Should California expedite the environmental impact review process for certain projects like housing, transportation or clean energy infrastructure?
Proposition 45 would amend California’s landmark environmental law, called CEQA, to limit the scope of environmental review and set deadlines for public agencies to complete the review process.
The measure — called the “Building an Affordable California Act” — would also establish deadlines for filing and resolving lawsuits and limit the evidence courts may consider and the relief available.
Its stated purpose is to “make California more affordable by streamlining and speeding approval of essential projects” to reduce costs, create jobs and improve the quality of life for Californians while maintaining environmental protections.
Backers of Proposition 45 said California has an outdated environmental review process that increases costs and works against public health goals for essential infrastructure projects.
The expedited review would apply to the following project categories:
• Water
• Hospitals and clinics
• Clean energy and electricity
• Housing of all types
• Roads, bridges and transit
• Wildfire prevention and resilience
• Public schools and educational facilities
• Broadband and telecommunications infrastructure
Proposition 45 is sponsored by the California Chamber of Commerce. Top funders include nonprofit public policy advocacy group Building a Better California, clean energy advisory firm Edison International & Affiliated Entities and the California Building Industry Association.
More than 200 public health and environmental organizations signed a letter to the California Legislature earlier this year opposing the initiative. Included among these organizations are the California Environmental Justice Alliance and the Surfrider Foundation, a San Clemente-based ocean preservation nonprofit.
The letter said that instead of streamlining project approvals, Proposition 45 would “fundamentally undermine the public health and environmental protections” that the extensive CEQA review process provides.
The estimated cost to implement Proposition 45 is tens of millions of dollars annually for the first several years, with net savings expected over time due to reduced administrative and legal workloads, according to the California Legislative Analyst and the director of finance.