AB 2234: California Environmental Quality Act: geothermal exploratory projects.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

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 the lead agency 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.

Existing law establishes the Geologic Energy Management Division in the Department of Conservation. Existing law requires the division to be the lead agency for all geothermal exploratory projects for purposes of CEQA, except as provided. Existing law defines “geothermal exploratory project,” for purposes of CEQA, in part as a project composed of not more than 6 wells and associated drilling and testing equipment whose chief and original purpose is to evaluate the presence and characteristics of geothermal resources. Existing law requires wells included within a geothermal exploratory project to be located at least 12 mile from geothermal development wells that are capable of producing geothermal resources in commercial quantities.

This bill would expressly include, as part of a geothermal exploratory project, equipment and activities necessary to establish interconnectivity between wells and reservoirs, as provided. The bill would specify that the above-described 12 mile limit is measured from all points along the wellhead location and well course, including the bottom of the well, as provided.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. September 30, 2026Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 927, Statutes of 2026.
2. September 30, 2026Approved by the Governor.
3. September 15, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
4. August 31, 2026Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 6967.).
5. August 30, 2026In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
6. August 30, 2026Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.).
7. August 28, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
8. August 27, 2026Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
9. August 26, 2026Ordered to third reading.
10. August 26, 2026From special consent calendar
11. August 25, 2026Ordered to special consent calendar.
12. August 17, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.