CLFP Urges Support for Governor’s Infrastructure Plan

The letter stated that the infrastructure streamlining package is essential to accelerate critical energy, water and transportation infrastructure projects needed to achieve California’s world-leading climate goals while also preparing the economy for the future and creating hundreds of thousands of good-paying, union construction careers.

Combined, these proposals will streamline permitting, cut red tape, reduce time-consuming litigation and make other changes that will take years off of the timeline of projects while saving taxpayers, state and local governments and businesses hundreds of millions of dollars.

“Simply put, our current system is burdened with systemic delays, red tape and roadblocks that make it too difficult to build the critical infrastructure our state needs. We must do better. The Governor’s infrastructure streamlining proposals do just that,” the letter concluded.

Carbon Neutrality

California released the world’s first plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045, an aggressive target that includes unprecedented steps to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from all sectors of the economy, including energy, transportation, agriculture and other industries. Last year, the California Legislature raised the bar again by setting interim goals of 90% zero-carbon electricity sales by 2035 and 95% by 2040.

The Governor’s proposal outlines a path to prioritize and streamline the permitting and construction of modern infrastructure to deliver clean energy. Importantly, the proposal also acknowledges the significant hurdle that project developers face with regards to permitting and construction of critically needed energy projects — and does so in a way that does not jeopardize the environment, jobs or the state’s economy.

As a part of the clean energy infrastructure package, the coalition encouraged the Administration and Legislature to include streamlining project development for hydrogen infrastructure, Carbon Capture Sequestration and Utilization (CCUS) and renewable fuel projects, all of which are needed to help California reach its climate goals and all of which are hindered by excessive environmental review, frivolous litigation, and inefficient ‘green tape.

Initiative Helps with Water Infrastructure Challenges

Also essential for California’s economic success and well-being of Californians is reliable and resilient water infrastructure. The state’s water resources already face numerous challenges, including droughts, import restrictions, aging infrastructure, and growing demand across the state from competing interests.

According to state estimates, without a dedicated effort to improve our infrastructure, California may lose up to 10% of its water supplies over the coming decades. The Governor’s water action plan, released last August, outlines a strategy to capture, recycle, desalinate and conserve more water over the next two decades to provide enough supply for nearly 8.4 million California households.

To achieve this goal, CLFP supports the Governor’s plan to streamline the construction of water infrastructure projects.

Transportation Infrastructure Requires Modernization

As noted by the California Air Resources Board, a wholesale transformation of the transportation sector is vital to meet the state’s proposed GHG emission reduction targets.

Currently, California’s transportation sector accounts for about 40% of the state’s GHG emissions. California can meet its own targets to decarbonize the economy, including addressing transportation’s contributions to GHG emissions, only if the construction of transportation infrastructure (including electric vehicle charging stations, renewable fuels and hydrogen infrastructure) is expedited.