AB 2234: California Environmental Quality Act: geothermal exploratory projects.
This bill aims to update California's environmental regulations for geothermal exploratory projects. The project would include equipment and activities necessary to establish interconnectivity between wells and reservoirs. Existing law requires wells to be at least 1/2 mile from geothermal development wells, but this bill would exclude certain wells connecting to geothermal reservoirs from this distance requirement. The bill is intended to facilitate the evaluation of geothermal resources and support the development of commercial geothermal energy.
| Sep. 15, 2026 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m. |
| Aug. 31, 2026 | Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 79. Noes 0.). |
| Aug. 30, 2026 | In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending. |
| Aug. 30, 2026 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.). |
| Aug. 28, 2026 | Read second time. Ordered to third reading. |
| Enrolled September 04, 2026 |
| Passed IN Senate August 30, 2026 |
| Passed IN Assembly August 31, 2026 |
| Amended IN Senate August 27, 2026 |
| Amended IN Senate August 13, 2026 |
| Amended IN Senate July 06, 2026 |
| Amended IN Senate June 15, 2026 |
| Introduced by Assembly Member Papan |
February 19, 2026 |
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 21065.5 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:21065.5.
“Geothermal exploratory project” means a project as defined in Section 21065 composed of not more than six wells and associated drilling and testing equipment, including equipment and activities necessary to establish interconnectivity between wells and reservoirs, whose chief and original purpose is to evaluate the presence and characteristics of geothermal resources before commencement of a geothermal field development project as defined in Section 65928.5 of the Government Code. Wells included within a geothermal exploratory project shall be located at least one-half mile, measured from all points along the wellhead location and well course, including the bottom of the well, from geothermal development wells that are capable of producing geothermal resources in commercial quantities.