Bill Text: CA SB1298 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Certification of thermal powerplants: data centers.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-04-22 - Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR. [SB1298 Detail]
Download: California-2023-SB1298-Amended.html
|
Amended
IN
Senate
April 22, 2024 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Bill
No. 1298
| Introduced by Senator Cortese |
February 15, 2024 |
An act to amend Section 25541 of the Public Resources Code, relating to energy.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 1298, as amended, Cortese.
Certification of thermal powerplants: data centers.
Existing law vests the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission with the exclusive power to certify all locations on which an electrical transmission line or thermal powerplant is constructed, or is proposed to be constructed, and related electrical transmission lines or thermal powerplants. Existing law authorizes the commission to exempt from certification a thermal powerplant with a generating capacity of up to 100 megawatts, and modifications to existing generating facilities that do not add capacity in excess of 100 megawatts, if the commission finds that no substantial adverse impact on the environment or energy resources will result from the construction or operation of the proposed facility or from the modifications.
This bill would additionally authorize the commission to exempt from certification a thermal
powerplant with a generating capacity of up to 200 150 megawatts that if it is used solely as an emergency backup generating a backup generation facility for a data center and that is not interconnected with the electrical transmission grid for purposes of exporting electricity, if
center, it is located on the customer side of the meter and is not interconnected to the distribution system, and the commission finds that no substantial adverse impact on the environment or energy resources will result from the construction or and operation of the proposed data center. facility.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NOBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 25541 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:25541.
The commission may exempt from this chapter both of the following:(a) Thermal powerplants with a generating capacity of up to 100 megawatts and modifications to existing generating facilities that do not add capacity in excess of 100 megawatts, if the commission finds that no substantial adverse impact on the environment or energy resources will result from the construction or operation of the proposed facility or from the modifications.
(b)Thermal powerplants with a generating capacity of up to 200 megawatts that are used solely as emergency backup generating facilities for a data center and that are not interconnected with the electrical transmission grid for purposes of exporting electricity, if the commission finds that no substantial adverse impact on the environment or energy resources will result from the construction or operation of the proposed data center.
(b) Thermal powerplants with a generating capacity of up to 150 megawatts, subject to all of the following conditions:
(1) The facility is used solely as a backup generation facility for a data center.
(2) The facility is located on the customer side of the meter and is not interconnected to the distribution system.
(3) The commission finds that no substantial adverse impact on the environment or energy resources will result from the construction and operation of the facility.
