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AB-2234 • 2026

California Environmental Quality Act: geothermal exploratory projects.

California Environmental Quality Act: geothermal exploratory projects.

Energy
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Papan
Last action
2026-04-07
Official status
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (April 6). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how close connecting wells can be placed or what activities are included in establishing interconnectivity.

California Environmental Quality Act: Geothermal Exploratory Projects

This law modifies the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to include equipment and activities necessary for connecting wells and reservoirs in geothermal exploratory projects, and it allows certain connecting wells to be placed closer than half a mile from other wells.

What This Bill Does

  • Includes equipment and activities needed to establish interconnectivity between wells and reservoirs as part of geothermal exploratory projects under CEQA.
  • Excludes certain connecting wells from the requirement that they must be at least half a mile apart.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Companies and organizations involved in geothermal exploratory projects in California.
  • The Geologic Energy Management Division within the Department of Conservation, which oversees these projects.

Terms To Know

Geothermal Exploratory Project
A project involving up to six wells and related equipment used to study geothermal resources.
Environmental Impact Report (EIR)
A report that explains the environmental effects of a proposed project and ways to reduce those impacts.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how close connecting wells can be placed.
  • It is unclear what specific activities are included in establishing interconnectivity between wells and reservoirs.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-07 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (April 6). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  2. 2026-03-09 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on NAT. RES.

  3. 2026-02-20 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 22.

  4. 2026-02-19 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 2234, as introduced, Papan.
California Environmental Quality Act: geothermal exploratory projects.
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of an environmental impact report on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if the lead agency finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment.
Existing law establishes the Geologic Energy Management Division in the Department of Conservation. Existing law requires the division to
be the lead agency for all geothermal exploratory projects for purposes of CEQA, except as provided. Existing law defines “geothermal exploratory project,” for purposes of CEQA, in part as a project composed of not more than 6 wells and associated drilling and testing equipment whose chief and original purpose is to evaluate the presence and characteristics of geothermal resources. Existing law requires wells included within a geothermal exploratory project to be located at least
1
/
2
mile from geothermal development wells that are capable of producing geothermal resources in commercial quantities.
This bill would expressly include as part of a geothermal exploratory project, among other things, equipment and activities necessary to establish interconnectivity between wells and reservoirs. The bill would exclude certain wells connecting to geothermal reservoirs from
the
1
/
2
-mile limit described above.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF