bill would request CCST to conduct an assessment which shall review specified and plans with an emphasis on infrastructure need to meet climate goals. GO-Biz is would consider the same reports and plans. Those reports and plans are:
   1. CEC’s biennial Integrated Energy Policy Report (IPER) overviewing major energy trends and issues facing the state;
   2. Integrated resource plans filed periodically by load-serving entities;
   3. CPUC, CEC, and CARB’s annual joint reliability progress report reviewing system and local reliability;
   4. The California Independent System Operator (CAISO)’s 20-year transmission outlook that explores the longer-term grid requirements and options for meeting the state's greenhouse gas reduction and clean energy goals;
   5. CARB’s report completed pursuant to SB 1075 (Skinner, Chapter 363, Statutes of 2022) related to hydrogen use in the state;
   6. CARB’s biennial report evaluating the implementation of the Air Quality Improvement Program;
   7. CARB’s Scoping Plan for achieving reductions in GHG emissions, which is updated at least every 5 years; and

Comments

1. Purpose of Bill. According to the author, “California has set ambitious climate goals, but is not building clean infrastructure – such as renewable energy generation and electric vehicle charging – fast enough to achieve them on schedule. AB 585 requires the state to regularly assess clean infrastructure needs across sectors and publish annual progress reports identifying where faster buildout of clean infrastructure is necessary. […]

“In addition to analyzing progress toward building the clean infrastructure needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, AB 585 also requires improved reporting on progress toward building infrastructure that reduces criteria air pollutants that do not warm the climate but do impact human health, such as particulate matter and sulfur dioxide. Together, these important provisions will help keep California on schedule to meet our ambitious climate goals and dramatically improve air quality for all.”

Related/Prior Legislation

SB 1075 (Skinner, Chapter 363, Statutes of 2022) directed CARB, in consultation with the CPUC and CEC, to develop an evaluation by June 1, 2024 which includes, among other topics, policy recommendations regarding the use of green hydrogen in the state, an estimate of reduced GHG emissions achievable through the use of green hydrogen, the cost of green hydrogen, the potential use for other forms of hydrogen (not green hydrogen), health and environmental impacts of various forms of hydrogen, and strategies to support hydrogen infrastructure.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: No

According to the Senate Appropriations Committee:

• Unknown but likely significant ongoing costs (General Fund or special fund) for the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) to implement the provisions of this bill.
• Unknown but likely significant ongoing cost pressure (General Fund or special fund) for the Legislature to provide funding for CCST to perform biennial literature reviews. CCST is a nonprofit organization with various funding sources, including private and state funds.
• Unknown, potentially significant costs (General Fund or special fund) for the California Air Resources Board (CARB) the California Air Resources Board (CARB), and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to assist GO-Biz.

SUPPORT: (Verified 9/1/23)

California Council for Environmental & Economic Balance (source)

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO

California Environmental Voters

California Special Districts Association

California Trucking Association

Clean Air Task Force

Southern California Association of Governments

OPPOSITION: (Verified 9/1/23)

None received

ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: According to Clean Air Task Force, “On October 2022, Clean Air Task Force, in cooperation with the Environmental Defense Fund, published a report called Growing the Grid that analyzes challenges to achieving California's clean energy goals. The report’s main recommendation is for the state to develop and implement a state-wide clean energy deployment plan with specific quantities, locations, and timing of new resource development and infrastructure expansion to ensure the state is on track to meeting its climate targets. AB 585 requires improved analysis and reporting on progress toward building the clean infrastructure needed to meet California’s climate goals. Together, these important provisions will keep California on schedule to meet our ambitious climate goals and dramatically improve air quality.”

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 80-0, 5/31/23

AYES: Addis, Aguiar-Curry, Alanis, Alvarez, Arambula, Bains, Bauer-Kahan, Bennett, Berman, Boerner, Bonta, Bryan, Calderon, Juan Carrillo, Wendy Carrillo, Cervantes, Chen, Connolly, Megan Dahle, Davies, Dixon, Essayli, Flora, Mike Fong, Vince Fong, Friedman, Gabriel, Gallagher, Garcia, Gipson, Grayson, Haney, Hart, Holden, Hoover, Irwin, Jackson, Jones-Sawyer, Kalra, Lackey, Lee, Low, Lowenthal, Maienschein, Mathis, McCarty, McKinnor, Muratsuchi, Stephanie Nguyen, Ortega, Pacheco, Papan, Jim Patterson, Joe Patterson, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, Reyes, Luz Rivas, Robert Rivas, Rodriguez, Blanca Rubio, Sanchez, Santiago, Schiavo, Soria, Ta, Ting, Valencia, Villapudua, Waldron, Wallis, Ward, Weber, Wicks, Wilson, Wood, Zbur, Rendon

Prepared by: Theresa Keates / E.Q. / (916) 651-4108

9/2/23 12:38:38

**** END ****

SENATE COMMITTEE ON

Senator Anthony Portantino, Chair

2023 - 2024 Regular Session

AB 585 (Robert Rivas) - California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006: literature review and progress report

Bill Summary:

This bill would request the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) to perform a biennial literature review to assess the infrastructure projects necessary to achieve the quantities of renewable energy, and the distribution and transmission networks necessary, to achieve the state’s energy, climate change, and air quality goals. It would also require the Office of Planning and Research (OPR) to provide an annual progress report to the Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies (JLCCCP) regarding the permitting status of infrastructure projects identified in the CCST report.

