Bill Text: CA SB1298 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Introduced
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Certification of thermal powerplants: data centers.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-05-06 - May 6 hearing: Placed on APPR suspense file. [SB1298 Detail]
Download: California-2023-SB1298-Introduced.html
thermal both of the following:
Bill Title: Certification of thermal powerplants: data centers.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-05-06 - May 6 hearing: Placed on APPR suspense file. [SB1298 Detail]
Download: California-2023-SB1298-Introduced.html
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 introduced, 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 megawatts that is used solely as an emergency backup generating facility for a data center and that is 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.
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(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.