39743.
(a) (1) The State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, as part of the 2023 Integrated Energy Policy Report prepared pursuant to Section 25302 of the Public Resources Code, shall develop a plan to advance low-carbon materials and methods in building and construction projects that details a strategy and recommendations to minimize embodied carbon and maximize carbon sequestration in building materials when possible, and that includes all of the following:(A) An evaluation of embodied carbon in building materials currently
used in buildings and in infrastructure in the state.
(B) An evaluation of the estimated potential for reducing embodied carbon and maximizing carbon sequestration in building materials, including the potential for utilizing net-negative emission materials that can sequester more greenhouse gas than is generated during their production, transportation, and use.
(C) Barriers to minimizing embodied carbon and maximizing carbon sequestration in building materials, and opportunities and recommendations to overcome these barriers.
(D) Consideration of the potential to reduce embodied carbon
compared to baseline emission levels in each material and maximize carbon sequestration in a wide array of commonly used building materials, including, but not limited to, cement, concrete, aggregate, lumber, cross-laminated timber, steel, and other materials identified by the agency.
(E) Consideration of how policies to advance low-carbon materials and methods in buildings and construction projects can create and maintain jobs for California workers that will provide middle-class wages and benefits and union representation and recommendations to achieve these goals.
(2) The State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, in developing the plan required pursuant to paragraph (1), shall consult with all of the following:
(A) The California Environmental Protection Agency.
(B) The state board.
(C) The Department of Transportation.
(D) The Office of Planning and Research.
(E) The Natural Resources Agency.
(F) The California Building Standards Commission.
(G) The Department of Housing and Community Development.
(H) The Office of the State Fire Marshal.
(I) The Division of the State Architect.
(H)
(J) Any other relevant state agency.
(I)
(K) Representatives of a labor organization representing affected workers.
workers, representatives of the building industry, and representatives of environmental justice organizations.
(b) The state board shall develop an accounting protocol to quantify embodied carbon and carbon sequestration in building materials, including those materials identified in, and by the agency pursuant to, subparagraph (D) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a).
(c) The Natural Resources Agency shall incorporate, as appropriate, projects using low-embodied carbon building materials or carbon sequestration in building materials into the California
Carbon Sequestration and Climate Resiliency Project Registry established by the agency pursuant to Section 39740.3.
(d) When feasible and cost effective, a public agency shall prefer the use of building materials with low-embodied carbon, including recycled building materials with net-negative carbon intensity that sequester more greenhouse gas than is generated during their production, transportation, and use.
(e) When feasible and cost effective, a public agency shall prefer the use of building materials with low-embodied carbon that are produced in California.
(f) For purposes of this section, “feasible” means all of the following:
(1) The material is capable of being installed in a successful manner within a reasonable period of time, taking into account economic, environmental, legal, social, and technological factors.
(2) The material does not harm the health or safety of those who install the materials or occupy the building.
(3) The material provides the same function and at least the same durability, useful life, and performance as the baseline material.
(4) The material does not pose an increased risk of a construction or design defect or constitute a threat to the integrity of the building.
(5) The material is commercially available in the region of the project.
(f)
(g) The Office of Planning and Research shall evaluate the circumstances, if any, circumstances in which the use of low-embodied carbon building materials or carbon sequestration in building materials qualifies as is an acceptable mitigation measure for impacts related to emissions of greenhouse gases pursuant to the California
Environmental Quality Act (Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code).