*********** ANALYSIS ADDENDUM – SUSPENSE FILE ***********

The following information is revised to reflect amendments

adopted by the committee on September 1, 2023

Fiscal Impact:

• Unknown but likely significant ongoing costs (General Fund or special fund) for the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) to implement the provisions of this bill.
• Unknown but likely significant ongoing cost pressure (General Fund or special fund) for the Legislature to provide funding for CCST to perform biennial literature reviews. CCST is a nonprofit organization with various funding sources, including private and state funds.
• Unknown, potentially significant costs (General Fund or special fund) for the California Air Resources Board (CARB) the California Air Resources Board (CARB), and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to assist GO-Biz.

Author Amendments:

These amendments would require GO-Biz to assess factors limiting clean energy projects in lieu the progress report. Specifically, these amendments would:

1. Request CCST, in its discretion, every three years, to assess the infrastructure project types, scale, and pace necessary to achieve the quantities of renewable energy, and the distribution and transmission networks necessary, to achieve the state’s energy, climate change, and air quality goals.
2. Require GO-Biz, in consultation with the CEC, CPUC, and CARB, to prepare an assessment of the barriers, challenges, and impediments limiting the deployment and development of clean energy projects, as specified.
3. Require GO-Biz to submit this assessment to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2026.
4. Require the assessment to be considered and incorporated into the work carried out by the Infrastructure Strike Team convened by the Governor.
5. Strike provision that would provide specified funding upon appropriation for the requirements of this bill.

-- END --

SENATE COMMITTEE ON

Senator Anthony Portantino, Chair

2023 - 2024 Regular Session

AB 585 (Robert Rivas) - California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006: literature review and progress report

Bill Summary:

This bill would request the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) to perform a biennial literature review to assess the infrastructure projects necessary to achieve the quantities of renewable energy, and the distribution and transmission networks necessary, to achieve the state’s energy, climate change, and air quality goals. It would also require the Office of Planning and Research (OPR) to provide an annual progress report to the Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies (JLCCCP) regarding the permitting status of infrastructure projects identified in the CCST report.

Fiscal Impact:

• Unknown but significant ongoing costs (Cost of Implementation Account [COIA]) for OPR to implement the provisions of this bill. These costs could vary significantly depending on the number of project categories implicated by the CCST report.
• Unknown but likely significant ongoing cost pressure (COIA) for the Legislature to provide funding for CCST to perform biennial literature reviews. CCST is a nonprofit organization with various funding sources, including private and state funds.
• The California Air Resources Board (CARB) estimates ongoing costs of about $212,000 annually (COIA) to assist OPR.

Background:

California has set ambitious climate goals, including carbon neutrality by 2045 and a goal to produce all electricity from renewable and carbon-free sources by that same year. Meeting California’s climate goals will require a massive buildout of infrastructure across many sectors of the economy. In the energy sector, for example, the CARB’s 2022 Scoping Plan estimates that in order to power new electric vehicles, clean industries, and more, our state will need roughly 150% as much electricity by 2045 as is available today. Such expansion will need more transmission lines, energy storage, demand response, and other related resources. Because only about half of our state’s electricity is currently derived from renewable and carbon-free sources, this means that California will need to add three times as much clean energy capacity as is available today in just 22 years. To achieve that goal, California should be adding roughly seven gigawatts (GW) of new clean energy per year between now and 2045. Currently, the state is only adding about two to three GW per year on average.

Cost of Implementation Account (COIA). In 2006, the Legislature passed the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (Health and Safety Code §38500 et seq.), which is frequently referred to as AB 32. The act required CARB to determine the 1990 statewide GHG emission level and approve a statewide GHG emissions limit that is equivalent to that level, to be achieved by 2020, and to adopt GHG emissions reductions measures by regulation. AB 32 also authorized ARB to adopt a schedule of fees to be paid by sources of GHG emissions. These fees are used to fund costs directly related to state agencies’ development, administration, and implementation of AB 32 programs that reduce GHG emissions.

