Related Information

• State Energy Action Plan
• Integrated Energy Policy Reports
• California Biomass Collaborative
• Governor Schwarzenegger Executive Order on Biomass (April 25, 2006)

Bioenergy Action Plan

DOCKET # 10-BAP-1

Committee overseeing this proceeding is:

The 2011 Bioenergy Action Plan for California will evaluate and consider the following strategies to overcome the remaining challenges to meeting the Governor's targets for bioenergy in California:

1. Address siting, permitting, and regulatory barriers to increased bioenergy and biofuels production.


2. Facilitate the ability of project developers to obtain project financing and identify funding opportunities.


3. Continue research and development of low-emission bioenergy technologies and develop policy mechanisms that accurately account for GHG benefits associated with each technology.


4. Increase the availability of affordable biomass products collected through sustainable practices.


5. Develop new and revised policies necessary for meeting bioenergy and biofuel goals.

Energy Commission staff conducted a public workshop on June 3, 2010, in order to identify challenges facing the bioenergy industry. Energy Commission staff is facilitating the development of the 2011 Plan with input from Working Group staff and guidance from Commissioner James Boyd, who is Chair of the Bioenergy Interagency Working Group.

On December 14, 2010, Energy Commission staff will be conducting a public workshop on the staff draft 2011 Bioenergy Action Plan. The Working Group is seeking public comment on the draft 2011 Plan on topics including additional challenges not addressed by the plan and recommendations for additional state actions that should be considered for the 2011 Plan. The Public Notice for the December workshop and a preliminary list of state actions for the 2011 Plan can be found here.

Background

The first Bioenergy Action Plan for California was published July 2006. The most recent progress report on implementation of the Plan, the Bioenergy Action Plan: Progress to Plan, was published in November 2009. This Progress to Plan recommended that the Bioenergy Action Plan be updated to address issues that still present barriers to the development and use of biomass for energy in California. Similarly, the California Energy Commission's 2009 Integrated Energy Policy Report (IEPR) recommended addressing barriers to the expansion of biopower, including regulatory hurdles and project financing. The Commission also committed in the IEPR to encouraging "additional research and development to reduce costs for biomass conversion, biopower technologies, and environmental controls."

For more information, please contact:

Note: The first Bioenergy Action Plan of 2006 and the 2009 update - Bioenergy Action Plan: Progress to Plan - are located on the Commission Energy Archive website.