Among the long list of initiatives for the governor’s approval were measures to reduce air pollution by 60 percent and cut the state’s oil consumption by 91 percent over the next two decades, according to the governor’s office. In the same time frame, the bills aim to save California $23 billion by avoiding pollution damage, reduce fossil fuel use in buildings and transportation by 92 percent, and reduce refinery pollution by 94 percent. “We could talk about the way the world should be and protest about it, or we could actually make progress — and we took the latter approach here,” Newsom said at a news conference Friday morning on Mare Island. in Solano County northeast of San. Francis. “As a result, there is no other jurisdiction in the world — think about it — that does what the state of California does,” the governor added. Newsom signed the slate of bills with the politicians who authored them in front of the U.S. Forest Service Regional Office, which is powered by clean energy and provides electricity to the grid. Advancing the bills is “an essential part” of the California governor’s climate commitment — a $54 billion action plan aimed at creating 4 million jobs, according to Newsom’s office. The governor described the step as “the most aggressive climate action our nation has ever seen,” in a statement released before the signing. “We’re cleaning up the air we breathe, holding big polluters accountable and ushering in a new era for clean energy,” Newsom said in the statement. California state lawmakers passed many of the controversial bills just two weeks ago as their legislative session wrapped up amid a brutal heat wave, The Hill reported. Among the bills Newsom signed Friday — six of more than 40 in a broad climate package — was SB 1020, which focuses on building a clean electricity grid. SB 1020 would require 90 percent of California’s electricity to come from clean energy sources by 2035 and 95 percent by 2040 — intermediate goals for a 100 percent 2045 goal. In addition, all electricity supplied for government agencies must come from clean energy by 2035, according to the bill. Another key bill that became law was SB 1137, which would ban oil drilling within 3,200 feet of places where residents live, work and learn. The bill also ensures that there are comprehensive pollution controls for existing oil wells already within 3,200 feet of such facilities. A bill focused on carbon neutrality, AB 1279, establishes “a clear, legally binding and achievable goal” urging carbon neutrality as soon as possible, but no later than 2045, according to the governor’s office. AB 1279 also sets an 85 percent emissions reduction goal for that year and a 40 percent reduction goal for 2030, compared to 1990 levels. SB 905 and SB 1314 focus on the development of carbon capture and sequestration technologies, which aim to remove carbon dioxide produced by power plants from the atmosphere and permanently store it. The bills establish a regulatory framework for the advancement of these emerging technologies, while also banning the injection of carbon dioxide into wells — a practice that boosts oil recovery. AB 1757 focuses on nature, requiring the state to develop an achievable carbon removal target for natural and working lands, according to the governor’s office. “I think people are waking up,” Newsom said at Friday’s news conference. “There is this wonderful awakening – because if you don’t believe in science, you have to believe in your eyes.” Although environmental groups largely applauded the passage of these bills, some groups expressed disappointment that some measures did not win legislative approval. For example, a proposal to establish stricter emissions reduction goals passed the state Senate but failed to make it in the Assembly. Another item that faced significant backlash was a bill Newsom signed into law earlier this month — SB 846 — which extended the life of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant. While Newsom argued that expanding operations would ensure a reliable, carbon-free power supply as the state transitions to renewable energy, environmental groups have questioned both the safety and financial risks associated with the move. Despite these disagreements, both Newsom and state lawmakers stressed the importance of taking collaborative, swift action to solve the climate crisis. DeSantis to campaign with Ron Johnson, GOP HHS gubernatorial nominee to repeal universal coverage requirements for Head Start beneficiaries “This legislative session, we took bold steps to address these serious conditions and mitigate future risk both through our state budget and through our core legislation,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins (D) in a statement. Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D) expressed his satisfaction that lawmakers were able to come together and “enact a package like this as a team.” “We’re just getting started,” Renton added.