The total implementation expenses budgeted for fiscal year 2022-2023 are approximately $99 million. The total emissions subject to the COI Fee Regulation for data year 2020 were approximately 285 million MTCO2e. Thus, 2022 fees were approximately $0.34 per MTCO2e emitted.

CCST. CCST is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization that was established by the Legislature in 1988. CCST convenes experts from the state’s academic and research institutions and responds to the Governor, the Legislature, and other state entities who request independent and objective assessment of public policy issues affecting the state relating to science and technology. CCST’s publications are produced in compliance with a rigorous study and peer review process. CCST receives funding from a variety of entities, such as philanthropic foundations, charitable individuals, public and private higher education institutions, federally funded research institutions, and the state. CCST has published reports on a wide variety of topics, such as underground natural gas storage, biomethane, orphan wells, building and industrial efficiency, and the state’s energy future. CCST reported $8.1 million in revenues in 2021 from various sources, including $5 million in state funding for its Disaster Resilience Initiative to be spent over five years. CCST reported $11.4 million in revenues in 2022, of which $10 million is for its Science Fellows Program Endowment.

OPR’s State Clearinghouse. Established in 1973, the State Clearinghouse at OPR coordinates state-level review of environmental documents prepared pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The Clearinghouse is at the center of state agency involvement in the CEQA environmental review process. It is responsible for reviewing and distributing environmental documents to state agencies for review, advising and assisting government agencies and the public on the environmental review process, and maintaining records of all environmental documents and notices that it receives for public access.

Proposed Law:

This bill would request the CCST to perform a biennial literature review to assess the infrastructure projects necessary to achieve the quantities of renewable energy, and the distribution and transmission networks necessary, to achieve the state’s energy, climate change, and air quality goals. It would also require OPR to provide an annual progress report to the JLCCCP regarding the permitting status of infrastructure projects identified in the CCST report. Specifically, this bill would:

1. Request CCST, every two years, to perform a literature review, including source materials, to assess the infrastructure project types, scale, and pace necessary to achieve the quantities of renewable energy, and the distribution and transmission networks necessary, to achieve the state’s energy, climate change, and air quality goals, including specified state agency reports regarding energy, climate change, and air quality.
   1. Request CCST to commit to regular updates of the literature review at its discretion.
   2. Provide that the list of infrastructure projects shall include all of the following:
      1. Deployment of or upgrades to renewable and carbon-free energy capacity, substations, transformers, distribution and transmission lines, and renewable hydrogen production and distribution;
      2. Deployment of or upgrades to electric vehicle charging stations, hydrogen refueling stations, refinery conversions, sustainable aviation fuels, and other low- and zero-carbon transportation fuels;
      3. Deployment and retrofitting of buildings to reduce GHG emissions;
      4. Projects addressing short-lived climate pollutants;
      5. Natural carbon sequestration and nature-based climate solutions;
      6. Carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration projects;
      7. Projects addressing criteria air pollutants; and
      8. Any other project types necessary to meet the state’s energy, climate change, and air quality goals.
2. Require OPR, in consultation with the California Energy Commission (CEC), California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), and California Independent System Operator (CAISO), to annually provide to the JLCCCP a progress report regarding the numbers of permit applications, permitted projects, and commission projects in each of the infrastructure categories identified in the CCST report.
   1. Require OPR report to analyze the annual progress being made toward the infrastructure, including whether the scale and pace of construction in the previous year align with the infrastructure commissioned, and, if they did not align, the report shall indicate whether that was due to insufficient permit applications, insufficient permit approvals, delayed construction approvals, or delayed commissioning approvals.
3. Require funding required for the purposes of the bill to be provided upon appropriation by the Legislature pursuant to AB 32 (Núñez, Chapter 488, Statutes of 2006), which authorizes CARB to adopt a schedule of fees to be paid by the regulated sources of GHG emissions (i.e., the AB 32 cost of implementation fee), to the extent permitted by law.

Related Legislation:

AB 32 (Núñez, Chapter 488, Statutes of 2006) sets the state goal for achieving GHG emissions equal to those of 1990 by 2020. It also authorizes CARB to adopt a fee schedule to be paid by the sources of GHG emissions regulated under AB 32, the revenues of which are to be placed in the Air Pollution Control Fund.

