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2026 Advocacy Activities

Contents

California Air Resources Board

  • On May 4, 2026, CHBC submitted comments on CARB’s 15-Day Proposed Amendments to the California Cap on Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Market-Based Compliance Mechanisms Regulation, expressing concerns that the new requirements for low-carbon hydrogen production create an overly complex compliance pathway. The comments express concern that mandating electrolysis electricity to be sourced from RPS-eligible renewables within the same local balancing authority (LBA) and time-matched monthly exceeds existing RPS and federal standards, misaligns with grid operations, and could hinder clean hydrogen deployment. CHBC recommends removing restrictive deliverability and monthly matching rules, as well as directly citing California Public Utilities Code Section 399.12 for clarity on an eligible renewable energy resource. Read the full letter here >>

California Assembly and Senate

  • On May 4, 2026, CHBC submitted a letter to Sen. Sabrina Cervantes, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, strongly supporting SB 1350 to update California’s renewable energy definitions to include hydrogen used in a turbine. These technologies offer reliable, zero-emission power, complement intermittent renewables, and enhance grid resilience, aligning with the state’s aggressive decarbonization goals. SB 1350 would accelerate deployment of hydrogen-based systems for energy storage and grid support while creating skilled job opportunities, ensuring California’s clean energy policies remain effective in meeting climate commitments. Read the full letter here >>
  • On February 20, 2026, the Bioenergy Association of California and the California Hydrogen Business Council submitted a support letter as co-sponsors of Assembly Bill 1849 (Papan), which establishes a thoughtful framework to assess and accelerate the role of decarbonized gaseous fuels in California’s transition to a carbon-neutral economy. Read the full letter here >>
  • On March 11, 2026, CHBC submitted a letter of support for Assembly Bill 1350 (McNerney). The bill would update the definition of renewable electrical generation facilities in California statute, expanding and clarifying eligibility for renewable generation technologies will help accelerate deployment of innovative solutions, including hydrogen-based systems that can store renewable energy, provide long-duration grid support, and deliver clean electricity when it is needed most. Read the full letter here >>
  • On April 14, 2026 the CHBC submitted an oppose unless amended letter to the Senate Energy Committee on Senate Bill 1359 (Stern). The bill creates a broad framework to move away from natural gas by prioritizing electrification and tightening rules on cost recovery, infrastructure investment, and system planning. These restrictions could hinder emerging solutions—such as renewable and low carbon hydrogen—that are essential for an affordable, reliable transition. Read the full letter here >>

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power

  • On February 27, 2026, the CHBC submitted a letter to the Los Angeles City Council in support of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s October 28, 2025 decision to certify the Final Subsequent Environmental Impact Report and advance the Scattergood Generating Station Units 1 and 2 Green Hydrogen-Ready Modernization Project. Read the full letter here >>

State of California

  • On January 9, CHBC submitted comments to the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development regarding their Clean Energy Assessment Project Webinar of December 16, 2025. CHBC made the following points in our comments:
    1. CHBC agrees with selecting hydrogen as one of three clean energy technologies for the assessment. We also concur that the best policy approach is to adopt market signals focused on performance attributes rather than technology.
    2. CHBC recommends not emphasizing the importance of ARCHES as a facilitating organization; there should not be a perception that the market is dependent on ARCHES’s revival.
    3. Permitting streamlining efforts should align with the “commence construction” deadline of January 1, 2028, which was shortened from the previous 2033 deadline, to match the deadline for Section 45V Hydrogen Production Tax Credit compliance.
    4. CHBC commends the inclusion of the need for a “hydrogen safety education campaign”. We encourage GO-Biz to consider working with the Center for Hydrogen Safety (CHS), the experts in this field, on such a campaign.
    – Read CHBC’s comments here >>
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