Governor Newsom Signs Climate Measures

  • by ACWA Staff
  • Sep 16, 2022
  • Water News

MARE ISLAND – Today, California enacted some of the nation’s most aggressive climate measures in history as Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a sweeping package of legislation to cut pollution, protect Californians from big polluters, and accelerate the state’s transition to clean energy, according to a news release from the governor’s press office.

The list of signed bills announced in the release includes SB 1205 by Sen. Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) regarding water rights and appropriation. ACWA supported the bill, which will direct the State Water Resources Control Board to promulgate regulations related to developing a water availability analysis as part of the water rights application process.

SB 1205 will improve the process by establishing a uniform methodology for calculating water available for appropriation. ACWA successfully obtained amendments to specify that the regulations will not apply to current water right holders and that the development of regulations will not delay pending water right applications.

The package of bills was part of a larger drive on answering climate change. Newsom partnered with legislative leaders to advance measures toward achieving carbon neutrality no later than 2045 and 90% clean energy by 2035.  It is an essential piece of the California Climate Commitment, a record $54 billion investment in climate action that exceeds what most countries are spending and advances economic opportunity and environmental justice in communities across the state, according to the release.

“This month has been a wake-up call for all of us that later is too late to act on climate change. California isn’t waiting any more,” Newsom stated in the release. “Together with the Legislature, California is taking the most aggressive action on climate our nation has ever seen. We’re cleaning the air we breathe, holding the big polluters accountable, and ushering in a new era for clean energy. That’s climate action done the California Way – and we’re not only doubling down, we’re just getting started.”

With multiple oil refineries in the distance, the governor signed the legislation alongside legislative leaders at the USDA Forest Service Regional Office on Mare Island, a facility powered by clean energy that also feeds the grid.

“Our state has been facing extreme temperatures, putting our communities, especially our most vulnerable neighbors, at risk. We’re also continuing to deal with an historic drought and the ongoing threat of wildfires. The challenges of climate change are here, and this Legislative session, we took bold action to address these severe conditions and mitigate future risk both through our state budget and key legislation,” said Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego). “We established ambitious and necessary goals to reduce carbon emission and increase renewable energy. We provided the tools industry needs to capture and store carbon before it hits the atmosphere. And we invested in critical infrastructure programs that will keep us firmly planted on the path to a greener future, while simultaneously creating jobs that will support families across the state. California has, and will continue to, lead the nation on not only addressing the worsening climate crisis, but finding proactive solutions.”

View the news release online for a complete list of the bills. The full text of the bills is available at http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.

Suggested Resources

15 RESOURCES prev next
Proposed Making Conservation a California Way of Life Regulation Comment Letter

Agency: State Water Resources Control Board Subject: Comment Letter – Proposed Making Conservation a California Way of Life Regulation Letter excerpt: […]

2023 Year In Review

ACWA’s “2023 Year in Review” outlines ACWA’s advocacy wins, awards and services provided to members, as well as events and […]

Groundwater Awareness Week 2024 Toolkit

ACWA encourages member agencies to participate in National Groundwater Awareness Week March 10-16 to raise the public’s awareness of groundwater […]

Dam Safety Fact Sheet

ACWA, along with the California Municipal Utilities Association and California Alliance for Jobs, has released a Dam Safety Fact Sheet, […]

Making Conservation a CA Way of Life Fact Sheet – January 2024

  ACWA’s Making Conservation a California Way of Life Fact Sheet provides a summary of the State Water Board’s draft regulatory […]

Comment Letter on Sacramento/Delta Draft Staff Report

Agency: State Water Resources Control Board Subject: Comment Letter – Sacramento/Delta Draft Staff Report Letter excerpt: The Association of California Water […]

Comments on Proposed Updates to the Drinking Water Cost Assessment Model

Agency: State Water Resources Control Board Subject: Proposed Updates to the Drinking Water Cost Assessment Model: Other Essential Infrastructure, Admin Needs, […]

Draft White Paper: Proposed Updates for the 2024 Drinking Water Needs Assessment

Agency: State Water Resources Control Board Subject: Draft White Paper Discussion On: Proposed Updates for the 2024 Drinking Water Needs Assessment […]

Division of Drinking Water Reporting Toolkit

Sorry, but only ACWA members have permission to view this content. Member login is required.

