Published on 04/13/2026
February 25, 2026 - Sonoma Clean Power meeting with California State Assemblymember Damon Connolly in Sacramento. The team met with a number of legislators and staff to advance climate action and support ratepayer affordability.
Sonoma Clean Power (SCP) exists to put community priorities over company profits. We fight for lower electric rates and more renewable energy, and to do so, a lot of work happens behind the scenes. SCP’s Advocacy Team is on the front lines of these efforts in Sacramento, working to change California’s laws in ways that cut energy costs and shield our communities from a hotter climate.
A major step forward: AB 531 becomes law
We celebrated a big win in 2025 when legislation co-sponsored by SCP, AB 531, was signed into law, streamlining the process for geothermal projects in California. Authored by Assemblymember Chris Rogers (D-Santa Rosa), the legislation enables geothermal power plants of any size to use a “one-stop-shop” permitting process at the California Energy Commission that can significantly accelerate project timelines and ultimately lower the costs of the energy the plant produces.
Why geothermal matters
The development of geothermal energy projects is critical to meeting California’s goal of producing 100% of its electricity from renewable and zero-carbon sources by 2045. Solar and wind power alone cannot keep the lights on through the dark winter months. Geothermal energy, harnessed from the Earth, is clean, reliable, and available 24/7. Right now, we are forced to rely on polluting resources, like natural gas plants, that are costly to maintain and contribute to the climate crisis to fill this gap. This is why SCP is advancing its GeoZone initiative to develop new, next-generation geothermal energy in Sonoma and Mendocino counties on a significant scale.
Keeping momentum going
This year, we got right back to work and are co-sponsoring four bills in the current legislative session. From continuing to make geothermal development a reality, to lowering ratepayer costs and advancing new renewable energy resources, we’re putting our energy into efforts that will make a difference for our customers.
These bills focus on improving affordability, accelerating clean energy development, and modernizing how the state plans its energy system.
Aligning Geothermal Exploration Rules with 49 Other States
Right now, federal law grants a streamlined approval process to geothermal exploration wells meeting a high standard of environmental and labor protections. California is the one state that has not adopted this policy, putting us at a significant disadvantage as we try to attract next-generation geothermal development to provide cleaner, more affordable electricity. This proposed legislation, authored by Assemblymember Diane Papan (D-San Mateo), aims to align California with the rest of the country and encourage high-quality local exploration projects to move forward.
De-Risking New Geothermal Development in California
California has some of the best geology in the country for next-generation geothermal development. However, it is also some of the most complex, resulting in geothermal developers often avoiding pursuing projects here. Utah has become a model for solving this problem, with the government investing in drilling, research, and data collection through the “Utah FORGE” initiative, significantly increasing the investment in developing geothermal energy in the state. SCP, alongside a broad coalition of legislators and other supporters, is trying to replicate this model in California by advocating for a $40 million state investment that could pay for itself many times over by driving new geothermal development at a very large scale.
Reforming the Planning Process for New Transmission Lines
This proposal by Assemblymember Diane Papan (D-San Mateo) would revamp the transmission planning process in California to produce a more flexible, adaptable system that can start to lower ratepayer costs and allow for faster interconnection of new renewable energy resources. This revamp is based on research sponsored by SCP and Peninsula Clean Energy through Princeton University’s ZERO Lab, which also conducted the modelling for the Inflation Reduction Act.
Allowing New Clean Energy to Connect to the Grid Faster
This legislation from Assemblymember Chris Rogers (D-Santa Rosa) would lower the costs of and reduce the timelines for building new renewable energy resources. Today, most of California is functionally off-limits to new renewable energy development due to a lack of interconnection availability caused by transmission constraints. Our legislation would help resolve this problem through a smarter, more sophisticated connection approach.
SCP’s advocacy in Sacramento is about building an energy future that works for our community today and tomorrow. By advancing policies that expand reliable geothermal energy, support our GeoZone effort, and unlock new renewable development, we’re helping lower long-term costs, create local jobs, and keep California in a leadership role in the global fight against climate change. These efforts deliver lasting value for our customers, boost the regional economy, and put community priorities—clean energy, affordability, and opportunity—front and center.
