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AB 527 would exempt exploratory geothermal wells from CEQA under safeguards; opponents worry about fracking, wetlands and public access to information
Summary
AB 527 would create a narrow CEQA exemption for exploratory geothermal wells that meet specified environmental safeguards, supporters said, while opponents urged stronger protections for wetlands, streams and public disclosure of chemicals used in stimulation.
Assemblymember Papan (presenting AB 527) told the Senate committee the bill would create a narrow exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for specified exploratory geothermal wells that meet environmental safeguards. The measure aims to reduce duplicative CEQA reviews that can follow the exploratory phase and later trigger full project-level review, a process supporters said increases costs and pushes developers to out-of-state projects serving California.
Supporters described the technology and demand for geothermal as a firm, around-the-clock renewable resource that complements solar and wind. Myles Horton (Sonoma Clean Power) and Matt Cremins (California Nevada Conference of Operating Engineers) said exploratory wells are low-impact and critical to developing geothermal resources; Cremins emphasized workforce and apprenticeship requirements the bill would retain.
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