WOW. HELLO, EVERYONE GOT A
GAVEL? YOU GOT TO USE IT RIGHT.
GOOD MORNING, THANK YOU FOR
JOINING US FOR THE INAUGURAL
HEARING OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE
ON PERMITTING REFORM. OVER THE
COURSE OF THE YEAR, WE WILL
SYSTEMATICALLY EXAMINE OUR
PERMITTING PROCESSES AND DEVELOP
MEANINGFUL REFORMS TO ADDRESS
SOME OF CALIFORNIA'S MOST URGENT
CHALLENGES. THE THINGS THAT KEEP
ME UP AT NIGHT AS A LEGISLATOR
AND AS A MOM. THIS IMPACTS OUR
HOUSING CRISIS, OUR CLIMATE
EMERGENCY, AND OUR CLEAN ENERGY
TRANSITION. TODAY'S HEARING
REALLY IS JUST THE START. AND I
WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, I THINK,
THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON
PERMITTING REFORM HAS A CERTAIN
RING TO IT, DOESN'T IT? IT'S
LIKE, INCREDIBLY UNSEXY, BUT
IT'S PROBABLY SOME OF THE MOST
CRITICAL WORK THAT WE ACTUALLY
NEED TO BE DOING HERE IN
CALIFORNIA TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE
REALLY PREPARING OUR STATE FOR
THE MODERN ENVIRONMENT THAT WE
LIVE IN. THIS IS GOING TO
PROVIDE US AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US
TO UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM, THAT
THE SORT OF BYZANTINE PERMITTING
PROCESS HAS, HAS, CREATED, AS
WELL AS WHAT THE COST OF DOING
NOTHING IS THERE IS A COST TO
THIS INACTION THAT WE SEE,
SORRY. LIFT THE MIC. THERE WE
GO. THERE'S A COST OF THIS
INACTION THAT WE SEE IN OUR
COMMUNITIES EVERY DAY. WE ARE
FACING, MULTIPLE INTERRELATED
CRISES. OUR HOUSING CRISIS HAS
LEFT US WITH OVER 180,000 OF OUR
RESIDENTS WITHOUT HOMES, WITH
MILLIONS OF TENANTS SACRIFICED
BASIC NEEDS TO PAY THE RENT AND
HOME PRICES THAT ONLY THE
WEALTHIEST HOUSEHOLDS CAN
AFFORD. SIMULTANEOUSLY, OUR
UNFOLDING CLIMATE CRISIS
THREATENS TO PUMMEL THE STATE
WITH ONGOING SERIES OF
DEVASTATING AND COSTLY DROUGHTS,
FLOODS AND WILDFIRES. ADDRESSING
THESE CHALLENGES WILL REQUIRE
THAT CALIFORNIA RETHINK HOW WE
PLAN FOR AND MANAGE OUR
ENVIRONMENT. IT WILL REQUIRE
THAT WE BUILD MILLIONS OF HOMES,
PRIMARILY IN INFILL LOCATIONS.
IT WILL REQUIRE THAT WE UPGRADE
AND BUILD SYSTEMS TO STORE AND
MOVE WATER, AND IT WILL REQUIRE
THAT WE FACILITATE THE
GENERATIONAL, TRANSMISSION OF
CLEAN ENERGY. UNFORTUNATELY, WE
ARE POORLY POSITIONED TO MAKE
THAT CHANGE THAT CALIFORNIA
DESPERATELY NEEDS RIGHT NOW,
GIVEN THE CURRENT STATE OF
AFFAIRS WITH OUR REGULATORY
SYSTEM, ONE OF THE MAIN PRIMARY
REASONS FOR THIS IS THAT
BENEFICIAL PROJECTS FACE A
DAUNTING REGULATORY REGIME TO
RECEIVE PERMITTING APPROVAL TO
BUILD PROJECTS OFTEN FACE YEARS
OF REVIEW AT MULTIPLE LEVELS OF
GOVERNMENT IN ARCANE AND OBLIQUE
PROCESSES, AS, FOR EXAMPLE, IN
SAN FRANCISCO. IT TAKES OVER 18
MONTHS TO PERMIT A HOUSING
PROJECT, WHEREAS IN NEW YORK
CITY IT TAKES FOUR MONTHS. FLOOD
CONTROL PROJECTS CAN REQUIRE
PERMITS FROM 15 DIFFERENT
AGENCIES, AND TEXAS IS
PERMITTING 3.5 TIMES MORE SOLAR
ANNUALLY THAN CALIFORNIA IS.
