(a) The commission, in consultation with the Public Utilities Commission, cities, counties, special districts, and other stakeholders, shall evaluate and recommend policies and implementation strategies to overcome barriers to the deployment and use of geothermal heat pump and geothermal ground loop technologies. In evaluating these policies and strategies, the commission shall consider all of the following:
(1) The quantitative benefits and costs to ratepayers specific to safer, more reliable, or less costly gas or electrical service and through greater energy efficiency, reduction of health and environmental impacts from air pollution, and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions related to electricity and natural gas production and use, through the use of geothermal heat pump and geothermal ground loop technologies.
(2) The existing statutory and permit requirements that impact the use of geothermal heat pumps and geothermal ground loop technologies and any other existing legal impediments to the use of geothermal heat pump and geothermal ground loop technologies.
(3) The impact of the use of the geothermal heat pump and geothermal ground loop technologies on achieving the state’s goals pursuant to the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (Division 25.5 (commencing with Section 38500) of the Health and Safety Code) and achieving the state’s energy efficiency goals.
(b) The commission shall include the evaluations and recommendations made pursuant to this section in the integrated energy policy report that is required to be adopted for calendar year 2013, pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 25302.
(Added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 608, Sec. 1. (AB 2339) Effective January 1, 2013.)