SACRAMENTO, CA — Today, California Environmental Voters (EnviroVoters) released the following statement on Governor Gavin Newsom’s announcement of permitting and project review reforms. The legislative package is made up of 11 budget trailer bills and an executive order to shorten the contracting process for bridge and water projects and limit timelines for California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) litigation.

Statement from Mike Young, Political and Organizing Director, California Environmental Voters:

“In the face of the climate crisis, swift and decisive action is imperative. We must expeditiously replace dirty fossil fuel energy to mitigate catastrophe and safeguard communities from the dangers of toxic pollution. Our very lives and the future are at stake.

Recognizing the need to expedite clean energy project implementation, we must explore both the front and back end opportunities for efficiency, while maintaining community engagement, environmental review, and safeguarding biodiversity. By addressing front-end solutions, such as siting and permitting processes, we can prevent unnecessary delays and ensure timely project completion. At the same time, we acknowledge the Governor’s interest in identifying back end changes to further expedite our clean energy transition.

We are reviewing the Governor’s proposal to accelerate infrastructure projects – which go beyond just clean energy – and express concern regarding the specifics pertaining to water infrastructure. The magnitude of these policies are massive and moving them through the budget process, which is exclusive and opaque, does not offer public forum and transparency. We call on the Governor to move these proposals through the necessary legislative process to ensure any policy aimed at expediting infrastructure projects aligns with California’s unwavering commitment to community engagement and environmental protections.”

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CONTACT:

Erika Guzman Cornejo

310-755-1615

erika@envirovoters.org

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California Environmental Voters (formerly the California League of Conservation Voters) believes the climate crisis is here and this moment requires transformative change. California has the policy solutions to stop climate change but lacks the political will to do it at the rate and scale that’s necessary. EnviroVoters exists to build the political power to solve the climate crisis, advance justice, and create a roadmap for global action. We organize voters, elect and train candidates, and hold lawmakers accountable for bold policy change. We won’t stop until we have resilient, healthy, thriving communities, and a democracy and economy that is just and sustainable for all. Join us at www.envirovoters.org and on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. See more press releases.

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