California Assembly Bill 526
Session 20252026
Energy: in-state geothermal energy generation.
Active
Failed in Assembly on Feb 2, 2026
Origin Chamber
Assembly
Type
Bill
Bill Number
526
State
California
Session
20252026
Motion Text
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar
Assembly Roll Call Votes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Summary
Existing law establishes a state policy that eligible renewable energy resources and zero-carbon resources supply 90% of all retail sales of electricity to California end-use customers by December 31, 2035, 95% of all retail sales of electricity to California end-use customers by December 31, 2040, 100% of all retail sales of electricity to California end-use customers by December 31, 2045, and 100% of electricity procured to serve all state agencies by December 31, 2035, as provided. Existing law requires the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) , State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission) , and State Air Resources Board to issue a joint report to the Legislature by January 1, 2021, and every 4 years thereafter, that includes specified information relating to the implementation of that state policy.
Existing law requires the PUC and the Energy Commission to undertake various actions in furtherance of meeting the state's clean energy and pollution reduction objectives.
This bill would require the Energy Commission, in coordination with specified agencies, to develop a strategic plan for new in-state geothermal energy in California, as specified. The bill would require the Energy Commission to submit the strategic plan to the Natural Resources Agency and the Legislature on or before June 30, 2027.
The bill would require the Energy Commission, in coordination with specified agencies, to work with stakeholders, other relevant federal, state, and local agencies, interested Native American tribes, California load-serving entities, and the geothermal energy industry to identify suitable and recommended locations for the development of new in-state geothermal energy, to establish state lands leasing goals for new in-state geothermal energy development for 2035 and 2045, as specified, and to identify opportunities to work with federal agencies on the timing, scope, and prioritization of geothermal lease sales to support geothermal development on federal lands within California, as specified. The bill would require the Energy Commission, in consultation with the PUC and the Independent System Operator (ISO) , to assess the transmission investments and upgrades necessary to support new in-state geothermal energy. The bill would require the PUC to designate new in-state geothermal energy as a long lead-time resource in its recurring input to the ISO's system need scoring for the interconnection and transmission planning process. The bill would require the Energy Commission, in coordination with specified entities, to develop and produce a permitting roadmap that describes timeframes and milestones for a coordinated, comprehensive, and efficient permitting process for new in-state geothermal energy exploration and field development and associated electricity and transmission infrastructure, as provided. The bill would require the Energy Commission, in coordination with the State Lands Commission, the Department of Conservation, and the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development, to assess the level at which new and existing geothermal rentals and royalties would best support California's long-term renewable energy and greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals while maintaining competitiveness with rentals and rates on federal lands and in other states, as provided. The bill would require the information described in this paragraph, an assessment of known impacts to Native American and Indigenous peoples and biological resources, and strategies for addressing those impacts, and an assessment, led by the Geologic Energy Management Division, using the best available data, of the in-state geothermal resource potential, to be included in the strategic plan, as specified.
02/10/25 - Introduced
February 10, 2025
03/24/25 - Amended Assembly
March 24, 2025
04/07/25 - Amended Assembly
April 7, 2025
04/10/25 - Amended Assembly
April 10, 2025
04/01/25- Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy
April 1, 2025
04/18/25- Assembly Natural Resources
April 18, 2025
05/12/25- Assembly Appropriations
May 12, 2025
Sort by most recent
02/02/2026
Assembly
From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
01/31/2026
Assembly
Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.
05/23/2025
Assembly
In committee: Held under submission.
05/14/2025
Assembly
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.
04/22/2025
Assembly
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
04/21/2025
Assembly
Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES.
04/10/2025
Assembly
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on NAT. RES. Read second time and amended.
04/08/2025
Assembly
Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES.
04/07/2025
Assembly
Read second time and amended.
04/03/2025
Assembly
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on NAT. RES. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 18. Noes 0.) (April 2).
03/25/2025
Assembly
Re-referred to Com. on U. & E.
03/24/2025
Assembly
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on U. & E. Read second time and amended.
03/03/2025
Assembly
Referred to Coms. on U. & E. and NAT. RES.
02/11/2025
Assembly
From printer. May be heard in committee March 13.
02/10/2025
Assembly
Read first time. To print.
Sources
Record Created
Feb 12, 2025 3:57:40 PM
Record Updated
Feb 3, 2026 8:46:26 AM