(a) For purposes of this section, “decarbonize” means to reduce or eliminate associated emissions of greenhouse gases.

(b) The state board, in consultation with the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission and the Public Utilities Commission, shall prepare an evaluation posted to the state board’s internet website by June 1, 2024. The evaluation shall include, but not be limited to, all the following:

(1) Policy recommendations regarding the use of hydrogen, and specifically regarding the use of green hydrogen, in the state to help achieve the state’s climate, clean energy, and clean air objectives. The policy recommendations may include recommendations on how to overcome market barriers and accelerate progress in green hydrogen production, scaling and use, including through the use of public-private partnerships, demonstration projects undertaken by public, private, or nonprofit entities, or a combination thereof, incentives, financing mechanisms, or other policies, and recommendations to maximize economic, environmental, public health, workforce, and equity benefits resulting from increased utilization of green hydrogen.

(2) A description of strategies, consistent with the state’s climate, clean energy, and clean air requirements, supporting hydrogen infrastructure, including needed infrastructure for production, processing, delivery, storage, and end uses in difficult-to-decarbonize sectors of the economy for the purpose of preparing infrastructure and end uses for green hydrogen deployment. This description shall identify policies that promote the reduction of economywide emissions of greenhouse gases and short-lived climate pollutants through the deployment of hydrogen, including green hydrogen, while ensuring that hydrogen infrastructure will support the employment of a skilled and trained workforce in California to perform that work.

(3) A description of the potential for other forms of hydrogen, outside of green hydrogen, to achieve emission reductions that can contribute to achieving the state’s climate, clean energy, and clean air objectives.

(4) An analysis of how curtailed electrical generation could be better utilized to help meet the goals set forth in this division, including, but not limited to, whether curtailed electrical generation could be made available for the production of green hydrogen. The state board shall also consult with the Independent System Operator in the preparation of the analysis.

(5) An estimate of the amount of reduced emissions of greenhouse gases and air quality benefits the state could achieve through deploying green hydrogen through a variety of scenarios, the costs associated with using green hydrogen, and the associated health and environmental impacts of prioritizing the development of various forms of hydrogen, when compared to other alternatives.

(6) An analysis of the potential for opportunities to integrate hydrogen, including green hydrogen, production and application with drinking water supply treatment needs, particularly for advanced treatment water supplies such as desalination, potable reuse, and salt and contaminant removal projects.

(7) Policy recommendations for regulatory and permitting processes associated with transmission and distribution of hydrogen, including green hydrogen, from production sites to end uses.

(8) An analysis of the life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions from various forms of hydrogen, including green hydrogen, production.

(9) An analysis of air pollution and other environmental impacts from hydrogen, including green hydrogen, distribution and end uses.

(c) In developing the evaluation pursuant to subdivision (b), the state board shall consult the California Workforce Development Board and labor and workforce organizations, including those that administer state-approved apprenticeship programs that train workers to construct, install, and maintain hydrogen infrastructure.

(Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 363, Sec. 2. (SB 1075) Effective January 1, 2023.)