-- END --

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

Senator Allen, Chair

2023 - 2024 Regular

SUBJECT: California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006: literature review and progress report

DIGEST: Requests the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) to perform a biennial literature review to assess the infrastructure projects necessary to achieve the quantities of renewable energy, and the distribution and transmission networks necessary, to achieve the state’s energy, climate change, and air quality goals. Requires the Office of Planning and Research (OPR) to provide an annual progress report to the Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies (JLCCCP) regarding the permitting status of infrastructure projects identified in the CCST report.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1. Under the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 and updates thereof, requires the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to ensure that statewide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are reduced to at least 40% below the 1990 level by 2030. (Health and Safety Code (HSC) § 38500 et seq.)
2. Under the California Climate Crisis Act, states that it is the policy of the state to achieve net zero GHG emissions no later than 2045, and to ensure that by 2045 statewide anthropogenic GHG emissions are reduced to at least 85% below the 1990 level. (HSC § 38562.2)
3. States that is the goal of the state to procure 100% of electricity from eligible renewable energy resources and zero-carbon resources by December 31, 2045. (PUC § 454.53)
   

This bill:

1. Requests CCST, every two years, to perform a literature review, including source materials, to assess the infrastructure project types, scale, and pace necessary to achieve the quantities of renewable energy, and the distribution and transmission networks necessary, to achieve the state’s energy, climate change, and air quality goals, including specified state agency reports regarding energy, climate change, and air quality.
   1. Requests CCST to commit to regular updates of the literature review at its discretion.
   2. Provides that the list of infrastructure projects shall include all of the following:
   3. Deployment of or upgrades to renewable and carbon-free energy capacity, substations, transformers, distribution and transmission lines, and renewable hydrogen production and distribution;
   4. Deployment of or upgrades to electric vehicle charging stations, hydrogen refueling stations, refinery conversions, sustainable aviation fuels, and other low- and zero-carbon transportation fuels;
   5. Deployment and retrofitting of buildings to reduce GHG emissions;
   6. Projects addressing short-lived climate pollutants;
   7. Natural carbon sequestration and nature-based climate solutions;
   8. Carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration projects;
   9. Projects addressing criteria air pollutants; and
   10. Any other project types necessary to meet the state’s energy, climate change, and air quality goals.
2. Requires OPR, in consultation with the California Energy Commission (CEC), California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), and California Independent System Operator (CAISO), to annually provide to the JLCCCP a progress report regarding the numbers of permit applications, permitted projects, and commission projects in each of the infrastructure categories identified in the CCST report.
   1. Requires the OPR report to analyze the annual progress being made toward the infrastructure, including whether the scale and pace of construction in the previous year align with the infrastructure commissioned, and, if they did not align, the report shall indicate whether that was due to insufficient permit applications, insufficient permit approvals, delayed construction approvals, or delayed commissioning approvals.
3. Requires funding required for the purposes of the bill to be provided upon appropriation by the Legislature pursuant to AB 32 (Núñez, Chapter 488, Statutes of 2006), which authorizes CARB to adopt a schedule of fees to be paid by the regulated sources of GHG emissions (i.e., the AB 32 cost of implementation fee), to the extent permitted by law.

Background

1. Achieving California’s climate goals. California has set ambitious climate goals, including carbon neutrality by 2045 and a goal to produce all electricity from renewable and carbon-free sources by that same year. Meeting California’s climate goals will require a massive buildout of infrastructure across many sectors of the economy. In the energy sector, for example, the CARB’s 2022 Scoping Plan estimates that in order to power new electric vehicles, clean industries, and more, our state will need roughly 150% as much electricity by 2045 as is available today. Such expansion will need more transmission lines, energy storage, demand response, and other related resources. Because only about half of our state’s electricity is currently derived from renewable and carbon-free sources, this means that California will need to add three times as much clean energy capacity as is available today in just 22 years. To achieve that goal, California should be adding roughly seven gigawatts (GW) of new clean energy per year between now and 2045. Currently, the state is only adding about two to three GW per year on average.
2. CCST. The California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) was established in 1988 pursuant to ACR 162 (Farr and Garamendi) and modeled after the U.S. National Academies. CCST convenes experts from California’s academic and research institutions to provide objective advice and analysis in response to requests from the Governor, Legislature and other state entities on policy issues relating to science and technology. CCST’s mission is carried out via two primary programs: Science Advice and the Science Policy Fellows. CCST delivers policy-relevant science information via briefings, workshops, and peer-reviewed reports and CCST recruits, trains, and places PhD scientists and engineers in a year-long fellowship, working as staff in the California state government.

CCST serves state offices on their science advice needs. For example CCST completed a report on underground natural gas storage in 2018 titled, “Long-Term Viability of Underground Natural Gas Storage in California: An Independent Review of Scientific and Technical Information.” In this capacity, CCST works with their academic and research institution partners and other experts to develop assessments of the available information around a specified topic. CCST gathers information through meetings with experts, reviews of the scientific literature, submission of information by outside parties, and investigations by the author team and/or CCST staff. These commissioned reports then undergo independent external peer review.

