California 2019-2020 Regular Session Status: In Committee 1 D cosponsors

SB 858 — Thermal powerplants: exemption: emergency backup and standby generators: data centers.

Last action — May 14 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed Assembly
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2019-2020 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Existing law requires a person proposing to construct a thermal powerplant, which is defined as a electrical generating facility using a source of thermal energy, with a generating capacity of 50 megawatts or more to obtain a certification from the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission. This bill would exclude from the definition of a thermal powerplant subject to the jurisdiction of the commission an emergency backup or standby generator that is not connected to the electrical grid and that is constructed, operated, or modified to provide immediate electrical power to maintain the operations of a data center in the event of an outage of electricity from the electrical grid. The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of an environmental impact report on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment. This bill would designate the local land use authority with jurisdiction to approve emergency backup or standby generators described above as the lead agency for purposes of CEQA. By designating local land use authorities as lead agencies, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. May 14 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.

  2. Set for hearing May 14.

  3. From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on E., U. & C.

  4. March 31 hearing postponed by committee.

  5. Set for hearing March 31.

  6. Referred to Com. on E., U. & C.

  7. From printer. May be acted upon on or after February 14.

  8. Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Sponsors

  • Beall · Primary
  • Morrell · Cosponsor
  • Nielsen · Cosponsor
  • Robert Rivas · Cosponsor

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 3 co-sponsors · 118 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

  • Beall

Co-sponsors (3)

Not signed on (118)

118 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

environment technology energy
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Frequently asked questions

What does SB 858 do?
Existing law requires a person proposing to construct a thermal powerplant, which is defined as a electrical generating facility using a source of thermal energy, with a generating capacity of 50 megawatts or more to obtain a certification from the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission. This bill would exclude from the definition of a thermal powerplant subject to the jurisdiction of the commission an emergency backup or standby generator that is not connected to the electrical grid and that is constructed, operated, or modified to provide immediate electrical power to maintain the operations of a data center in the event of an outage of electricity from the electrical grid. The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of an environmental impact report on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment. This bill would designate the local land use authority with jurisdiction to approve emergency backup or standby generators described above as the lead agency for purposes of CEQA. By designating local land use authorities as lead agencies, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Who sponsors SB 858?
SB 858 is sponsored by Beall, Morrell, Nielsen, and Rivas, Robert (Democratic).
What is the current status of SB 858?
This bill died with 2019-2020 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SB 858?
Track SB 858 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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