Today's Law As Amended


Bill PDF |Add To My Favorites | print page

AB-3114 California Environmental Quality Act: expedited judicial review: sustainable aviation fuel projects.(2023-2024)



As Amends the Law Today


SECTION 1.

 Section 21189.81 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:

21189.81.
 For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:
(a) “Applicant” means a public or private entity or its affiliates, or a person or entity that undertakes a public works project, that proposes a project and its successors, heirs, and assignees.
(b) “Disadvantaged community” means an area identified by the California Environmental Protection Agency pursuant to Section 39711 of the Health and Safety Code or an area identified as a disadvantaged unincorporated community pursuant to Section 65302.10 of the Government Code.
(c) “Electrical transmission facility project” means a project for the construction and operation of an electrical transmission facility that the  meets either of the following:
(1) An electrical transmission facility project identified by the Independent System Operator in its annual transmission planning process that meets either of the following criteria:
(A) The project will facilitate delivery of electricity from renewable energy resources or zero-carbon resources.
(B) The project will facilitate delivery of electricity from energy storage projects.
(2) An electrical transmission facility project identified by a local publicly owned electric utility that would satisfy a transmission expansion need approved by the governing body of the local publicly owned electric utility and that meets either of the following criteria:
(A) The project will facilitate delivery of electricity from renewable energy resources or zero-carbon resources.
(B) The project will facilitate delivery of electricity from energy storage projects.
(d) (1) “Energy infrastructure project” means any of the following:
(A) An eligible renewable energy resource, as defined in Section 399.12 of the Public Utilities Code, excluding resources that combust utilize  biomass fuels.
(B) New energy storage systems of 20 megawatts or more, that are capable of discharging for at least two hours, provided that a pumped hydro facility may qualify only if it is less than or equal to 500 megawatts and has been directly appropriated funding by the state before January 1, 2023.
(C) A project for which the applicant has certified that a capital investment of at least two hundred fifty million dollars ($250,000,000) made over a period of five years and the project is for either of the following:
(i) The manufacture, production, or assembly of an energy storage system or component manufacturing, wind system or component manufacturing, and solar photovoltaic energy system or component manufacturing.
(ii) The manufacture, production, or assembly of specialized products, components, or systems that are integral to renewable energy or energy storage technologies.
(D) An electrical electric  transmission facility project, provided that nothing in this chapter affects the jurisdiction of the California Coastal Commission pursuant to Division 20 (commencing with Section 30000) to regulate such projects if located in the coastal zone.
(E) A hydrogen production facility and associated onsite storage and processing facilities that do not derive hydrogen from a fossil fuel feedstock and that receive funding from any of the following: An energy infrastructure project does not include projects utilizing hydrogen as a fuel. 
(i) The Hydrogen Program established pursuant to Section 25664.1.
(ii) Section 91530, as added by the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024 (Section 2 of Chapter 83 of the Statutes of 2024 (Senate Bill No. 867)), if that act is approved by the voters at the November 5, 2024, statewide general election.
(iii) The Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES) authorized by Article 15 (commencing with Section 12100.160) of Chapter 1.6 of Part 2 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, as awarded by the United States Department of Energy Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations.
(2) Any project to develop a facility within the meaning of subdivision (b) of Section 25545 shall meet the requirements of Sections 25545.3.3 and 25545.3.5, except that those requirements shall also apply to solar photovoltaic and terrestrial wind electrical generating power plants with a generating capacity of between 20 and 50 megawatts and energy storage projects capable of storing between 80 and 200 megawatt hours of electrical energy.
(e) “Infrastructure project” means a project that is certified pursuant to Sections 21189.82 and 21189.83 as any of the following:
(1) An energy infrastructure project.
(2) A semiconductor or microelectronic project.
(3) A transportation-related  sustainable aviation fuel  project.
(4) A water-related transportation-related  project.
(5) A water-related project.
(f) “Semiconductor or microelectronic project” means a project that meets the requirements related to investment in new or expanded facilities and is awarded funds under the federal Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-167), commonly known as the CHIPS Act of 2022, and the requirements of Section 21183.5.
(g) “Sustainable aviation fuel” means hydrocarbon fuel that meets the ASTM International (ASTM) standards for alternative jet fuels and that meets the requirements of Subarticle 7 (commencing with Section 95480) of Article 4 of Subchapter 10 of Chapter 1 of Division 3 of Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations.
(h) “Sustainable aviation fuel project” means a project to manufacture, process, store, distribute, or transport sustainable aviation fuel or feedstock used for the production of sustainable aviation fuel.
(g) (i)  (1) “Transportation-related project” means a transportation infrastructure project that advances one or more of, and does not conflict with, the following goals related to the Climate Action Plan for Transportation Infrastructure adopted by the Transportation Agency:
(A) Build toward an integrated, statewide rail and transit network.
(B) Invest in networks of safe and accessible bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure.
(C) Include investments in light-, medium-, and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicle infrastructure.
(D) Develop a zero-emission freight transportation system.
(E) Reduce public health and economic harms and maximize community benefits.
(F) Make safety improvements to reduce fatalities and severe injuries of all users towards zero.
(G) Assess and integrate assessments of physical climate risk.
(H) Promote projects that do not significantly increase passenger vehicle travel.
(I) Promote compact infill development while protecting residents and businesses from displacement.
(J) Protect natural and working lands.
(2) Transportation-related projects are public works for the purposes of Section 1720 of the Labor Code and shall comply with the applicable provisions of Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 1720) of Part 7 of Division 2 of the Labor Code.
(h) (j)  (1) “Water-related project” means any of the following:
(A) A project that is approved to implement a groundwater sustainability plan that the Department of Water Resources has determined is in compliance with Sections 10727.2 and 10727.4 of the Water Code or to implement an interim groundwater sustainability plan adopted pursuant to Section 10735.6 of the Water Code.
(B) (i) A water storage project funded by the California Water Commission pursuant to Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 79750) of Division 26.7 of the Water Code.
(ii) In addition to clause (i), the applicant shall demonstrate that the project will minimize the intake or diversion of water except during times of surplus water and prioritizes the discharge of water for ecological benefits or to mitigate an emergency, including, but not limited to, dam repair, levee repair, wetland restoration, marshland restoration, or habitat preservation, or other public benefits described in Section 79753 of the Water Code.
(C) Projects for the development of recycled water, as defined in Section 13050 of the Water Code.
(D) Contaminant and salt removal projects, including groundwater desalination and associated treatment, storage, conveyance, and distribution facilities. This shall not include seawater desalination.
(E) Projects exclusively for canal or other conveyance maintenance and repair.
(2) Water-related projects are public works for the  purposes of Section 1720 of the Labor Code and shall comply with the applicable provisions of Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 1720) of Part 7 of Division 2 of the Labor Code.
(3) “Water-related project” does not include the design or construction of through-Delta conveyance facilities of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

