On January 25th, 2012 California Governor Edmund "Jerry" Brown released a package of reforms to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which his office says will simplify and speed the approval process for energy and infrastructure projects in the state.

CEQA is modeled on the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and is considered to be more strict than NEPA. It has also served as the basis for a number of lawsuits to challenge energy projects, including solar projects, in California.

"These reforms will fast-track key projects that put Californians to work," said California Governor Brown. "Like California, CEQA must be more nimble."

Change to emphasize infill development

Governor Brown's office states that this package of reforms will provide the regulatory changes necessary to implement state legislation the governor signed in October 2011.

SB 226 simplifies the approval process for certain types of projects, including infill projects, by eliminating repetitive studies of environmental effects already addressed in other planning documents. The governor's office states that infill development has been prioritized as a key strategy to manage urban growth in the state.

Under SB 226 solar projects located on existing roofs and parking lots are eligible for expedited CEQA review.

Additional legislation to expedite legal challenges to large projects

Governor Brown has also issued proposed implementation guidelines for another law, AB 900, which will send CEQA lawsuits for certain large projects directly to the Court of Appeal and require a decision in a reduced time frame.

2012-01-30| Courtesy: Office of California Governor Edmund Brown | solarserver.com © Heindl Server GmbH

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