CA SB1297

Energy Commission shall develop a plan as part of the 2023 Integrated Energy Policy Report to advance low-carbon building materials and construction methods, including evaluation of embodied carbon reduction potential and barriers to implementation.

State Air Resources Board shall develop an accounting protocol to quantify embodied carbon and carbon sequestration in building materials including cement, concrete, lumber, cross-laminated timber, and steel.

Natural Resources Agency shall incorporate projects using low-embodied carbon building materials into the California Carbon Sequestration and Climate Resiliency Project Registry following adoption of the accounting protocol.

Public agencies shall prefer use of low-embodied carbon building materials in bid specifications for public projects when determined feasible and cost effective by the agency, with additional preference for materials produced in California.

Office of Planning and Research shall evaluate when low-embodied carbon building materials qualify as acceptable mitigation measures under the California Environmental Quality Act.