Plain English Breakdown
The official source confirms the governor vetoed this bill; therefore, none of its provisions are currently active law.
AB-527: Proposed Rules for Geothermal Well Projects
This vetoed bill proposed a temporary exemption from environmental review rules for certain geothermal exploratory projects while adding new reporting and safety requirements.
What This Bill Does
- Proposed to exempt qualifying geothermal exploratory projects from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) until January 1, 2031.
- Required project developers to submit a reconnaissance survey when applying for an exemption.
- Mandated that lead agencies consult with affiliated California Native American tribes before approving exemptions.
- Authorized lead agencies to require applicants to file an indemnity bond as security.
- Required full reclamation of the project site after operations end or stop.
- Required public notice on websites and at the project site 30 days before a decision is made.
Who It Names or Affects
- Project developers seeking to drill geothermal exploratory wells.
- The Geologic Energy Management Division in the Department of Conservation.
- Counties that act as lead agencies for these projects.
- California Native American tribes affiliated with project areas.
Terms To Know
- CEQA
- The California Environmental Quality Act, a law requiring environmental impact reports or declarations before approving certain projects.
- Geothermal exploratory project
- A project with up to six wells designed to test for and evaluate geothermal resources underground.
- Indemnity bond
- A financial guarantee filed by an applicant to cover potential costs or damages related to the project.
Limits and Unknowns
- The bill was vetoed by the governor, so it did not become law.
- The official text provided is truncated and does not fully explain rules for geothermal field development projects on existing sites.
- Specific conditions required to qualify for the CEQA exemption are listed as 'specified' but not detailed in this summary.