(a) On or before December 31, 2025, the department, in coordination with the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission and the Public Utilities Commission, shall evaluate the issues and policies impeding development of land within department-owned rights-of-way as renewable energy generation facilities, energy storage facilities, and electrical transmission and distribution facilities.

(b) The evaluation described in subdivision (a) shall do all of the following:

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(1) Consider the department owning the facilities, or leasing, granting easements over, or entering into joint-use agreements with public utilities or other entities for facility development within department-owned rights-of-way.

(2) Evaluate the suitability of the various types of department-owned rights-of-way for the development of renewable energy generation and energy storage facilities.

(3) Identify the issues and policies impeding the use of department-owned rights-of-way that could be made available for the development of renewable energy generation and energy storage facilities, to the maximum extent economically feasible, including consideration of existing laws, safety, suitability, and other priorities that the department has identified for the department-owned rights-of-way.

(4) Identify, to the extent possible, the amount of renewable energy generation and energy storage capacity on the various types of department-owned rights-of-way that could feasibly be developed to achieve the goals stated in § 454.53 of the Public Utilities Code.

(5) Evaluate, in coordination with the Public Utilities Commission, the Independent System Operator, and other balancing authorities, as defined in subdivision (b) of § 399.12 of the Public Utilities Code, the suitability of the various types of department-owned rights-of-way for the development of needed electrical transmission and distribution facilities. The evaluation of suitability shall consider and prioritize the need for increased electrical transmission and distribution capacity as identified by the Public Utilities Commission, the Independent System Operator, or other balancing authorities.

(6) Identify issues and policies impeding the use of department-owned rights-of-way for the development of needed electrical transmission and distribution facilities, including consideration of existing laws, safety, suitability, and other priorities that the department has identified for the department-owned rights-of-way.

(7) Include requirements for the development of renewable energy generation, energy storage facilities, and electrical transmission and distribution facilities within department-owned rights-of-way, including any safety or environmental issues and the steps that projects will be required to take to mitigate these issues.

(8) Establish a process for entities interested in leasing or obtaining an easement or joint-use agreement for land within department-owned rights-of-way to operate and build a renewable energy generation facility, an energy storage facility, or an electrical transmission or distribution facility to apply to the department for land use agreements under terms that reasonably encompass the useful life of the project.

(9) Provide recommendations to facilitate the development of renewable energy generation facilities, energy storage facilities, and electrical transmission and distribution facilities on department-owned rights-of-way.

(Added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 379, Sec. 1. (SB 49) Effective January 1, 2024.)