CEQA Compliance

The California Energy Commission (CEC) is the lead agency responsible for conducting environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the Warren-Alquist Energy Resources Conservation Act (Warren-Alquist Act); that review is currently underway. The Commission will exercise its responsibilities and preserve its rights as a responsible agency pursuant to CEQA Guideline § 15096. Accordingly, today's interim opinion is contingent on the project's environmental certification by the California Energy Commission (CEC) and the Commission's consideration of that certification, which shall be addressed in a final decision. We anticipate basing that final decision on the current record and the CEC certification document. We direct PG&E to file the CEC certification document in this proceeding within three days of its issuance.

CARE asks the Commission to consider the factors mandated by Pub. Util. Code § 1002(a) and, in particular, the impact of greenhouse gas emissions associated with the project, in this proceeding. Pursuant to Pub. Util. Code § 1002(b), Section 1002(a) is not applicable where, as here, CEC certification is required. We will undertake our environmental review of the project, including all required environmental analyses, pursuant to our role as responsible agency, as discussed above.