(SACRAMENTO, CA) — Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters) announced today that Assembly Bill 706 (AB 706), the Forest Organic Residue, Energy, and Safety Transformation (FOREST) and Wildfire Prevention Fund Act, passed the California State Legislature. The bill advances efforts to reduce wildfire risk and ensure forest biomass removed through wildfire prevention efforts is put to beneficial use. The bill makes its way to Governor Newsom’s desk.
“AB 706 is about making sure the work we do to protect our forests and communities doesn’t create another environmental problem, especially with the wildfire risk we’re experiencing year-in-and-year-out here in California,” said Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry. “Wildfire prevention project waste releases harmful methane into our atmosphere. We have the technology to benefit our economy by using this waste. I look forward to Governor Newsom’s signature.”
AB 706 helps solve the wildfire waste problem by closing that gap. Establishing the FOREST and Wildfire Prevention Fund supports the responsible management and beneficial use of forest biomass generated through wildfire prevention efforts. By creating a path to make better use of this material—including for bioenergy—California can reduce pollution while getting more value out of the work already underway to protect our forests and communities. The bill does not require any new bioenergy procurement and does not put costs on energy ratepayers.
“When we clear out forest fuels to protect our communities, we need to have a good plan for what happens to that material,” concluded Aguiar-Curry. “AB 706 helps us put that biomass to good use, cut pollution, and keep our forests healthier and safer—without putting the bill on our California ratepayers.”
Supporters of the bill had this to say about the California State Legislature’s passage of AB 706:
“California has made real progress in wildfire prevention, forest health, and post-fire recovery, but biomass utilization has remained a missing piece of that strategy. AB 706 finally begins to close that gap,” said President and CEO Matt Dias, California Forestry Association (Calforests). "This bill creates a path to put that forest biomass to productive use rather than leaving it in piles that perpetuate wildfire risk. We thank Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry for her leadership and urge Governor Newsom to sign AB 706.”
“In addition to wildfire prevention and the many environmental benefits AB 706 will be enabling, the utilization of biomass waste to create renewable, baseload energy that provides grid reliability is an absolute win-win situation for California,” said Pioneer Community Energy’s Chief Operating Officer Sam Kang. "We would like to thank Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry for her leadership in creating a solution to help solve important issues for the state."
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Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry represents California’s 4th Assembly District, which includes all of Lake, Colusa, Napa, and Yolo Counties, and part of Sonoma County. She serves as the Assembly Majority Leader and Chair of the California Women’s Legislative Caucus.