DESPITE THESE, AND MANY MORE
EXAMPLES, WE ARE NOT HERE TO
BESMIRCH THE REGULATORS OR EVEN
THE REGULATIONS THEMSELVES. MANY
OF THESE REGULATIONS ARE
WELL-MEANING AND REFLECT THE
NEEDS AND INTERESTS OF THE
PERIOD IN WHICH THEY WERE
CREATED, BUT MOST WERE ALSO
CREATED BEFORE THE HOUSING AND
CLIMATE CRISIS. AND HAVE PROVEN
TO BE INSUFFICIENT FOR
ADDRESSING THESE EXISTENTIAL AND
CURRENT THREATS. THE PURPOSE OF
THIS SELECT COMMITTEE IS TO
UNDERSTAND HOW WE RECALIBRATE
OUR REGULATORY REGIME TO ADDRESS
THESE THREATS HEAD ON, TO MAKE
US BETTER AT GETTING TO YES WHEN
IT COMES TO TACKLING THE HOUSING
AND CLIMATE CRISIS AND THIS
HEARING TRULY IS JUST THE
BEGINNING. WE ARE GOING TO HEAR
FROM AN AMAZING SERIES OF
PANELISTS FOR YOU TODAY,
INCLUDING ACADEMIC EXPERTS,
STATE AGENCY REPRESENTATIVES,
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL
EXPERTS AND PRACTITIONERS. OVER
THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, WE'RE GOING
TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION,
FOCUSING ON ONE ON ONE
INTERVIEWS WITH ALL INTERESTED
STAKEHOLDERS. AND IF YOU'RE ALL
WATCHING OUT THERE, IF YOU'RE IN
THE ROOM, WE WELCOME INDIVIDUAL
CONVERSATIONS. WE'RE GOING TO BE
PUTTING TOGETHER FURTHER
ANALYSIS ON THIS, AND WE
GENUINELY WANT EVERYONE FROM ALL
SIDES OF THE DEBATE TO COME AND
HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH US. AND
I JUST, YOU KNOW, THESE SELECT
COMMITTEES AND MANY OF US HAVE
CHAIRED THEM, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE
THEY'RE ONLY AS GOOD AS THE
ENERGY YOU PUT INTO THEM. SO I
ALSO WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES
FOR BEING HERE TODAY, AND I WANT
TO GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY
HERE, YOU KNOW, THE COLLEAGUES
THAT ARE ON THIS COMMITTEE ARE
HERE FOR A VERY INTENTIONAL
REASON. THEY'VE EXPRESSED DIRECT
INTEREST IN THIS ISSUE. THEY
CHAIR IMPORTANT COMMITTEES.
THEY'RE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
AISLE. IT'S TRULY GOING TO TAKE,
I THINK, ALL OF US TO WORK ON
THIS. AND I WILL SAY, YOU KNOW,
MANY OF US ARE DRINKING FROM A
FIRE HOSE ON 8000 EMERGENCIES
THAT ARE OUT THERE RIGHT NOW,
AND THERE'S NEGOTIATIONS ON THE
BUDGET AND THERE'S DEADLINES AND
THERE'S ALL THIS STUFF COMING
UP. AND WHAT I THINK THE SELECT
COMMITTEE REALLY ALLOWS US TO DO
IS TAKE A BEAT, TAKE A SECOND,
ACTUALLY THINK ABOUT THE
PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO
SOLVE, BRING IN PEOPLE WITH ALL
DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW TO
TRULY UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN
BUILD A COALITION THAT CAN GET
TO YES ON SOLVING THE PROBLEMS.
