Gravity-Based Energy Storage Well Pilot Program.

The document was reformatted from an official chaptered legislative document (with page numbers, column layout, and 'STATE OF CALIFORNIA AUTHENTICATED ELECTRONIC LEGAL MATERIAL' header) to a web page presentation with navigation menus, search fields, version history, and publication date.

Web interface elements were added including navigation links (home, accessibility, FAQ, feedback, sitemap, login), quick search fields, bill version history listing prior versions (Enrolled, Amended Assembly, Amended Senate, Introduced), and a publication timestamp of 10/07/2025.

Removed a duplicate word 'aquifer' from the definition of gravity-based energy storage well in Section 3474(b)(1)(D), which previously read 'beneficial use aquifer, aquifer'

Removed an empty subdivision '(d)' in Section 3474.2 that appeared between the prevailing wages requirements and the fee provision, so the fee provision is now directly subdivision (e)

Restructured section numbering: SEC. 2 now contains a 'SECTION 1' label for the Article 10 addition, and a standalone 'SEC. 3.' appears before the reimbursement provision which is labeled 'SEC. 2' - this appears to be a numbering error in the Assembly amendment

Added a duplicate preposition 'of' in the bill title, changing 'Chapter 1 of Division 3 of, the Public Resources Code' to 'Chapter 1 of Division 3 of, of the Public Resources Code'

Reworded the legislative counsel's digest to reorganize a sentence about evaluating well use and establishing operating conditions, moving it into a single continuous clause rather than splitting across a page break

The entire pilot program article is relocated from Article 10 (starting at Section 3474) to Article 3.6 (starting at Section 3190) of Chapter 1, Division 3 of the Public Resources Code, changing where the law sits in the code structure.

Section 3106.2 is removed entirely. That section had prohibited the supervisor from authorizing or allowing the use of a well or hydrocarbon reservoir for any purpose other than provided for in law.

New Section 3403.6 imposes an annual charge on operators of gravity-based energy storage wells to defray state regulatory costs. Each operator pays a proportionate share based on the number of wells they operate, calculated by dividing total statewide regulatory costs by the total number of gravity-based energy storage wells. The charge is in effect until January 1, 2035.

Section 3190.1(b) now requires detailed chemical analysis before a well can be authorized for conversion, including total dissolved solids, total petroleum hydrocarbon as crude oil, specific major cations (calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, iron, manganese, strontium, boron), specific major anions (chloride, sulfate, bicarbonate, carbonate, bromide, iodide), total alkalinity and hydroxide, electrical conductance, pH, and temperature. Analysis must be performed by a laboratory certified by the State Water Resources Control Board's Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program, with data submitted to GeoTracker.

New Section 3190.1(c) requires operators to file a written notice of intention to convert before conversion begins. If conversion has not commenced within 24 months of approval, the notice is deemed canceled and cannot be extended.

Section 3190.4(a) now explicitly requires mechanical integrity testing BEFORE conversion to a gravity-based energy storage well, in addition to annual testing thereafter. The previous version only required annual assessment.

New Section 3190.4(c) requires operators to annually report data to the division, including the number of wells converted, the number previously leaking methane or other fluid, average daily cycles to store and produce energy, and total energy production.

Section 3190.1(a) now requires the supervisor to consult with the State Water Resources Control Board and an appropriate regional water quality control board before authorizing conversion of a well.

Section 3190.3(c) changes from requiring that a gravity-based energy storage well that ceases operation 'shall be incorporated' as an idle well to 'may be incorporated,' and adds that this is subject to plan elimination requirements, giving operators more flexibility.

Section 3190.8 changes the entity responsible for evaluating the pilot program from the Secretary for Environmental Protection to the division (Geologic Energy Management Division), with the Secretary added to the list of consulting entities.

The bill was renumbered as Chapter 419 and the Governor's approval date (October 6, 2025) was inserted in place of the blank signature line.

The Senate and Assembly passage certification pages were removed, replaced by the standard 'State of California Authenticated Electronic Legal Material' header used for chaptered laws.

The maximum number of wells that may be authorized for conversion to gravity-based energy storage wells was reduced from 1,000 to 250, significantly narrowing the pilot program's scale.

A new subdivision (d) in Section 3474.2 requires the supervisor to obtain an enforceable commitment from the operator that all contractors and subcontractors at every tier performing the conversion will pay at least prevailing wages and use a skilled and trained workforce for work in apprenticeable building and construction trades occupations. An exception applies if all work is covered by a project labor agreement (PLA).

Section 3474.6 was restructured to fix a drafting error where two separate sections shared the same number. The consolidated section removes the reference to the idle well fee under Section 3206(a)(1) and removes the requirement that operators update their plans not less than annually to identify gravity-based energy storage wells.

The maximum number of wells that may be authorized for conversion to gravity-based energy storage wells was reduced from 1,000 to 250 in Section 3474.2(a).

Section 3474.16(a) now requires the ongoing program framework recommendations to address regulation of gravity-based energy storage wells 'as a result of the benefits determined for renewable energy sources and the storage of the energy in gravity-based energy storage wells,' adding a policy rationale not present in the introduced version.

Section 3474.6 was restructured. Previously, an idle well authorized as a gravity-based energy storage well had to be identified in the plan and was not required to be eliminated, with annual updates required. Now, the well must be eliminated from the plan but identified as a gravity-based energy storage well within it, and that identification constitutes compliance with plan requirements. A new definition of 'plan' was added. The explicit reference to idle well fees under Section 3206 was removed from this section.