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Committee sends AB 1280 to Natural Resources; bill would make thermal energy storage eligible for state grants
Summary
AB 1280 would expand state industrial decarbonization grant programs to include thermal energy storage projects for hard‑to‑electrify industrial processes; the committee approved the bill unanimously and referred it to Natural Resources.
Assemblymember Garcia introduced AB 1280 to expand existing state grant and financing programs so that thermal energy storage projects become eligible for public funding. The sponsor said the measure would help decarbonize industrial facilities, reduce local air pollution in historically disadvantaged communities, and protect manufacturing jobs.
Supporters included industry groups (Industrious Labs), environmental law nonprofit Earthjustice, clean‑energy organizations and several community and environmental justice groups. Witnesses said thermal energy storage is commercially available for many industrial applications and that enabling public funding would accelerate deployment, create jobs, and reduce greenhouse gas and local pollutant emissions in areas with high industrial burdens.
There was no primary opposition witness in the hearing. Committee members asked questions about implementation and workforce impacts; multiple members offered praise and several asked to be added as coauthors. The committee approved AB 1280 on a unanimous vote and ordered it to the Natural Resources Committee.
Vote and next steps: The committee voted 15-0 to pass AB 1280 to Natural Resources. Sponsors and agencies will coordinate on program guidance to implement the newly eligible project types.
