Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) Eligibility Guidebook, Tenth Edition
Summary
SCH Number
2025121123
Public Agency
California Energy Commission
Document Title
Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) Eligibility Guidebook, Tenth Edition
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
12/24/2025
Document Description
The Renewables Portfolio Standard Eligibility Guidebook (RPS Guidebook or guidebook) describes the eligibility requirements and process for certifying eligible renewable energy resources for California’s Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) and describes the process used to verify compliance with the RPS. California’s RPS has a target of obtaining 60 percent of the state’s electricity from eligible renewable energy resources by 2030.
The Renewables Portfolio Standard Eligibility Guidebook, Tenth Edition includes amendments clarifying various existing requirements. These clarifications do not result in any changes to how the RPS program is currently administered. Additional amendments establish new eligibility criteria and reporting requirements pursuant to existing authority, as well as address changes in the law. While the amendments to the guidebook result in changes to certification requirements for electrical generation facilities as eligible renewable energy resources—including expanding RPS eligibility to include linear generators—the amendments do not require development of new generation facilities in the state, nor result in changes to existing facilities. Further, even if the amendments incentivize the development of new generation facilities, they would only encourage the development of renewable energy facilities that would benefit the environment by improving air quality and decreasing reliance on fossil fuels. Therefore, no significant adverse environmental impacts have been identified as resulting from this action. For these reasons, adoption of the amendments to the CEC’s regulations is not subject to CEQA under the Common-Sense exemption of CCR, Title 14, section 15061(b)(3).
Contact Information
Name
Alec Patrick Coyne
Agency Name
California Energy Commission
Job Title
Associate Energy Specialist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Sacramento
Counties
Sacramento
Regions
Statewide
Cross Streets
7th Street and P Street
Zip
95814
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
CCR, Title 14, Sections 15307 and 15308
Reasons for Exemption
The approval of the guidebook was undertaken in furtherance of the RPS program goal to increase the amount of renewable energy to 60 percent of load serving entities’ retail sales by 2030. The amendments to the guidebook clarify existing requirements and develop new eligibility criteria and reporting requirements in furtherance of the RPS program and assure the maintenance, restoration, or enhancement of one or more natural resources, as well as the maintenance, restoration, enhancement, or protection of the environment. Further, none of the exceptions to exemptions listed in CCR, Title 14, section 15300.2 apply to this project. Additionally, no unusual circumstances have been identified that could lead to the reasonable possibility that the activity will have a significant effect on the environment.