2023 California Code › Public Resources Code - PRC › DIVISION 15 - ENERGY CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT › CHAPTER 18 - Wave Energy and Tidal Energy › Section 25996.

25996. (a) As part of the 2024 energy policy review prepared pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 25302, the commission, in consultation with other appropriate state agencies, including, but not limited to, the Ocean Protection Council, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the State Lands Commission, and the California Coastal Commission, shall evaluate the feasibility, costs, and benefits of using wave energy and tidal energy as forms of clean energy in the state.
(b) For purposes of the evaluation identified in subdivision (a), the commission shall do all of the following:
(1) Evaluate factors that may contribute to the increased use of wave energy and tidal energy in the state.
(2) Provide findings on the latest research about the technological and economic feasibility of deploying offshore wave and tidal energy in the state.
(3) Evaluate wave energy and tidal energy project potential transmission needs and permitting requirements.
(4) Evaluate wave energy and tidal energy project economic and workforce development needs.
(5) Identify near-term actions, particularly related to investments and the workforce for wave energy and tidal energy projects, to maximize job creation and economic development, while considering affordable electric rates and bills.
(6) Identify a robust monitoring strategy designed to gather sufficient data to evaluate the impacts from wave energy and tidal energy projects to marine and tidal ecosystems and affected species, including, but not limited to, fish, marine mammals, and aquatic plants, to inform adaptive management of the projects.
(c) (1) The commission, in coordination and consultation with the California Coastal Commission, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Ocean Protection Council, and the State Lands Commission, shall work with other state and local agencies, the offshore wave energy and tidal energy industry, the commercial and recreational fishing communities, California Native American tribes, nongovernmental organizations, and other stakeholders to identify suitable sea space for offshore wave energy and tidal energy projects in state and federal waters.
(2) For purposes of identifying suitable sea space, the commission shall consider all of the following:
(A) Existing data and information on offshore wave energy and tidal energy resource potential and commercial viability.
(B) Existing transmission facilities and infrastructure, and necessary additional transmission facilities and infrastructure.
(C) Protection of cultural and biological resources with the goal of prioritizing ocean areas that pose the least conflict to those resources.
(3) For purposes of this subdivision, the commission shall incorporate the information developed by the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s California Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force, as applicable.
(4) The commission, in coordination and consultation with the California Coastal Commission, Department of Fish and Wildlife, Ocean Protection Council, State Lands Commission, other state and local agencies, the offshore wind energy industry, the commercial and recreational fishing communities, California Native American tribes, nongovernmental organizations, and other stakeholders, shall identify measures that would avoid, minimize, and mitigate significant adverse environmental and ecosystem impacts and use conflicts, and for monitoring and adaptive management for offshore wave energy and tidal energy projects, consistent with California’s long-term goals relating to renewable energy, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and biodiversity.
(5) Nothing in this subdivision modifies the authority of any state agency over project-specific siting and permitting.
(6) The commission shall seek to coordinate and consult with federal agencies, as appropriate and applicable, in performing the work required by this subdivision.
(Added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 405, Sec. 1. (SB 605) Effective January 1, 2024.)