Geothermal heat pump bill signed into law

CaliforniaGeo applauds Governor Brown’s recent signing of AB 2339 (Williams) Energy Geothermal Technologies, into law on September 27, 2012 directing the California Energy Commission to lead an evaluation of policies and implementation strategies to promote widespread deployment of geothermal heat pump and geothermal ground loop technologies as a key component of a clean California energy future. AB 2339 is part of California’s renewed emphasis on a technology that has long been called the most effective method of heating and cooling buildings.

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) went on record stating geothermal heat pump (GHP) technology qualified as both an energy efficiency technology and a distributed generation technology and the industry would be welcome in the Commission's DG and EE proceedings.

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) initiated a program on July 1, 2012 to establish borehole Standards replacing the 1999 draft standard that has caused so much confusion. The DWR program is schedule to complete and issue the Standard by June 30, 2013.

Geothermal heat pumps and geothermal ground loop technologies with be included, for the first time, in the California Energy Commission’s (CEC) 2013 Integrated Energy Policy Report (IEPR).

Newly-formed CaliforniaGeo (officially the California Geothermal Heat Pump Association) sponsored AB 2339, whose passage was made possible by the efforts of a committed group of volunteers led by Phil Henry and Lisa Meline with assistance from California geo heat pump industry leaders Meline Engineering, Gaia Geothermal, Air Connection and All Year along with industry stakeholders throughout the US. Organizations including Environment California, Planning and Conservation League, Sierra Club and Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative also supported the effort. In addition, CaliforniaGeo would like to thank the support of a coalition of allied organizations that includes the California Groundwater Association, GEO (Geothermal Exchange Organization), USGBC California and the California Geothermal Energy Collaborative.

CaliforniaGeo acknowledges the leadership of Assemblymembers Das Williams (35th District) and V. Manuel Pérez (80th District) in authoring AB 2339 and thanks to the Legislature for unanimous support of the geo industry. CaliforniaGeo thanks California Energy Commission Commissioners and staff for their interest in recognizing geo heat pump technologies as an available and impactful energy efficiency measure as well as a viable emerging distributed generation technology. CaliforniaGeo will continue building awareness for geo heat pump technology as we unify California's geo industry and remove barriers to widespread deployment of geo heat pump systems.

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