Capitol Voice November 2022

By Brandon Dawson

Votes are still being tallied but so far, the 2022 election resulted in voters sending over 20 new legislators to Sacramento for the 2023-24 legislative session. That number is expected to increase as vote totals are finalized.

These new legislators include Sierra Club California-endorsed candidates in key races, such as Christy Holstege in AD 47. The district encompasses parts of Riverside and San Bernardino counties, and has historically been represented by Asm. Chad Mayes. Mayes, who chose not to run for reelection, has received a failing Sierra Club legislative report card score every year he has been in the legislature. Having a Sierra Club California backed candidate representing this seat, instead of an “independent” who always votes against the environment, will be a much needed improvement for the Assembly.

Another Sierra Club California-endorsed candidate we’ll be seeing in Sacramento is Liz Ortega from AD 20. Ortega is a labor leader representing parts of the East Bay, and will be taking over from Dr. Bill Quirk, who is termed out. A first time assemblymember, we’re looking forward to tapping into Ortega’s experience as a labor leader as we work to ensure the transition to clean energy includes good paying green jobs. 

In the Senate, Sierra Club California-endorsed Caroline Menjivar is ahead of her opponent, Daniel Hertzberg, for a seat representing part of Los Angeles County. Hertzberg is the son of the seat’s incumbent, Sen. Robert Hertzberg. We’re also excited to work with Senator-elect Lola Smallwood-Cuevas. She will be representing SD 28, a district in southern Los Angeles currently represented by Sydney Kamlager (who won her election for congress). 

We’re still tracking two Senate races that are too close to call. One is SD 10, encompassing parts of Alameda and Santa Clara counties, where Sierra Club endorsee Aisha Wahab is trailing her opponent by less than 300 votes. The other race is SD 38, which covers parts of Orange and San Diego counties, and where our endorsed candidate, Catherine Bakespear, is ahead by over 4000 votes. 

All of the tallies are as of the time writing, Friday, November 11th. For information on and links to all election results in California, visit the Secretary of State’s website at https://electionresults.sos.ca.gov/. 

We’re looking forward to working with these endorsed candidates and other legislators on protecting the environment and preserving public health in next year’s legislative session. Sierra Club California and its allies will be working tirelessly to ensure these elected officials vote with the environment and uphold the values of the environmental and environmental justice communities.

 

By Daniel Barad

Last month, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) held its first of two hearings on the Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) rule. This regulation will require medium- and heavy-duty truck fleet owners to purchase a minimum number of zero-emission vehicles. 

The ACF rule builds on the Advanced Clean Trucks rule which was passed in June of 2020 and requires manufacturers to make a minimum number of zero- emission trucks. These two rules will go a long way towards implementing the governor’s executive order calling for 100% of trucks on California’s roads to be zero-emission by 2045.

The Board asked staff to consider strengthening the rule by accelerating the zero-emission sales target from 2040 to 2036, and lowering the size of the fleets covered by the rule from 50 to 10. If staff make these changes, the stronger rule will reduce massive amounts of additional greenhouse gas emissions and smog-forming NOx emissions . It will also save thousands more lives and provide billions of dollars of health benefits.

The Board’s direction came after years of advocacy from Sierra Club California, environmental justice and environmental groups, labor organizations, and business interests. At the hearing, 150 members of the public gave comments to CARB, including many residents of impacted communities who traveled from all over the state to testify before the Board. 

In addition to the chorus of voices calling for breathable air and a liveable climate, a few representatives from the oil, gas, biofuel, and trucking industries complained about the life-saving rule. Luckily, most Board members were not swayed by these polluting interests, and instead sided with the communities whose air these industries are poisoning.

Many of you stepped up and asked CARB to strengthen the rule ahead of last month’s hearing. However, there is a long road ahead before CARB will officially consider adopting the ACF rule in the Spring of 2023. Polluting interests are not giving up, so neither can we.

Keep an eye on your inbox for additional opportunities to help  pass a rule that will get combustion trucks off our roads once and for all. 
 

The Public Comment Period for the Draft Delta Tunnel EIR Is Ending Soon. Make Your Voice Heard!

By Molly Culton

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) has extended the public comment and review period for the draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Delta tunnel project to December 16, 2022.