1. OPR’s State Clearinghouse. Established in 1973, the State Clearinghouse at OPR coordinates state-level review of environmental documents prepared pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The Clearinghouse is at the center of state agency involvement in the CEQA environmental review process. It is responsible for reviewing and distributing environmental documents to state agencies for review, advising and assisting government agencies and the public on the environmental review process, and maintaining records of all environmental documents and notices that it receives for public access.
2. Literature to review. State agencies and other entities publish a number of reports from different lenses relevant to progress towards achieving the state’s climate goals. Effectively consolidating information from these reports to inform an effective infrastructure strategy remains a challenge. This bill would request CCST to conduct a literature review of specified reports with an emphasis on infrastructure need to meet climate goals. Those reports are:
   1. CEC’s biennial Integrated Energy Policy Report (IPER) overviewing major energy trends and issues facing the state;
   2. Integrated resource plans filed periodically by load-serving entities;
   3. CPUC, CEC, and CARB’s annual joint reliability progress report reviewing system and local reliability;
   4. A CAISO report produced in February 2023 that summarizes recent studies on the impacts of expanded regional cooperation on California and identifies key issues that will most effectively advance the state’s energy and environmental goals;
   5. CARB’s annual reports to the CEC on the need for additional publicly available hydrogen-fueling stations;
   6. CARB and CEC’s annual joint report on progress toward establishing a hydrogen-fueling network;
   7. CARB’s biennial report evaluating the implementation of the Air Quality Improvement Program;
   8. CARB’s Scoping Plan for achieving reductions in GHG emissions, which is updated at least every 5 years; and
   9. The annual OPR report that would be required by this bill.

Comments

1. Purpose of Bill. According to the author, “California has set ambitious climate goals, but is not building clean infrastructure – such as renewable energy generation and electric vehicle charging – fast enough to achieve them on schedule. AB 585 requires the state to regularly assess clean infrastructure needs across sectors and publish annual progress reports identifying where faster buildout of clean infrastructure is necessary. Specifically, this legislation:

• Creates a new biennial assessment of the state’s planning documents, including reports on the scale and pace of clean infrastructure needs across all sectors, through the California Council on Science and Technology.
• Directs the Office of Planning and Research, in collaboration with permitting bodies such as the Energy Commission, State Lands Commission, and others, to publish an annual report detailing the scale and pace at which new clean infrastructure projects are sited, permitted, and built, as well as identifying barriers to faster buildout where applicable.

In addition to analyzing progress toward building the clean infrastructure needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, AB 585 also requires improved reporting on progress toward building infrastructure that reduces criteria air pollutants that do not warm the climate but do impact human health, such as particulate matter and sulfur dioxide. Together, these important provisions will help keep California on schedule to meet our ambitious climate goals and dramatically improve air quality for all.”

Related/Prior Legislation

AB 32 (Núñez, Chapter 488, Statutes of 2006) sets the state goal for achieving GHG emissions equal to those of 1990 by 2020. It also authorizes CARB to adopt a fee schedule to be paid by the sources of GHG emissions regulated under AB 32, the revenues of which are to be placed in the Air Pollution Control Fund.

SOURCE:

California Council for Environmental & Economic Balance

SUPPORT:

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Afl-cio California
California Environmental Voters (formerly Clcv)
California Special Districts Association
California Trucking Association
Clean Air Task Force
Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG)

OPPOSITION:

None Received

-- END --

ASSEMBLY THIRD READING

ATR Bill Id:AB 585

Author:(Robert Rivas and Petrie-Norris)

As Amended Ver:May 18, 2023

2/3 vote. Urgency

SUMMARY

Requests the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) to perform a biennial literature review to assess the infrastructure projects necessary to achieve the state’s energy, climate change, and air quality goals, as specified. Requires the Office of Planning and Research (OPR) to provide an annual progress report to the Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change (JLCCCP) regarding the status of infrastructure projects identified in the CCST report

Major Provisions

1. Requests CCST, every two years, to perform a literature review, including source materials, to assess the infrastructure project types, scale, and pace necessary to achieve the state’s energy, climate change, and air quality goals, including specified requirements and state agency reports regarding energy, climate change, and air quality.
2. Requires the State Clearinghouse annually to provide to the JLCCCP a progress report regarding the numbers of permit applications, permitted projects, and commission projects in each of the infrastructure categories identified in the CCST report.
3. Requires funding required for the purposes of the bill to be provided upon appropriation by the Legislature pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 38597, which authorizes the Air Resources Board (ARB) to adopt a schedule of fees to be paid by the sources of greenhouse gas emissions regulated pursuant to AB 32 (Nuñé), Chapter 488, Statutes of 2006, (i.e., the AB 32 cost of implementation fee), to the extent permitted by law.
4. Urgency measure.