SEC. 2.

 Section 21189.82 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:

21189.82.
 (a) (1) (A) The Governor may certify a project as an energy infrastructure project for purposes of this chapter if the project meets the requirements of subdivision (d) of Section 21189.81.
(B) In addition to subparagraph (A), if the applicant is not the lead agency, the Governor shall ensure all of the following:
(i) The applicant agrees to pay the costs of the trial court and the court of appeal in hearing and deciding any case challenging a lead agency’s action on a certified project under this division, including payment of the costs for the appointment of a special master if deemed appropriate by the court, in a form and manner as provided in the rule of court adopted by the Judicial Council under Section 21189.85.
(ii) The applicant agrees to pay the costs of preparing the record of proceedings for the project concurrent with the review and consideration of the project under this division, in a form and manner specified by the lead agency for the project.
(iii) For a project for which environmental review has commenced, the applicant demonstrates that the record of proceedings is being prepared in accordance with Section 21189.86.
(2) (A) The Governor may certify a project as a semiconductor or microelectronic project for purposes of this chapter if the project meets the requirements of subdivision (f) of Section 21189.81.
(B) In addition to subparagraph (A), if the applicant is not the lead agency, the Governor shall ensure all of the following:
(i) The applicant agrees to pay the costs of the trial court and the court of appeal in hearing and deciding any case challenging a lead agency’s action on a certified project under this division, including payment of the costs for the appointment of a special master if deemed appropriate by the court, in a form and manner as provided in the rule of court adopted by the Judicial Council under Section 21189.85.
(ii) The applicant agrees to pay the costs of preparing the record of proceedings for the project concurrent with the review and consideration of the project under this division, in a form and manner specified by the lead agency for the project.
(iii) For a project for which environmental review has commenced, the applicant demonstrates that the record of proceedings is being prepared in accordance with Section 21189.86.
(3) The Governor may certify up to 20 transportation-related projects for purposes of this chapter, including up to 10 state projects proposed by the Department of Transportation and up to 10 local or regional projects, that meet the requirements of subdivision (g) (i)  of Section 21189.81.
(4) (A) The Governor may certify a project as a water-related project for purposes of this chapter if the project meets the requirements of subdivision (h) (j)  of Section 21189.81.
(B) In addition to subparagraph (A), the Governor shall ensure all of the following:
(i) The applicant agrees to pay the costs of the trial court and the court of appeal in hearing and deciding any case challenging a lead agency’s action on a certified project under this division, including payment of the costs for the appointment of a special master if deemed appropriate by the court, in a form and manner as provided in the rule of court adopted by the Judicial Council under Section 21189.85.
(ii) The applicant agrees to pay the costs of preparing the record of proceedings for the project concurrent with the review and consideration of the project under this division, in a form and manner specified by the lead agency for the project.
(iii) For a project for which environmental review has commenced, the applicant demonstrates that the record of proceedings is being prepared in accordance with Section 21189.86.
(C) In addition to subparagraphs (A) and (B), the Governor may certify a project as a water-related project for purposes of this chapter only if the Governor finds that greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the project will be mitigated to the extent feasible.
(5) The Governor may certify a project as a sustainable aviation fuel project for purposes of this chapter if the project meets the requirements of subdivision (h) of Section 21189.81.
(b) The Office of Planning and Research may consult with other state agencies on and may issue guidelines regarding applications for and the certification of projects under this chapter. Any guidelines issued under this subdivision are not subject to the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).
(c) An applicant for certification of an infrastructure project under this chapter shall do all of the following:
(1) Avoid or minimize significant environmental impacts in any disadvantaged community.
(2) If measures are required pursuant to this division to mitigate significant environmental impacts in a disadvantaged community, mitigate those impacts consistent with this division, including Section 21002. Mitigation measures required under this subdivision shall be undertaken in, and directly benefit, the affected community.
(3) Enter into a binding and enforceable agreement to comply with this subdivision in its application to the Governor and to the lead agency prior to the agency’s certification of the environmental impact report for the project.
(d) The Office of Planning and Research shall make evidence and materials submitted for the certification of a project available to the public on its internet website at least 15 days before the certification of the project.
(e) The Governor’s decision to certify a project shall not be subject to judicial review.
SEC. 3.
 No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because a local agency or school district has the authority to levy service charges, fees, or assessments sufficient to pay for the program or level of service mandated by this act, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code.