For legal professionals with a focus on clean energy laws, a recent development in the state of California is worth keeping on your radar. On October 7, 2023, Governor Newsom enacted a significant piece of legislation, AB 1373, establishing a centralization of the procurement process for various clean energy resources. The bill designates the Department of Water Resources (DWR) as the primary authority behind these operations.Downey Brand LLP details this development.
At its core, the primary purpose of the new law is to aid California in reaching its goals surrounding clean energy and reliability in its power grid. By streamlining the procurement process for such resources, the bill endeavors to reduce bureaucracy and increase the speed at which these clean energy initiatives can unfold.
Moreover, an important aspect of AB 1373 that is gaining attention is its potential role in offshore wind farm development. As Downey Brand LLP points out, the central procurement power provided by the bill may be a crucial factor in the creation of California’s inaugural offshore wind farms.
Overall, the landscape of clean energy laws is seeing rapid and notable change, with consequences to be felt across the legal field. Both corporate legal professionals and those within the law firms should remain abreast of these shifts, as what transpires in California often tends to set a trend for other states and potentially even for federal legislation.