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Geothermal exploration bill draws debate over CEQA exemption, tribal and water concerns
Summary
Assemblymember Pappen presented AB 527 to create a limited CEQA exemption for exploratory geothermal wells that meet environmental standards, aiming to reduce duplicative review and speed development of geothermal energy in California.
Assemblymember Pappen presented AB 527 to create a narrow CEQA exemption for exploratory geothermal wells that meet specified environmental protections. The author and supporters said the change would reduce duplicative reviews that currently treat exploratory and full projects as separate CEQA projects, slowing development and driving investment out of state.
Support testimony: Myles Horton of Sonoma Clean Power and Matt Cremins of the California‑Nevada Conference of Operating Engineers testified in support, saying geothermal (including newer enhanced geothermal systems, EGS) is a reliable renewable resource that complements solar and wind and…
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