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SB 88 Wins Committee Support to Study Biomass Emissions, Encourage Beneficial Uses
Summary
Sen. Caballero's SB 88 would require CARB and Cal Fire to quantify emissions from burning forest and agricultural biomass and to assess lifecycle emissions and possible carbon‑removal protocols to support beneficial uses such as biochar, biofuels and localized bioenergy.
Sen. Caballero presented SB 88 as a three‑part bill directing the California Air Resources Board (CARB), Cal Fire and the California Energy Commission to (1) quantify emissions from open burning of forest and agricultural biomass, (2) adopt methods to assess life‑cycle emissions from alternate uses of biomass residues, and (3) assess whether a carbon‑credit or offset protocol could support carbon removal products such as biochar.
Air‑district witnesses framed the bill as a tool to reduce air pollution and wildfire risk while creating rural jobs. Christiana Darlington (Placer County Air Pollution Control District) told the committee her district suffered months of smoke during the Mosquito Fire and cited a local field study finding a 98% reduction in particulate matter and a 60% reduction in NOx when wood otherwise open‑piled and burned was processed in a biomass facility with modern controls. Amy Roberts (Sac Metro Air District) described small‑scale “biomass energy 2” technologies — pyrolysis and gasification — and urged CARB to develop life‑cycle methods that would make beneficial uses easier to finance.
Supporters included county air districts, the California Biomass Energy Alliance, the Association of California Water Agencies and agricultural organizations; only Sierra Club California registered opposition in committee. Sen. Caballero said the bill was cosponsored by local air districts and that committee amendments narrowed and clarified reporting requirements.
The committee voted to pass SB 88, as amended, to the Natural Resources and Water Committee by roll call (committee record: passed as amended, vote recorded with the clerk).
