Oil and Tech Money Back Measure to Limit California Environmental Law
Oil, tech and utility backers have poured millions into the measure, which would speed approvals for housing and infrastructure projects.
- Proposition 45 proposes streamlining the California Environmental Quality Act to accelerate construction for housing and infrastructure projects, aiming to "cut bureaucratic red tape and unnecessary delays."
- For decades, developers have argued the half-century-old environmental law allows opponents to stall projects through endless analysis demands; despite recent legislative reforms, barriers to urban housing remain.
- Major corporations have poured millions into the campaign, with Google co-founder Sergey Brin contributing $10 million, Pacific Gas & Electric Co. giving $2.3 million, and Sempra providing $1 million.
- Jordan Grimes, legislative director with Greenbelt Alliance, argues the measure is "a doubling down on essentially 75 years of land-use patterns that we know haven't worked," while Woody Little claims the real agenda involves facilitating polluting projects.
- Projects deemed "essential" would face a 365-day review clock under the proposal; while excluding new oil and gas production, the measure includes provisions for carbon dioxide pipelines spanning the Central Valley.
17 Articles
17 Articles
Prop 45 Sparks Fierce Debate Over California Environmental Law Overhaul
California voters are weighing Proposition 45, a high-stakes ballot measure proposing major reforms to the state’s 56-year-old environmental quality act. The Press Democrat reports the initiative would trim regulations and establish strict time limits for environmental studies
Cal Matters
Why are pro-housing groups split on Proposition 45?
Proposition 45 is intended to make it easier to build. But some pro-housing groups think it will create sprawl, which they don't like.
Hanford Sentinel
Prop. 45 seeks to rewrite state environmental law. Here’s why San Diegans should care
Proponents and opponents of the ballot proposition that would rewrite the state’s environmental law to expedite the review of so-called essential housing and infrastructure projects agree on one thing: The future of California is on the line. The existential nature…
California has already streamlined CEQA. Proposition 45 goes too far.
California needs more housing and infrastructure, but Proposition 45 goes too far, write environmental and conservation leaders Sarah Newkirk, Chris Wilmers and Noelle Chambers. The measure would weaken CEQA’s environmental protections, limit public and tribal input and make it harder for courts to overturn flawed project approvals, they write. They insist that recent reforms need time to work and that building faster shouldn’t mean ignoring wil…
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