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Assembly committee advances bill to define pyrolysis and credit in-state biomethane from organic waste
Summary
The Assembly Natural Resources Committee voted to refer AB 70 to the Appropriations Committee after hearing testimony that the bill would codify a definition of pyrolysis, allow procurement credit for pipeline biomethane produced exclusively from organic waste, and support local efforts to divert organic waste from landfills.
Assemblymember Edgar urged the Assembly Natural Resources Committee on AB 70 to give communities and projects certainty about how certain organic-waste-to-energy projects are classified and credited.
Edgar said the bill codifies a definition of “pyrolysis” in state law and would allow local governments to claim procurement credit for projects that use exclusively organic waste to produce pipeline biomethane. "This bill does not, let me repeat, does not change how pyrolysis is permitted or regulated. It simply helps communities and companies know what projects count as pyrolysis projects," Edgar said.
Julia Levin, executive director of the Bioenergy Association of California, testified in support. Levin said the bill would help reduce short-lived climate pollutants, particularly methane from decomposing organic waste. "Eighty-seven percent of the state's methane emissions come from decomposing organic waste and that's what this bill is trying to address," Levin said, noting that pipeline biomethane procurement is already a program at the California Public Utilities Commission.
Supporters argued the measure would provide a market for diverted organic waste and help cities and counties meet the SB 1383 requirement to divert 75% of organics. Levin told the committee the Little Hoover Commission found a shortage of alternative product markets for diverted organic waste, and AB 70 would provide one such market.
No witnesses registered formal opposition in the hearing room. After testimony, the committee voted to adopt a motion to refer AB 70 as amended to the Appropriations Committee.
Implementation and next steps: the bill would establish statutory clarity about what counts as pyrolysis and allow procurement credit for in-state pipeline biomethane produced only from organic waste. The committee record shows staff and the author will continue to engage on technical questions as the bill moves to appropriations.
