California Environmental Quality Act: geothermal exploratory projects.
- Exempts qualifying geothermal exploratory projects from environmental review requirements in California.
- Requires projects to avoid disturbing wetlands and limit land disturbance to 20 acres of undeveloped ground.
- Mandates full restoration of all disturbed areas unless incorporated into future geothermal development.
- Requires construction workers to receive prevailing wages on exempt geothermal projects.
Assembly Member Papan's legislation expands California's definition of geothermal exploratory projects while creating new environmental review exemptions for qualifying county-led initiatives. The bill modifies the Public Resources Code to include equipment and activities for establishing well and reservoir interconnectivity within the scope of exploratory projects, which remain limited to six wells.
Under the new provisions, geothermal exploratory projects overseen by counties can bypass California Environmental Quality Act review when meeting specific criteria. Projects must disturb no more than 20 acres of undeveloped land, avoid sensitive habitats and conservation areas, and include full site reclamation plans. The exemption applies only to exploratory work without commercial production, requires prevailing wages for construction workers, and mandates 30-day advance notice on county websites and project locations before approval.
The legislation aligns California's approach with recent federal policy that established categorical exclusions for geothermal exploration on federal lands. According to the bill's findings, this harmonization aims to prevent California's geothermal development and associated economic benefits from shifting to Nevada and Utah, where regulatory frameworks and federal land access create advantages for project development targeting California's energy market.
 Al MuratsuchiD Assembly Member | Committee Member |  Not Contacted | |
 Ash KalraD Assembly Member | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
 Heath FloraR Assembly Member | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
 Buffy WicksD Assembly Member | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
 Isaac BryanD Assembly Member | Committee Member | Not Contacted |
Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.
Introduced By
- Exempts qualifying geothermal exploratory projects from environmental review requirements in California.
- Requires projects to avoid disturbing wetlands and limit land disturbance to 20 acres of undeveloped ground.
- Mandates full restoration of all disturbed areas unless incorporated into future geothermal development.
- Requires construction workers to receive prevailing wages on exempt geothermal projects.
Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.
Introduced By
Assembly Member Papan's legislation expands California's definition of geothermal exploratory projects while creating new environmental review exemptions for qualifying county-led initiatives. The bill modifies the Public Resources Code to include equipment and activities for establishing well and reservoir interconnectivity within the scope of exploratory projects, which remain limited to six wells.
Under the new provisions, geothermal exploratory projects overseen by counties can bypass California Environmental Quality Act review when meeting specific criteria. Projects must disturb no more than 20 acres of undeveloped land, avoid sensitive habitats and conservation areas, and include full site reclamation plans. The exemption applies only to exploratory work without commercial production, requires prevailing wages for construction workers, and mandates 30-day advance notice on county websites and project locations before approval.
The legislation aligns California's approach with recent federal policy that established categorical exclusions for geothermal exploration on federal lands. According to the bill's findings, this harmonization aims to prevent California's geothermal development and associated economic benefits from shifting to Nevada and Utah, where regulatory frameworks and federal land access create advantages for project development targeting California's energy market.
Al MuratsuchiD Assembly Member | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
Ash KalraD Assembly Member | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
Heath FloraR Assembly Member | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
Buffy WicksD Assembly Member | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
Isaac BryanD Assembly Member | Committee Member | Not Contacted |