Since the comment period began in July, Sierra Club California staff and volunteers are in the process of writing comments on the EIR, and we need your help! Take action and submit your comment to DWR by signing our petition.

The proposed Delta tunnel project involves constructing new water intake facilities on the Sacramento River in the north Delta and a single tunnel that would divert freshwater flows before they are able to reach the Delta. The water would be shipped to large farming operations and water wholesalers south of the Delta. The tunnel would have a capacity to divert up to 6,000 cubic feet per second of water. The project is estimated to cost between $16-40 billion - paid for by taxpayers - and won’t be completed until at least 2042.

The draft EIR examines the environmental impacts associated with the construction and operation of the Delta tunnel. The document is nearly 20,000 pages long and has 39 chapters. Sierra Club California and other water activists  have been reviewing chapters relating to transportation, utilities, energy, air quality, greenhouse gasses, climate change, and environmental justice impacts of the proposed Delta tunnel project.

If you would like to help Sierra Club CA staff in writing and submitting comments, please contact Molly.Culton@sierraclub.org or Caty.Wagner@sierraclub.org and provide your input by December 1st.

Read more about our campaign to stop the Delta tunnel and join our Stop the Delta Tunnel Facebook group for timely updates and ways you can take action.

By Erin Woolley

California is ramping up efforts to deliver on its commitment to protect 30% of lands and coastal waters by 2030. Sierra Club California has been involved throughout this process, providing feedback on CNRA’s planning process and advocating for our 30x30 priorities. 

Now is the time to join us in helping California meet its conservation goals!

In April, the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) released the final “Pathways to 30x30” report, which will guide California’s conservation efforts through 2030. The final Pathways document provides a solid framework and initial steps to advance 30x30 efforts, but there is still a lot of work to be done to develop the specifics of implementation. CNRA has since moved forward and announced the new 30x30 Coordinating Committee, which will help CNRA share information about 30x30, elevate local and regional opportunities, and foster coordination of ongoing efforts. 

In September, CNRA hosted a 30x30 kickoff event in September to launch the 30x30 Partnership as a space for environmental groups and leaders to communicate and share knowledge, best practices, and opportunities for progress towards 30x30. Throughout the fall,  CNRA has been hosting a Virtual Expo Series for the public to learn more about 30x30 programs, funding, and available resources. We will be watching to ensure that CNRA is able to build upon the ideas in the Pathways report, and deliver on its commitments to biodiversity, conservation, and equity in the implementation process. 

Achieving 30x30 will require significant and consistent investments over the next seven years. In August, the Legislature and the Governor finalized this year’s budget, which includes funding for 30x30 related programs, including land acquisition and community capacity-building. Among other investments, the State appropriated $245 million for the Wildlife Conservation Board to support planning, acquisition, and restoration projects, $120 million for various state conservancies, and $100 million for a Tribal Nature-based Solutions Program. 

Additionally, AB 2278 (Kalra) was signed into law in September. The bill  creates an accountability mechanism requiring CNRA to report on the progress made towards achieving 30x30, including the number of acres conserved, the funds spent on 30x30 projects and programs, and the progress made to advance equity as part of 30x30 in the prior year. Sierra Club activists participated in in-district meetings over the summer to advocate in support of AB 2278 and other legislative priorities. 

This year’s budget is just the first step for 30x30. If California is going to achieve this ambitious goal, a consistent source of funding will be required in the coming years to support additional science and research, acquisition, restoration, and ongoing stewardship and monitoring of conserved lands. We will continue to track the budget and legislative processes to ensure that the State  elevates 30x30 and provides the resources required for its success.

The Sierra Club 30x30 Task Force volunteers and local chapters have been busy working to identify and support conservation projects that contribute to 30x30 goals, advocate for Sierra Club’s 30x30 priorities at the local, regional, and state governments, and educate members of the public and officials about 30x30. The 30x30 initiative is a major opportunity to uplift local and regional conservation priorities, improve access to nature, and stop ongoing harms to California’s ecosystems. You can get involved with local 30x30 efforts by connecting with your chapter, or with the statewide campaign by signing up on our 30x30 webpage!

As a reminder, there will be no Capitol Voice in December, as the Sierra Club California staff will be out on Holiday. From all of us to you, we hope you have a restful 2022 Holiday Season!