AB 526 will task the California Energy Commission (CEC) with producing a strategic plan for the development of new in-state advanced geothermal energy systems in California.
Geothermal energy holds immense potential as a clean, reliable, affordable, and virtually inexhaustible source of 24/7, round-the-clock power. Advanced geothermal systems, which utilize new technologies to maximize heat extraction from the Earth’s subsurface, offer a particularly promising avenue for expansion within the renewable energy sector because they can be located almost anywhere and have smaller footprints than traditional geothermal plants.
AB 526 will set clear objectives and provide a roadmap for future advanced geothermal projects that help attract investment, spur job creation, and stimulate economic development in California’s clean energy sector while minimizing environmental impact. Because geothermal projects involve drilling, pipefitting, and other technologies closely related to oil and gas extraction, there is a high degree of skill transferability that presents opportunities for a just transition for workers.
Harnessing advanced geothermal technologies can meet the state’s growing affordable energy needs, workforce transition goals, and long-term climate objectives.
