Geothermal Bill at Critical Juncture (Imperial Valley Press)
A California state Senate bill crucial to the economic development at the Salton Sea was heard in senate committee today.
Senate Bill 1139 would require California’s electric utilities to procure a proportionate share of a total of 500 megawatts of energy from geothermal power plants by 2024, and in so doing, revive that industry.
SB 1139 was sent to Suspense File by the California Senate Appropriations Committee. The Suspense File, to which the committee sends any bill with an annual cost of more than $150,000 (any fund) is a unique feature of the committee. Suspense File bills are then considered at one hearing after the state budget has been prepared when the committee has a better sense of available revenue. No testimony is presented – author or witness – at the Suspense File hearing.
