SB 887: California Environmental Quality Act: environmental leadership development projects: data centers: geothermal powerplant projects.

The bill aims to amend the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to increase the environmental review duties for data center projects. It prohibits the application of categorical exemptions to data center projects, requiring a more thorough environmental assessment. The bill also allows the governor to certify data center projects that meet specific conditions, similar to environmental leadership development projects, and requires the state energy resources conservation and development commission to develop uniform standards for these projects. Additionally, the bill enables the governor to certify geothermal powerplant projects that meet certain criteria, and requires the quantification and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions impacts for these projects. The bill imposes a state-mandated local program, requiring lead agencies to prepare environmental impact reports and mitigate…