CA AB615

Requires applications for power facility certification to include an emergency response and action plan that addresses impacts to surrounding areas and is coordinated with local emergency management agencies, unified program agencies, and local first response agencies

Mandates that applicants pay for the emergency response and action plans for both thermal powerplants and energy storage systems

Requires energy storage system applications to include emergency response plans with analysis and feedback from local emergency management agencies, which may recommend greater setbacks for proposed facilities

Energy storage systems submitting applications after January 1, 2026 must comply with setback requirements at least as protective as the most recently published NFPA 855 (Standard for the Installation of Stationary Energy Storage Systems)

Removes previous application requirements for detailed descriptions of electrical transmission line routes, maps, justifications, and environmental impact descriptions