Code Section

39730.8.  

(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

(1) “Commission” means the Public Utilities Commission.

(2) “Energy commission” means the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission.

(3) “Strategy” means the strategy to reduce short-lived climate pollutants developed pursuant to Section 39730.

(b) The energy commission, in consultation with the state board and the commission, shall develop recommendations for the development and use of renewable gas, including biomethane and biogas, as a part of its 2017 Integrated Energy Policy Report prepared pursuant to Section 25302 of the Public Resources Code. In developing the recommendations, the energy commission shall identify cost-effective strategies that are consistent with existing state policies and climate change goals by considering priority end uses of renewable gas, including biomethane and biogas, and their interactions with state policies, including biomethane and all of the following:

(1) The Renewables Portfolio Standard program (Article 16 (commencing with Section 399.11) of Chapter 2.3 of Part 1 of Division 1 of the Public Utilities Code).

(2) The Low-Carbon Fuel Standard regulations (Subarticle 7 (commencing with Section 95480) of Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations).

(3) Waste diversion goals established pursuant to Division 30 (commencing with Section 40000) of the Public Resources Code.

(4) The market-based compliance mechanism developed pursuant to Part 5 (commencing with Section 38570) of Division 25.5.

(5) The strategy.

(c) Based on the recommendations developed pursuant to subdivision (b), and to meet the state’s climate change, renewable energy, low-carbon fuel, and short-lived climate pollutants goals, including black carbon, landfill diversion, and dairy methane targets identified in the strategy, state agencies shall consider and, as appropriate, adopt policies and incentives to significantly increase the sustainable production and use of renewable gas, including biomethane and biogas.

(d) Based on the recommendations developed pursuant to subdivision (b), the commission, in consultation with the energy commission and the state board, shall consider additional policies to support the development and use in the state of renewable gas, including biomethane and biogas, that reduce short-lived climate pollutants in the state.

(e) In implementing this section, priority shall be given to fuels with the greatest greenhouse gas emissions benefits, including the consideration of carbon intensity and reduction in short-lived climate pollutants, as appropriate.