CA AB625

Establishes the Forest Biomass Waste Utilization Program administered by the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection's Joint Institute for Wood Products Innovation to develop implementation plans and workforce training programs for beneficial use of forest biomass waste from fire mitigation and forest restoration activities.

Requires the State Board to submit annual reports to the Legislature beginning January 1, 2025, on progress implementing the biomass utilization plan in coordination with the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force.

Directs the Energy Commission to prepare a report by December 31, 2024, evaluating innovative bioenergy technologies using forest biomass waste and to assess forest biomass waste energy's potential to provide firm renewable power in the 2025 integrated energy policy report.

Requires the State Air Resources Board to include in its December 31, 2025 greenhouse gas emissions report a methodology to quantify emissions from wildfire, pile burning, and forest management activities, including short-lived climate pollutants.

Requires the Public Utilities Commission to continue the Bioenergy Market Adjusting Tariff (BioMAT) program until community choice aggregator participation provisions are fully implemented and adequate time is provided for their participation.