California Environmental Quality Act: electrical distribution: exemptions.
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Majority
Fiscal committee
No
Appropriation
No
Current location
Appropriations
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Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
- To Governor
- Became Law
Overview
This bill modifies California’s Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to create exemptions for certain electrical distribution projects. Specifically, it allows for streamlined environmental reviews for projects involving the inspection, maintenance, repair, or replacement of existing transmission lines and related equipment, provided they meet specific criteria like being within existing rights-of-way and limiting footprint increases on sensitive sites. The bill also establishes a modified approval process for constructing new solar photovoltaic, wind, or energy storage facilities, requiring a determination that they are unlikely to significantly impact the environment. Finally, it clarifies the process for resolving challenges to CEQA decisions related to these projects.
Key provisions
- Exempts existing transmission line maintenance and repair projects from CEQA if they meet specific requirements (e.g., within existing rights-of-way, limited footprint increase on sensitive sites).
- Establishes a modified approval process for constructing new solar photovoltaic, wind, and energy storage facilities.
- Requires lead agencies to determine, based on substantial evidence, whether a project is more likely than not to have a significant environmental effect.
- Specifies requirements for projects located on sensitive sites, including limitations on footprint expansion.
- Requires permission from property owners for projects within private rights-of-way.
- Provides a process for resolving challenges to CEQA decisions related to these projects within 270 days.
- Clarifies the definition of ‘mitigated negative declaration’ and its application.
Bill text
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