PUB. The bills provisions must be in effect by January 1, 2024. PUB. American Lung Association, State of the Air 2013, at 13 (2013), http://www.lung.org/assets/documents/publications/state-of-the-air/state-of-the-air-report-2013.pdf. Theodore L. Senet - Gibbs Giden Locher Turner Senet & Wittbrodt LLP There are currently five design-build construction contracts planned that could generate a large number of jobs throughout the state. While the Juliana case itself is now final, its legacy remains: Related Juliana-type lawsuits remain pending in courts across the country. 54. Desperate Times Call for Sensible Measures: The Making of the California Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, 9 Golden Gate U . UTILITIES CODE 399.11, et seq. Move LA's mission is to build a broad constituency that will advocate for the development of a robust public transportation system in L.A. County and for prosperous and healthy neighborhoods around. 30. This year the 9th Circuit also maintained its role as the most prodigious source of key environmental decisions of any federal appellate court issuing nearly one per week. Guidance for compliance with SB 375s CEQA requirements is available on the Office of Planning and Researchs website. On Dec. 22, Darrick Lo and Adrienne Lei married at San Francisco City Hall in front of their family, friends and cat, Nina. 50. SB 619 by Senator John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) provides local governments additional paths to meet the climate goals of Californias Short-Lived Climate Pollutant law. Energy retrofits and renovations of municipal and other government buildings present a major economic opportunity for local businesses and public agencies. Under a compromise between the Governor and the Legislature, the Legislature allocated $250 million in cap-and-trade auction revenues for construction of the HSR system under the 2013-14 budget, with a 25% allocation of auction revenues thereafter.55 While a number of legal challenges to the HSR system remain pending, the construction of this system could be a major boost to those California cities that stand to benefit from future HSR routes.56. Waiting in line to be tested for Covid-19 at Ohlone Elementary School in Hercules on Friday. Property Assessed Clean Energy ("PACE") is a financing program that allows property owners to finance energy efficiency improvements and pay for the improvements over time through voluntary annual property tax assessments.19 These improvement costs remain part of the property assessments if the property is ever sold. Over the past decade, California has enacted a comprehensive set of sustainability laws and regulations that are transforming the economy by generating opportunities and funding for renewable energy generation, energy efficiency measures in our buildings, and the implementation of clean transportation programs, which in turn have attracted ventu. There are some federal funds available for energy projects and energy efficiency programs.23 As stated above, most public and investor-owned utilities have programs to assist cities and public agencies. . Following the CCAAs passage in the Senate, the bill will now proceed to the Assembly, before potentially advancing to the Governor, who may sign it into law. Locally sourced power can also increase opportunities for local business and employment. Copyright document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) State of California, Governor NewsomSigns Budget Legislation6.27.23, Governor Newsom Announces Judicial Appointments 6.27.23, Governor Newsom, Senate President pro Tempore Atkins and Assembly Speaker Rendon Issue Statements on Budget Agreement, California Gets Nearly $2 Billion in Federal Funding to Boost High Speed Internet Access, Nations First Gas Price Gouging Law in Effect. The 9th Circuit rejected that claim, declaring the California initiative constitutional and enforceable against out-of-state companies. mandatory water reductions announced in April. California's 2014 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act is a grand policy experiment that provides an unprecedented opportunity to analyze five core concepts in environmental governance: . This citizen suit, brought under the federal Clean Air Act, challenged the Trump administration EPA's conditional approval of a proposed California plan to reduce ozone levels in the San Joaquin Valley, which suffers some of the poorest air quality in the entire U.S. In enforcing CEQA, Attorney General focuses on the need to address those impacts that affect our most vulnerable residents children, the elderly, and people who already are bearing an unfair share of pollution and those impacts that will be particularly felt by our children and grandchildren. The first step is to encourage building owners to measure and benchmark energy use. Following that, we might visit the Grand Lake Farmers Market or visit any of our favorite dim sum spots in Chinatown, before window shopping in the Temescal, or strolling through Rockridge, Piedmont, or the upcoming Laurel. There is always more work ahead, but its also important to reflect and mark the progress weve made. A full list of the bills signed by the Governor is below: For full text of the bills, visit:http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. A rent strike demonstration in front of the entrance of the Los Angeles City Hall in 2020. 