SB 1206: GO-Biz: next generation batteries.

Existing law establishes the Governors Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), which serves 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, until July 1, 2025, to undertake measures that are necessary or useful to prepare and submit an application to receive funding from the regional clean hydrogen hubs program established by the Secretary of the United States Department of Energy or to otherwise participate in the regional clean hydrogen hubs program. Existing law requires grants made from any funding received from the regional clean hydrogen hubs program to be used as specified. The California Renewables Portfolio Standard Program requires the Public Utilities Commission to establish a renewables portfolio standard, as defined, requiring all retail sellers, as defined, to procure a minimum quantity of electricity products from eligible renewable energy resources, as defined, so that the total kilowatthours of those products sold to their retail end-use customers achieves 25% of retail sales by December 31, 2016, 33% by December 31, 2020, 44% by December 31, 2024, 52% by December 31, 2027, and 60% by December 31, 2030. 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. The act requires the state board to prepare and approve a scoping plan for achieving the maximum technologically feasible and cost-effective reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and to update the scoping plan at least once every 5 years.

This bill would, until January 1, 2030, authorize GO-Biz to undertake measures that are necessary or useful to prepare and submit an application to receive funding from next generation battery hub programs, as defined. The bill would require that grants made from any funding received from next generation battery hub programs under its provisions support projects in California, including, but not limited to, in the San Francisco Bay area and the Sacramento Valley, California that advance progress toward resource adequacy goals and the targets of the scoping plan and the California Renewables Portfolio Standard Program. The bill would also require that grants made from any funding received from next generation battery hub programs under its provisions prioritize projects that meet any of the specified conditions, including that the project help reduce costs and increase access to batteries. Prior to the submission of any applications to receive funding from next generation battery hub programs, the bill would require a partnership entered into pursuant to the above-described provisions to adopt a community benefits plan that includes specified elements. The bill would require GO-Biz to submit a report to the relevant budget and policy committees of the Legislature on or before March 1, 2030, January 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, regarding the status of any partnership entered into pursuant to the above-described provisions.