California lawmakers on Wednesday approved Gov. Gavin Newsom’s infrastructure package that aims to make it easier and faster to build renewable energy, water and transportation projects in the state. The State Senate gave the bills the final stamp of approval with bipartisan support on most of the measures. The package of bills aims to cut down on the process, paperwork and litigation time for infrastructure projects that are subject to California’s Environmental Quality Act. (Video player above: Gavin Newsom spends Fourth of July week out of state campaigning)Critics of California’s environmental laws have said they are weaponized to slow down or halt projects. The cornerstone piece of the legislation limits the amount of time certain projects can be tied up in court to 270 days. “Historic drought, massive flooding and dangerous energy grid blackouts have offered insight into the consequences regulatory gridlock creates for our communities,” said State Senator Anna Caballero, D-Merced. “The thoughtful changes were drafted to not only ensure our state’s climate goals but ensure public safety and a better future for our constituents.”State Senator Henry Stern, D-Calabasas, said the legislature should consider adding additional projects to fast-track, including other energy and wildfire mitigation projects. “I don’t think this is a perfect bill, and I do think there’s actually a lot more work that needs to get done, on CEQA reform even, I truly believe we need to go further,” Stern said. | MORE | Assembly moves forward with most of Newsom’s plan to build infrastructure projects faster, easierAnother piece of the package eases protections for dozens of wildlife species, allowing the Department of Fish and Wildlife to issue permits for projects that may impact species deemed “protected,” so long as the project meets certain conditions and does not jeopardize the existence of the species. Republican lawmakers in the Senate spoke out against this part of the plan. “It disturbs me that we’re going to take all of these species off the fully protected species list so that a company can further the green ideology that comes out of this building and the federal government, to install wind farms and allow them to kill the bald or golden eagles along with all these other species,” said State Senator Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield. “This is a vicious circle.”Democrats rebuffed Grove’s claims, noting companies need to plan to prevent negative impacts on certain species. Another measure allows the California Department of Transportation and the Department of Water Resources to use what’s known as the progressive design-build method for some projects, meaning the design and construction of a project are provided by a single contractor. The plan also requires CalTrans to earmark $50 million of federal funds over the next four years to support the state’s high road construction careers program. Lawmakers have said this is meant to provide greater inclusion and equity in employment for women, veterans, and others who come from economically disadvantaged areas.Newsom’s administration has said streamlining parts of the permitting process would help speed up $180 billion in projects. Lawmakers and the governor have specifically excluded water projects that involve seawater desalination and the controversial Delta conveyance project. | WATCH | Takeaways from California’s approved budget for 2023-2024The infrastructure package was fast-tracked through the state’s budget process, and the plan, introduced weeks ago by Newsom, became the most contentious part of the budget negotiations. Multiple sources said his initial attempt to include the Delta conveyance project as well as concerns about how the overall plan would impact disadvantaged communities were major sticking points. Republican lawmakers, who have said they support the governor’s overall goal, want to see more projects included in the streamlining effort, including housing and wildfire prevention. Newsom has said fast-tracking energy, water and other infrastructure plans in California will make the projects more attractive for competitive federal dollars.In a statement on Wednesday the governor said in part, “Thanks to our partners in the Legislature, we’re about to embark on a clean construction boom that maximizes the unprecedented funding available from the Biden-Harris Administration. I look forward to signing these bills to build California’s clean future, faster.”The governor is expected to sign the infrastructure package next week when he returns to California.
California lawmakers on Wednesday approved Gov. Gavin Newsom’s infrastructure package that aims to make it easier and faster to build renewable energy, water and transportation projects in the state.
The State Senate gave the bills the final stamp of approval with bipartisan support on most of the measures.
The package of bills aims to cut down on the process, paperwork and litigation time for infrastructure projects that are subject to California’s Environmental Quality Act.
(Video player above: Gavin Newsom spends Fourth of July week out of state campaigning)
Critics of California’s environmental laws have said they are weaponized to slow down or halt projects. The cornerstone piece of the legislation limits the amount of time certain projects can be tied up in court to 270 days.
“Historic drought, massive flooding and dangerous energy grid blackouts have offered insight into the consequences regulatory gridlock creates for our communities,” said State Senator Anna Caballero, D-Merced. “The thoughtful changes were drafted to not only ensure our state’s climate goals but ensure public safety and a better future for our constituents.”
State Senator Henry Stern, D-Calabasas, said the legislature should consider adding additional projects to fast-track, including other energy and wildfire mitigation projects.
“I don’t think this is a perfect bill, and I do think there’s actually a lot more work that needs to get done, on CEQA reform even, I truly believe we need to go further,” Stern said.
| MORE | Assembly moves forward with most of Newsom’s plan to build infrastructure projects faster, easier
Another piece of the package eases protections for dozens of wildlife species, allowing the Department of Fish and Wildlife to issue permits for projects that may impact species deemed “protected,” so long as the project meets certain conditions and does not jeopardize the existence of the species.
Republican lawmakers in the Senate spoke out against this part of the plan.
“It disturbs me that we’re going to take all of these species off the fully protected species list so that a company can further the green ideology that comes out of this building and the federal government, to install wind farms and allow them to kill the bald or golden eagles along with all these other species,” said State Senator Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield. “This is a vicious circle.”
Democrats rebuffed Grove’s claims, noting companies need to plan to prevent negative impacts on certain species.
Another measure allows the California Department of Transportation and the Department of Water Resources to use what’s known as the progressive design-build method for some projects, meaning the design and construction of a project are provided by a single contractor.
The plan also requires CalTrans to earmark $50 million of federal funds over the next four years to support the state’s high road construction careers program. Lawmakers have said this is meant to provide greater inclusion and equity in employment for women, veterans, and others who come from economically disadvantaged areas.
Newsom’s administration has said streamlining parts of the permitting process would help speed up $180 billion in projects. Lawmakers and the governor have specifically excluded water projects that involve seawater desalination and the controversial Delta conveyance project.
| WATCH | Takeaways from California’s approved budget for 2023-2024
The infrastructure package was fast-tracked through the state’s budget process, and the plan, introduced weeks ago by Newsom, became the most contentious part of the budget negotiations.
Multiple sources said his initial attempt to include the Delta conveyance project as well as concerns about how the overall plan would impact disadvantaged communities were major sticking points.
Republican lawmakers, who have said they support the governor’s overall goal, want to see more projects included in the streamlining effort, including housing and wildfire prevention.
Newsom has said fast-tracking energy, water and other infrastructure plans in California will make the projects more attractive for competitive federal dollars.
In a statement on Wednesday the governor said in part, “Thanks to our partners in the Legislature, we’re about to embark on a clean construction boom that maximizes the unprecedented funding available from the Biden-Harris Administration. I look forward to signing these bills to build California’s clean future, faster.”
The governor is expected to sign the infrastructure package next week when he returns to California.