5. Get ESG Todays newsletter today! Based on reported data to date. Somewhat remarkably, the 9th Circuit rejected that argument, concluding that the district policy served legitimate business interests and that no equally effective but less discriminatory alternatives were shown to exist. This decision is the latest chapter in long-running federal court litigation over the Walker Riveran interstate river with its source in California's Eastern Sierra that flows east into central Nevada and ultimately into Walker Lake. SB 619 by Senator John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) Organic waste: reduction regulations: local jurisdiction compliance. An Act to Amend Section 73 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, Relating to Taxation, to Take Effect Immediately, Tax Levy, S.B. Evan Halper, Communities Going Into Power Business to Cut Cost, Carbon Footprint, Los Angeles Times, (Sep. 1, 2014), http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-sonoma-power-20140902-story.html. 22. In addition, the Public Utilities Commission requires electric utility corporations to collect a surcharge on ratepayers utility bills to fund renewable energy research and development under the Electric Program Investment Charge ("EPIC") Fund40 administered by the CEC.41 For example, the CEC announced the availability of $26.5 million in grants for projects that incorporate renewable energy resources with energy storage.42 The funds are specifically allocated for microgrid projects tied to critical facilities like hospitals and fire stations, while another allocation is reserved for projects that incorporate a high percentage of renewable energy (up to 100%) to meet a communitys energy load. PUB. The Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act of 2008, also known as Senate Bill 375 or SB 375, is a State of California law targeting greenhouse gas emissions from passenger vehicles. The bill will jump-start Californias process for construction of offshore wind as part of the states clean electricity mix in a manner that doesnt harm fragile marine ecosystems and biodiversity. 38. In addition to energy reduction goals, the executive order also called for a reduction of 20 percent of state water use by 2020 (compared to a 2010 baseline). http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/details/beitrag/solar-energy-prices-to-drop-by-up-to-12-in-2014_100016875/#ixzz3IQgTSFeI; See also, Diane Cardwell, Renewable Energy Starts to Win on Price, THE New York Times, (November 24, 2014); Elias Hinckley, The Solar Energy Industry is Red HotWill it Get Hotter?, The Energy Collective (December 11, 2013). The 9th Circuit ruled that the EPA violated multiple federal environmental statutes by its longstanding evasion of its statutory duty to determine whether current tolerances of chlorpyrifos are safe. AB 1276 by Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo (D-Los Angeles) Single-use foodware accessories and standard condiments. California is leading the nation toward a 100 percent clean energy future and addressing climate change for all. New California Sustainability Laws - California Lawyers Association Expert Blog Ten New Environmental Laws in California The environmental community continued to chalk up wins in the state legislature despite another unusual year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. CODE 25310 (West 2014); CAL. Of critical importance, both the majority and dissenting opinions agreed that climate change is real and poses an existential threat to the planet. Enforcement Resources and Information | CalEPA A new year is upon us, and 2022 means not only the arrival of Year 3 of the coronavirus pandemic (yikes), but also the implementation of hundreds of new laws in California. Previously, the 9th Circuit upheld the government's procedural argument, only to have the U.S. Supreme Court reverse in a 2012 decision. In the long run, a robust regional public transit system reduces traffic and makes local economies more competitive. CAL. RES. Govt Operations Agency, Building Standards Information Bulletin 13-07, at 1 (2013). ESG investing news, analysis, research and information. March 28, 2022 Food banks in California and New York are preparing for a potential uptick in donations as grocers, restaurants and other food producers comply with new state laws that require them to donate surplus edible food, rather than send it to landfills. PDF New California Sustainability Laws - gibbsgiden.com So far. Sustainability is about using our resources wisely and adapting to change. In 2013, Governor Brown issued a plan to put 1.5 million zero-emission vehicles on the road by 2025.51 The CEC recently approved fifteen grants totaling $5 million for 475 electric vehicle charging stations across California.52 Research by the UC Berkeley California Electric Transportation Coalition shows that every dollar saved at the pump and redirected toward the rest of the economy not only reduces air pollution, but also captures significant ancillary economic benefits.53. Sustainable Packaging for the State of California (SB 1335) Proper implementation of these projects requires compliance with state and local contracting laws, including any applicable local procurement, competitive bidding, and prevailing wage laws. Office of the Attorney General 35. Email your suggestions to CAtoday@nytimes.com. Sustainable Urban Development. SB 343 will help consumers make informed choices about the products and packaging they buy. 28. This new law prohibits food-delivery apps, such as DoorDash and Uber Eats, from keeping any portion of gratuity meant for restaurant workers. As we close the books on this year, we celebrate progress toward a healthy and equitable California. The Los Angeles Business Council estimated that the FiT program would create 11,000 local jobs. Theodore L. Senet and Lynn A. Mastandrea, California's Statewide 'Green' Building Code: New Challenges and Opportunities, Construction Managers Association of America - Southern California Chapter (Fall 2008 Newsletter). 