COMMENTS

CCST was established in 1988 pursuant to ACR 162 (Farr) and modeled after the United States National Academies. CCST convenes experts from California’s academic and research institutions to provide objective advice and analysis in response to requests from the governor, Legislature and other state entities on policy issues relating to science and technology. CCST’s mission is carried out via two primary programs: Science Advice and the Science Policy Fellows. CCST delivers policy-relevant science information via briefings, workshops, and peer-reviewed reports and CCST recruits, trains, and places PhD scientists and engineers in a year-long fellowship, working as staff in the California state government.

CCST serves state offices on their science advice needs. For example CCST completed a report on underground natural gas storage in 2018 titled, “Long-Term Viability of Underground Natural Gas Storage in California: An Independent Review of Scientific and Technical Information.” In this capacity, CCST works with their academic and research institution partners and other experts to develop assessments of the available information around a specified topic. CCST gathers information through meetings with experts, reviews of the scientific literature, submission of information by outside parties, and investigations by the author team and/or CCST staff. These commissioned reports then undergo independent external peer review.

Established in 1973, the State Clearinghouse at OPR coordinates state-level review of environmental documents prepared pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The Clearinghouse is at the center of state agency involvement in the CEQA environmental review process. It is responsible for reviewing and distributing environmental documents to state agencies for review, advising and assisting government agencies and the public on the environmental review process, and maintaining records of all environmental documents and notices that it receives for public access.

According to the Author

California has set ambitious climate goals, but is not building clean infrastructure – such as renewable energy generation and electric vehicle charging – fast enough to achieve them on schedule. AB 585 requires the state to regularly assess clean infrastructure needs across sectors and publish annual progress reports identifying where faster buildout of clean infrastructure is necessary. In addition to analyzing progress toward building the clean infrastructure needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, AB 585 also requires improved reporting on progress toward building infrastructure that reduces criteria air pollutants that do not warm the climate but do impact human health, such as particulate matter and sulfur dioxide. Together, these important provisions will help keep California on schedule to meet our ambitious climate goals and dramatically improve air quality for all.

Arguments in Support

According to the California Council for Environmental and Economic Balance, this legislation will provide the comprehensive overview necessary to allow policymakers and the public to take strategic action toward achieving carbon neutrality.

Arguments in Opposition

None received.

FISCAL COMMENTS

According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee:

1. OPR estimates costs of approximately $16 million in the first year and $6 million ongoing, which includes 20 new positions, to implement the requirements of this bill (General Fund). OPR notes these costs could vary significantly depending on the number of project categories implicated by the CCST report and the number and types of permits OPR would ultimately be required to account for. OPR does not currently track permits; therefore, this bill would require the office to contract for the development of a new information technology (IT) system (accounted for in the year-one costs) and requisite staffing, as well as a communications and outreach team to collect and process the permit information and outcomes implicated by this bill.
2. CCST estimates costs ranging from $500,000 to 1.5 million (various funds) for each literature review, to the extent CCST decides to act on the authority given to it by this bill. CCST notes the first review would likely be the most resource-intensive. CCST could then build in an update process that would decrease the costs of subsequent reviews. CCST notes it could use state funding allocated for its Disaster Resilience Initiative to scope the required study, but not fund the study.
3. ARB estimates costs of approximately $213,000 in fiscal year (FY) 2022-23 and $212,000 in FY 2024-25 and ongoing (Cost of Implementation Account) for one new position to assist OPR with permit applications, permitted projects, and commissioned projects needed to achieve the state’s goals, including those specified in ARB’s Scoping Plan, hydrogen station reports, and biennial Air Quality Improvement Program evaluation report.
4. PUC anticipates no additional costs as a result of this bill.
5. Costs of an unknown amount, ranging from minor and absorbable to the low hundreds of thousands of dollars, for CEC and CAISO to assist OPR.

This bill requires funding required for the purposes of this bill to be provided from the Cost of Implementation Account, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the extent permitted by law.

VOTES

ASM NATURAL RESOURCES: 11-0-0

YES: Luz Rivas, Flora, Addis, Friedman, Hoover, Mathis, Muratsuchi, Pellerin, Ward, Wood, Zbur

ASM APPROPRIATIONS: 11-0-5

YES: Holden, Bryan, Calderon, Wendy Carrillo, Mike Fong, Hart, Lowenthal, Papan, Pellerin, Weber, Ortega

ABS, ABST OR NV: Megan Dahle, Dixon, Mathis, Robert Rivas, Sanchez

UPDATED

VERSION: May 18, 2023

CONSULTANT: Lawrence Lingbloom / NAT. RES. / (916) 319-2092 FN: 0000678

Date of Hearing: April 26, 2023

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Chris Holden, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 585

Author:(Robert Rivas) – As Amended Ver:March 23, 2023

Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No

SUMMARY:

This bill requests the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) to perform a biennial literature review to assess the infrastructure projects necessary to achieve the quantities of renewable energy, and the distribution and transmission networks necessary, to achieve the state’s climate goals. This bill also requires the State Clearinghouse within the Office of Planning and Research (OPR), with the assistance of specified state agencies, to provide an annual progress report to the Legislature regarding the status of infrastructure projects identified in the CCST report.

