A California senate committee voted unanimously in favor of the Pathways bill, bringing the Golden State closer to allowing CAISO to cede oversight of its energy markets to an independent RO.

The report, a requirement of California Senate Bill 605, evaluated two forms of ocean energy: wave and tidal energy.

California senators heard arguments for and against the West-Wide Governance Pathways Initiative, with some lawmakers voicing concerns about guardrails against market manipulation and what the effort means for the state's autonomy to set its own policies.

The language for the proposed bill to implement “Step 2” of the West-Wide Governance Pathways Initiative stipulates the conditions under which CAISO and California utilities can participate in energy markets governed by an independent regional organization.

California state lawmakers introduced a much-anticipated bill to implement “Step 2” of the West-Wide Governance Pathways Initiative, marking a significant step toward the creation of a new independent “regional organization” to oversee governance of CAISO’s markets.

California lawmakers may consider extending the state’s landmark cap-and-trade program, following a request from Gov. Gavin Newsom in his 2025/26 budget proposal.

The California governor is convening a special session of the state legislature to take steps “to safeguard California values” — including the fight against climate change — ahead of president-elect Donald Trump’s second term.

A representative of one of the staunchest opponents of past efforts to transform CAISO into an RTO said his labor union plans to sponsor the legislation needed to implement the “Step 2” proposal of the West-Wide Governance Pathways Initiative.