ACWA 2023 Fall Conference Presentations

Presentations from ACWA’s 2023 Fall Conference & Expo held November 28-30 in Indian Wells are available below. Please note that […]

Request for Extension of Public Comment Period for Lead and Copper Rule Improvements

Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Subject: USEPA Lead and Copper Rule Improvements EPA-HQ-OW-2022-0801 – Request for Extension of Public Comment Period […]

Joint Comment Letter Regarding Proposed Hexavalent Chromium MCL

Agency: State Water Resources Control Board Subject: Joint Comment Letter regarding Proposed Hexavalent Chromium Maximum Contaminant Level and Addendum to the […]

2024 ACWA Scholarship Toolkit

Sorry, but only ACWA members have permission to view this content. Member login is required.

ACWA 2023 Fall Conference Attorney Programs

Presentations from the Attorney Programs held during ACWA’s 2023 Fall Conference & Expo Nov. 28-30 in Indian Wells are available […]

Motion to Consider Renewal of the Electric Program Investment Charge Program

Agency: California Public Utilities Commission Subject: A.19-10-005: Order Instituting Rulemaking on the Commission’s Own Motion to Consider Renewal of the Electric […]

Suggested News

15 Articles prev next
Creative Vehicle Wrap Contest Highlights Water Education

MANTECA – With over 150 submissions, South San Joaquin Irrigation District’s (SSJID) “Watering the Roots of Our Community” art contest […]

Crowfoot to Deliver Spring Conference Welcoming Keynote

ACWA has announced that California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot will deliver the Wednesday welcoming keynote address during the ACWA […]

Much-Needed Water Improvements Coming to Nearby Disadvantaged Communities

BEAUMONT – Through its successful gap funding program, San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency (SGPWA) supports South Mesa Water Company (SMWC) […]

MSWD Announces New Strategic Plan and Appointment AGM

Mission Springs Water District is proud to unveil its new strategic plan, which outlines a comprehensive roadmap for enhancing operations and […]

Forecasted SWP Allocation Doubles

SACRAMENTO – The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today announced a second increase in the State Water Project (SWP) allocation forecast for […]

Legislation to Ease Water Conservation Mandates Gains Regional Support

In a significant move aimed at alleviating the financial strain on water suppliers and households, Walnut Valley Water District (WVWD), […]

Planning Grant Awarded to NID and Tahoe National Forest for Management Project

GRASS VALLEY – The Nevada Irrigation District (NID), in partnership with the USDA Forest Service, Tahoe National Forest, has received […]

EMWD Upgraded to AAA Credit Rating

PERRIS — Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD)’s commitment to financial excellence has been recognized when it received another AAA credit […]

EMWD Receives National Honor for Recycled Water Outreach Program

PERRIS — Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) received national recognition for its recycled water outreach and education program when it […]

ACWA Members Urged to Contact Representatives to Extend NPDES Permit Term Lengths

ACWA is urging member agencies to contact their representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives in time for a March […]

State Water Board Holds Workshop on Revised Draft Regulation for Water Use Efficiency

SACRAMENTO – The State Water Resources Control Board today held a workshop on the revised draft regulation for Making Conservation […]

Funding Secured for Rancho Water Infrastructure Projects

TEMECULA— With the recent release of the first package of the Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations bills, the Rancho California Water […]

JCSD Honors Congressman Takano with Local Leader of the Year Award

JURUPA VALLEY – The Jurupa Community Services District (JCSD) honored Congressman Mark Takano with its Local Leader of the Year […]

Sacramento-Area Water Providers Harnessed Historic 2023 Storms to Boost Groundwater Levels

Sacramento-area water providers leveraged the historic winter storms of 2023 to boost groundwater levels through in-lieu recharge, banking over 12.3 […]

City of Folsom Kicks Off Water Vision Project

Folsom’s Environmental and Water Resources Department is continuing its planning effort to guide the management of the city’s water resources […]