Bill Text: CA AB2851 | 2021-2022 | Regular Session | Introduced

California Assembly Bill 2851 (Prior Session Legislation)

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

Bill Title: Salton Sea geothermal resource area: Lithium Valley Office of Development.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-05-19 - In committee: Held under submission. [AB2851 Detail]

Download: California-2021-AB2851-Introduced.html

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2021–2022 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 2851

Introduced by Assembly Member Eduardo Garcia

February 18, 2022

An act relating to energy.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 2851, as introduced, Eduardo Garcia. Lithium batteries: manufacturing supply chain.

Existing law finds and declares that there is a pressing need to accelerate research and development into alternative sources of energy and into improved technology of design and siting of power facilities.

This bill would express the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would support the development of infrastructure processes that support California’s lithium battery manufacturing supply chain. The bill would also include related legislative findings and declarations.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NO

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

(a) The Legislature finds and declares both of the following:

(1) Lithium is becoming an increasingly critical resource as the state, and the world, moves toward a clean energy future to tackle the climate crisis. This metal is a crucial component of batteries needed to power electric vehicles, enable a 100-percent clean electric grid, and move the state’s homes and industries away from fossil fuels.

(2) California has abundant untapped lithium reserves, including in geothermal brine more than a mile underground near the Salton Sea. The state is poised to become a global leader in the deployment of new, environmentally sound technologies that can coproduce lithium with renewable electricity from geothermal power plants in the Imperial Valley. Experts estimate the region could satisfy more than one-third of today’s global lithium demand. Building out a world-class battery manufacturing ecosystem in tandem with lithium production and processing would also increase economic opportunity in the Salton Sea region, delivering quality jobs and community benefits to the region.

(b) It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would support the development of infrastructure processes that support California’s lithium battery manufacturing supply chain.