FISCAL EFFECT:

1) OPR estimates costs of approximately $16 million in the first year and $6 million ongoing, which includes 20 new positions, for the State Clearinghouse to implement the requirements of this bill (General Fund). OPR notes these costs could vary significantly depending on the number of project categories implicated by the CCST report and the number and types of permits the State Clearinghouse would ultimately be required to account for. The State Clearinghouse does not currently track permits; therefore, this bill would require OPR to contract for the development of a new information technology (IT) system (accounted for in the year one costs) and requisite staffing, as well as a communications and outreach team to collect and process the permit information and outcomes implicated by the bill.

2) CCST estimates costs ranging from $500,000 to 1.5 million (various funds) for each literature review, to the extent CCST decides to act on the authority given to it by this bill. CCST notes the first review would likely be the most resource-intensive. CCST could then build in an update process that would decrease the costs of subsequent reviews. CCST notes it could use state funding allocated for its Disaster Resilience Initiative to scope the required study, but not fund the study.

3) ARB estimates costs of approximately $213,000 in fiscal year (FY) 2022-23 and $212,000 in FY 2024-25 and ongoing (Cost of Implementation Account) for one new position to assist the State Clearinghouse with permit applications, permitted projects, and commissioned projects needed to achieve the state’s goals, including those specified in ARB’s Scoping Plan, hydrogen station reports, and biennial Air Quality Improvement Program evaluation report.

4) CPUC anticipates no additional costs as a result of this bill.

5) Costs of an unknown amount, ranging from minor and absorbable to the low hundreds of thousands of dollars, for CEC and CAISO to assist the State Clearinghouse.

This bill requires funding required for the purposes of this bill to be provided from the Cost of Implementation Account, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the extent permitted by law.

COMMENTS:

1) Purpose. According to the author:

California has set ambitious climate goals, but is not building clean infrastructure – such as renewable energy generation and electric vehicle charging – fast enough to achieve them on schedule. AB 585 requires the state to regularly assess clean infrastructure needs across sectors and publish annual progress reports identifying where faster buildout of clean infrastructure is necessary. In addition to analyzing progress toward building the clean infrastructure needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, AB 585 also requires improved reporting on progress toward building infrastructure that reduces criteria air pollutants that do not warm the climate but do impact human health, such as particulate matter and sulfur dioxide. Together, these important provisions will help keep California on schedule to meet our ambitious climate goals and dramatically improve air quality for all.

2) Background. CCST is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization that was established by the Legislature in 1988. CCST convenes experts from the state’s academic and research institutions and responds to the Governor, the Legislature, and other state entities who request independent and objective assessment of public policy issues affecting the state relating to science and technology. CCST’s publications are produced in compliance with a rigorous study and peer review process. CCST receives funding from a variety of entities, such as philanthropic foundations, charitable individuals, public and private higher education institutions, federally funded research institutions, and the state. CCST has published reports on a wide variety of topics, such as underground natural gas storage, biomethane, orphan wells, building and industrial efficiency, and the state’s energy future. CCST reported $8.1 million in revenues in 2021 from various sources, including $5 million in state funding for its Disaster Resilience Initiative to be spent over five years. CCST reported $11.4 million in revenues in 2022, of which $10 million is for its Science Fellows Program Endowment.

Established in 1973, the State Clearinghouse at OPR coordinates state-level review of environmental documents prepared pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). It is responsible for reviewing and distributing environmental documents to state agencies for review, advising and assisting government agencies and the public on the environmental review process, and maintaining records of all environmental documents and notices it receives for public access.

Among other organizations in support, California Environmental Voters writes:

Over the past twenty years, California has led the nation in setting bold targets to reduce climate-warming greenhouse gas emissions. Meeting these goals will require a massive buildout of clean infrastructure across many sectors of the economy. The first step in addressing this challenge is better understanding where California is falling short. AB 585 requires improved analysis and reporting on progress toward building the clean infrastructure needed to meet California’s climate goals. In addition, AB 585 also requires improved reporting on progress toward building infrastructure that reduces criteria air pollutants that do not warm the climate but do impact human health, such as particulate matter and sulfur dioxide. Together, these important provisions will keep California on schedule to meet our ambitious climate goals and dramatically improve air quality.