29. 49. Locally sourced energy also adds resiliency and reduces power interruption risk. Rent relief: California officials announced Sunday that they received an additional $62 million in federal funds for rent relief, CBS Sacramento reports. The most recent data shows a double-digit percentage reduction since 2003. Utilities Commission, About CleanPowerSF, http://sfwater.org/index.aspx?page=577. Under the Portfolio Manager, adjustments are made for size, location, use, and special factors in the benchmarking process and a buildings usage is compared to the average for similarly situated buildings. Institute for Market Transformation, http://www.imt.org (last visited October 16, 2014). While the, United States v. Walker River Irrigation District, League of United Latin American Citizens v. Regan, Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency, Southwest Fair Housing Council v. Maricopa Domestic Water District, Association of Irritated Residents v. Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Community Action v. Federal Aviation Administration, College of Agricultural and Environmental Science, Battling Barriers, Bias to Retain and Recruit STEM Talent, Building Community to Benefit Physics Students, Commencement Schedule and Graduation Celebrations, College of Agricultural and Environmental Studies, College of Biological Sciences Events Calendar, College of Letters and Science Events Calendar, Graduate School of Management Events Calendar, Robert Arneson: Serious Ideas Behind that Humor, UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education. Office of Sustainability - DGS NRDC is pleased to share that we have a newly formed California Advocacy and Government Affairs team for the 2023-24 legislative session. For these reasons, PACE is mostly available for commercial buildings in some California counties. Governor signs SB 343 banning the use of misleading recycling labels, additional measures to reduce single-use trash pollution and support recycling goals, AB 652 bans the use of toxic PFASs in products for children, AB 1200 prohibits their use in disposable food packaging, Governors historic $15 billion climate package includes $270 million to promote a more circular economy that advances sustainability. Thats why we need to act quickly and decisively to ensure corporations are reporting their emissions. Heres todays Mini Crossword, and a clue: Library stock (5 letters). Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) - Department Of Water These 5 new California laws combat plastic waste There are current state requirements and incentives for local governments to implement regional transportations plans.57 Under California law, metropolitan planning organizations must prepare and implement strategies for these regional transportation plans. Governor Newsom Signs Legislation to Tackle - California Governor There are also a number of organizations that can offer technical assistance with municipal retrofits and power generation projects.24 In addition, the Governor and Legislature allocate auction proceeds from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to aid funding for energy efficiency in public buildings.25 As a result of these resources, there are a growing number of municipal energy efficiency programs around the state.26. The announcement comes as companies worldwide are facing increasing pressure from investors, regulators and other stakeholders to provide disclosures relating to ESG initiatives and sustainability plans and progress. AB 1311 by Assemblymember Jim Wood (D-Santa Rosa) Recycling: beverage containers. Eric Wesoff, Grid-Scale Energy Storage RFQs: Lessons From the Imperial Irrigation District, GreenTechGrid (May 14, 2014), http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/Grid-Scale-Energy-Storage-RFQs-Lessons-From-the-Imperial-Irrigation-Distri. Governor Newsom today also signed AB 881 by Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego), which discourages practices resulting in exporting plastic that becomes waste and ensures that only exports of truly recycled plastics count toward state waste reduction and recycling metrics. A dozen other communities, including San Diego and San Francisco, are laying the groundwork for community power generation or microgrid programs.34 A microgrid is a small energy system capable of balancing captive supply and demand resources to maintain stable service within a defined boundary.35 A growing group of homeowners, government agencies, and businesses are using these kinds of microgrids to reduce power bills and dependence on utility networks.36 Spending on microgrid projects in the U.S. is poised to explode to $4.2 billion by 2024 in part due to growing concerns about the traditional grids reliability.37 As major storms and severe weather around the world threaten power supplies and power transmission, microgrid, grid integration, and battery storage technologies will likely prove to be major benefits to local economies by adding resiliency to local power supplies. (Pub. The law requires that Metropolitan Planning