Newsom signs geothermal energy bill

The obscure state law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom last week couldn’t seem any less important. Or interesting.

Let’s be honest.

Describes how counties can now serve as lead agencies for environmental review of geothermal exploration projects in California.

Yawn.

But local officials say the long-awaited charter is key to enabling broader development of clean, renewable geothermal energy in and around the geysers, contributing to green energy goals here and across the West with more efficient and sustainable next-generation technologies that you can incubate here.

At stake is the opportunity for Sonoma Clean Power, the majority electricity provider in Sonoma and Mendocino counties, to gradually phase out its remaining dependence on outdated and highly polluting natural gas plants that fill supply gaps when darkness falls and inclement weather reduces energy availability solar and wind power.

New geothermal energy approaches proposed for use in the Sonoma, Lake and Mendocino regions could provide a 24/7 supply of renewable, 100% carbon-free energy to local consumers and, in the future, to those outside the area.

Additionally, they are expected to demonstrate the potential to produce energy in lower temperature underground areas previously considered incompatible with geothermal production. Officials say that if the new technologies prove successful, they could be replicated across the West, dramatically increasing the availability of clean energy.

“This is absolutely essential to filling out the renewable energy portfolio, using solar and wind power, which are weather-dependent,” said Sonoma County Supervisor James Gore, who lobbied for the law change.

Authored by Assemblywoman Diane Papan, D-San Mateo, AB 1359 removes a critical roadblock to local and statewide geothermal energy expansion by allowing county planning departments like Permit Sonoma to conduct environmental review of exploration drilling projects.

Officials say three energy companies recruited by Sonoma Clean Power and vetted by the nonprofit agency’s Geothermal Opportunity Zone (GeoZone) initiative have already expressed interest and are ready to apply for exploration permits.

But until now, the exploration-phase environmental review has been reserved for the California Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Geological Management, known as CalGEM, a regulatory division that is understaffed and lacks sufficient capacity to continue the process, officials say.

The new provision means Permit Sonoma can now independently accept permit applications and initiate environmental reviews so utilities can continue to operate.

As part of the GeoZone program launched three years ago, the idea applies to each of the companies: Cyrq Energy based in Salt Lake City; Eavor Inc., the California arm of Canadian company Eavor Technologies; and Chevron New Energies – developing pilot projects that could produce 20 megawatts of electricity.

If all goes well, the goal is to increase capacity to 200 megawatts each, for a total of 600, which will nearly double The Geysers’ current capacity of 650 to 700 megawatts and allow it to provide clean energy 24/7, Gore said.

According to Sonoma Clean Energy Energy Indicators, a production level of 600 megawatts could power more than one million households on a full-time basis. That’s more than four times the 230,000 accounts the agency currently has, but Sonoma Clean Power has committed to finding buyers for the surplus as part of its agreement with the three companies.

Representatives say most Sonoma Clean Power customers currently receive approximately 88% carbon-free power. Those signed up for EverGreen – for about $13 a month – are powered by 100% renewable energy.

Officials also tout the potential for good-paying jobs that would come with building and operating new plants, although new, full-scale plants are still several years away, said Miles Horton, legislative policy and community engagement manager for Sonoma Clean Power.

“This is a really big economic development opportunity for Sonoma and Lake counties,” said Sonoma County Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, board chair of Sonoma Clean Power. Hopkins also traveled to Sacramento to argue the case.

“It seems like a bureaucratic technicality,” she said, “and it’s not a earth-shattering change in management, but speeding up permitting is hugely important to our geothermal energy efforts. We currently have long-term support at the state agency that would otherwise be processing these applications, so we believe this is an excellent partnership with the state.”

Permit Sonoma is already the lead agency for environmental review of terrestrial geothermal infrastructure and has a team of people with experience in geothermal projects, said division director Tennis Wick.

“We have specialists in-house who can evaluate this work,” Wick said. “We worked for 10 years to build a natural resources department with foresters, hydrologists, geologists and botanists, so now we have the right team.

Horton said moving the environmental assessment process back to Sonoma County also means residents have more opportunities to scrutinize the effort and provide input.

“We believe,” Horton said, “that the county is in a really good position to take a leadership role on this issue today.”

Gore expressed concern that if the bill is not signed into law at the end of the legislative season, the county could risk losing $20 million in federal grant funding for the GeoZone initiative.

He also feared that uncertainty about when development would continue would lead the three utilities involved to other states, such as Utah, where the U.S. Department of Energy has test sites for geothermal technology.

“It’s a race to get contractors and provide these services because we don’t want them running away to a place like Utah where it’s pretty easy to get permits,” he said.

Staff writer Mary Callahan (she/her) can be reached at 707-521-5249 or [email protected]. On X (Twitter) @MaryCallahanB.