Analysis Prepared by: Nikita Koraddi / APPR. / (916) 319-2081

Date of Hearing: April 10, 2023

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Luz Rivas, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 585 (

Author:Robert Rivas) – As Amended Ver:March 23, 2023

SUBJECT: California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006: literature review and progress report

SUMMARY: Requests the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) to perform a biennial literature review to assess the infrastructure projects necessary to achieve the quantities of renewable energy, and the distribution and transmission networks necessary, to achieve the state’s energy, climate change, and air quality goals. Requires the State Clearinghouse at the Office of Planning and Research (OPR) to provide an annual progress report to the Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change (JLCCCP) regarding the status of infrastructure projects identified in the CCST report.

THIS BILL:

1. Requests CCST, every two years, to perform a literature review, including source materials, to assess the infrastructure project types, scale, and pace necessary to achieve the quantities of renewable energy, and the distribution and transmission networks necessary, to achieve the state’s energy, climate change, and air quality goals, including specified state agency reports regarding energy, climate change, and air quality.
2. Requires the list of infrastructure projects to include all of the following: renewable and carbon-free energy capacity, substations, transformers, miles of upgraded or hardened distribution and transmission lines, charging stations, renewable hydrogen production and distribution, hydrogen refueling stations, renewable natural gas projects, methane mitigation projects, refinery conversions, the Carbon Capture, Removal, Utilization, and Storage Program, the short-lived climate pollutant mitigation strategy, acres of natural and work lands, and any other project types mentioned in the planning documents that may be assessed to determine annual construction needs to achieve the interim and long-term energy, climate change, and air quality goals.
3. Requires the State Clearinghouse annually to provide to the JLCCCP a progress report regarding the numbers of permit applications, permitted projects, and commission projects in each of the infrastructure categories identified in the CCST report.
4. Requires the State Clearinghouse report to analyze the annual progress being made toward the infrastructure that will result in emission reductions, including findings about whether the scale and pace of construction in the previous calendar year align with the infrastructure commissioned, and, if the report indicates that the scale and pace of construction in the previous calendar year did not align with the infrastructure commissioned, the report shall indicate whether that failure was due to insufficient permit applications, insufficient permit approvals, delayed construction approvals, or delayed commissioning approvals.
5. Requires funding required for the purposes of the bill to be provided upon appropriation by the Legislature pursuant to Section 38597, which authorizes the Air Resources Board (ARB) to adopt a schedule of fees to be paid by the sources of greenhouse gas emissions regulated pursuant to AB 32 (i.e., the AB 32 cost of implementation fee), to the extent permitted by law.

FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown

COMMENTS:

1. Background. CCST was established in 1988 pursuant to Assembly Concurrent Resolution 162 (Farr and Garamendi) and modeled after the U.S. National Academies. CCST convenes experts from California’s academic and research institutions to provide objective advice and analysis in response to requests from the governor, Legislature and other state entities on policy issues relating to science and technology. CCST’s mission is carried out via two primary programs: Science Advice and the Science Policy Fellows. CCST delivers policy-relevant science information via briefings, workshops, and peer-reviewed reports and CCST recruits, trains, and places PhD scientists and engineers in a year-long fellowship, working as staff in the California state government.

CCST serves state offices on their science advice needs. For example CCST completed a report on underground natural gas storage in 2018 titled, “Long-Term Viability of Underground Natural Gas Storage in California: An Independent Review of Scientific and Technical Information.” In this capacity, CCST works with their academic and research institution partners and other experts to develop assessments of the available information around a specified topic. CCST gathers information through meetings with experts, reviews of the scientific literature, submission of information by outside parties, and investigations by the author team and/or CCST staff. These commissioned reports then undergo independent external peer review.

Established in 1973, the State Clearinghouse at OPR coordinates state-level review of environmental documents prepared pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The Clearinghouse is at the center of state agency involvement in the CEQA environmental review process. It is responsible for reviewing and distributing environmental documents to state agencies for review, advising and assisting government agencies and the public on the environmental review process, and maintaining records of all environmental documents and notices that it receives for public access.

1. Author’s statement:

California has set ambitious climate goals, but is not building clean infrastructure – such as renewable energy generation and electric vehicle charging – fast enough to achieve them on schedule. AB 585 requires the state to regularly assess clean infrastructure needs across sectors and publish annual progress reports identifying where faster buildout of clean infrastructure is necessary. In addition to analyzing progress toward building the clean infrastructure needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, AB 585 also requires improved reporting on progress toward building infrastructure that reduces criteria air pollutants that do not warm the climate but do impact human health, such as particulate matter and sulfur dioxide. Together, these important provisions will help keep California on schedule to meet our ambitious climate goals and dramatically improve air quality for all.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

California Council for Environmental & Economic Balance (sponsor)
California Environmental Voters
California Trucking Association
Clean Air Task Force

Opposition

None on file

Analysis Prepared by: Lawrence Lingbloom / NAT. RES. /