CA AB2234

Expands the definition of "geothermal exploratory project" under CEQA to include equipment and activities for establishing interconnectivity between wells and reservoirs, temporary roads, electric distribution lines, and power infrastructure for drilling and testing

Exempts wells connecting to geothermal reservoirs using enhanced techniques (stimulation, horizontal drilling, closed-loop configurations) from the existing half-mile distance requirement from commercial geothermal development wells

Maintains the Geologic Energy Management Division as the lead agency for CEQA review of geothermal exploratory projects, which streamlines environmental permitting

Requires no state appropriation and applies to projects with up to 6 wells whose primary purpose is evaluating geothermal resource presence and characteristics before full field development