Organizations incorporate a Sustainable Communities Strategy within their Regional Transportation Plans. One example of a PACE funded commercial projects is the Universal City Hilton project, which utilized PACE financing to fund $7 million in upgrades, making it the largest PACE project in the United States at that time. Mr. Senets areas of practice include insurance, construction, environmental and real property law. April 8, 2021 . Formerly the executive director of the Center for Law, Energy, & the Environment at UC Berkeley School of Law, Frank returned to UC Davis School of Law in January 2010. California cities top the American Lung Associations list of the most polluted cities by year round particle pollution. City of New York, Benchmarking Data Disclosure & Reports, PlaNYC (2014), http://www.nyc.gov/html/gbee/html/plan/ll84_scores.shtml. Circuit Court of Appealsremained save only the U.S. Supreme Court the most important court in the United States when it comes to environmental law. (In recent years the 9th Circuit has consistently rejected a series of dormant commerce clause-based challenges to numerous California environmental and animal welfare laws.). CAL. A California environmental lawyer at Bick Law can review existing sustainability initiatives and create new ones - adding value to your company. SB 596 (Becker) requires the California Air Resources Board to develop a comprehensive strategy by July 1, 2023 to reduce the carbon intensity from cement use by 40 percent from 2019 levels by 2030 and to achieve carbon neutrality in this sector no later than 2045. Email us at CAtoday@nytimes.com with your traditions, recommendations and opinions. Law enforcement agencies are now prohibited from posting on social media the mug shots of most people arrested and accused of nonviolent crimes. These savings were achieved by reducing outdoor irrigation, as well as upgrades to plumbing fixtures and removal of ornamental turf, and other conservation measures. Several jurisdictions across the world have announced moves towards required sustainability disclosure, including the U.S., where the SEC is currently examining rules for mandatory climate risk reporting. "33 Under these programs, communities secure clean energy, which is then transmitted to consumers through the utility-controlled power grid. "This strategy strengthens our resilience efforts by identifying key priorities and outcomes that should guide every action we take to protect vulnerable communities, the environment, and the state's economy . 53. Supporters of the new rules say that publishing such photos on Twitter and Facebook can irreparably harm the lives of people who have not yet been proven guilty. To further reduce exposure and increase awareness, the Governor signed AB 1200 by Assemblymember Philip Ting (D-San Francisco), which prohibits disposable food packaging from containing intentionally added PFASs and requires cookware manufacturers to disclose the presence of hazardous chemicals such as PFASs on product labels and online. Melanie Curry, Breaking News: Deal Reached on CAs Cap-and-Trade Spending Plan, Streets Blog LA (June 12, 2014), http://la.streetsblog.org/2014/06/12/ breaking-news-deal-reached-on-cascap-and-trade-spending-plan. California Avocados are locally and responsibly grown by California farmers who nurture the avocados and the land every step of the way. All proposed energy projects must include the ability to be disconnected from the grid for up to three hours in order to promote grid resiliency. Originally filed in state courts, these lawsuits advance state common law theories against the fossil fuel industry. Later in the week, Ill share some more new laws worth knowing about. The California Energy Commission ("CEC") has proposed the requirement of "zero net energy" residential construction by 2020 and "zero net energy" commercial buildings by 2030.3 Although the definition of "zero net energy" or "net zero" is not settled, one common definition is that a new buildings annual energy consumption does not exceed its total on-site energy production or local acquisition of renewable power over that year. Over the past decade, California has enacted a comprehensive set of sustainability laws and regulations that are transforming the economy by generating opportunities and funding for renewable energy generation, energy efficiency measures in our buildings, and the implementation of clean transportation programs, which in turn have attracted ventu. Number of bills vetoed? Soumya. The EPA ultimately opted to do the latter last summer. 38, No.1, Winter 2015. The stateearlier this yearrequired manufacturers of carpets and rugs to consider less toxic alternatives to PFASs, which pose a particular exposure risk to children when used in carpets and rugs. Fashion will need to rethink everything from e-commerce packaging to how clothes are displayed . Through transformation to a clean energy economy, California cities can develop solutions for air pollution and traffic congestion. The Court of Appeals ruled that the industry had failed to demonstrate they would suffer irreparable harm if forced to litigate the case simultaneously in state and federal court. In her dissent, Judge Rawlinson argued that the case "reeked of environmental racism," inasmuch as the area in which the project was proposed is, according to the EPA, an "extreme" non-attainment area for multiple air pollutants and populated primarily by people of color. 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