AND AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO BE
VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT WE
GENUINELY WELCOME EVERYONE IN
THIS CONVERSATION, AND IT'S
GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US THINKING
CREATIVELY ON HOW WE RECTIFY
SOME OF THESE ISSUES, IN THE
FALL, WE EXPECT TO HAVE AT LEAST
THREE TOPIC SPECIFIC HEARINGS TO
FURTHER FLESH OUT THE ISSUES AND
START DISCUSSING THE SOLUTIONS
AND THOSE WILL BE, PROBABLY
OUTSIDE OF SACRAMENTO. AS MUCH
AS I LOVE SACRAMENTO, I ALSO
LOVE BEING OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO WE'RE GOING TO BE ACROSS THE
STATE HAVING, DIFFERENT HEARINGS
, BY EARLY NEXT YEAR, WE WILL
HAVE A WHITE PAPER THAT WILL LAY
OUT A SERIES OF POTENTIAL
SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS THESE
ISSUES. AND THAT'S GOING TO BE
DRIVEN, EXCLUSIVELY BY THE
CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'RE HAVING
HERE, AS WELL AS THE ADDITIONAL
ONE ON ONE CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE
WITH WITH KEY STAKEHOLDERS,
EVERYONE IS ENCOURAGED TO
PARTICIPATE IN THIS. WE ALL KNOW
THAT WE CAN'T KEEP DOING THINGS
THE WAY THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING
THEM. IF WE WANT TO ACTUALLY
REACH OUR CLIMATE CHANGE GOALS,
IF WE WANT TO ACTUALLY ADDRESS
THE HOUSING CRISIS, IF WE WANT
TO ACTUALLY GUARD AGAINST SOME
OF THE CLIMATE CATASTROPHES THAT
WE KNOW ARE COMING, WE HAVE TO
CHANGE HOW WE THINK ABOUT
BUILDING. WE HAVE TO GET TO YES.
AND WE HAVE TO DO SO IN A WAY
THAT REFLECTS OUR CALIFORNIA
VALUES. AND TODAY WE START WITH
THAT CONVERSATION, WHICH I'M
REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO,
BEFORE WE GET, TO OUR FIRST
PANEL, WHICH IS GOING TO BE,
PERSPECTIVE FROM ACADEMIC
EXPERTS, I WANT TO OFFER
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE WHO ARE SITTING
HERE IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO
PROVIDE ANY OPENING REMARKS FOR
THE DISCUSSION TODAY. WHY DON'T
WE GO TO MR. LARA? THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR. AND, I JUST WANT TO
SAY THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE
TIME TO PUT THIS TOGETHER, EIGHT
YEARS AND WE WE'VE BEEN HERE,
WE'VE PASSED A LOT OF LOFTY
GOALS, A LOT OF GOOD GOALS,
GOALS THAT WE NEED TO MEET. BUT
IF WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO
BUILD INFRASTRUCTURE, IF WE
DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO BUILD
PROJECTS THAT VOTERS PASSED ON
THE BALLOT, THEN I THINK WE HAVE
TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND LOOK AT
WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE. SO I'M
JUST THANKFUL, THAT YOU'VE TAKEN
LEADERSHIP. AND WE ALL KNOW THAT
WHEN YOU DECIDE TO SINK YOUR
TEETH INTO THINGS, THINGS
TYPICALLY START HAPPENING. AND
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
CONVERSATION OVER THE NEXT FEW
MONTHS. AND, GETTING THAT WHITE
PAPER PUT TOGETHER. THANK YOU.
OUR HOUSING CHAIR, MR. WARD.
THANK YOU. SOME MEMBER, I
APPRECIATE YOU CONVENING US, AND
, REALLY PUTTING TOGETHER A VERY
THOROUGH AND ROBUST, FIRST
HEARING FOR THIS, AS THE CHAIR
OF THE HOUSING COMMITTEE. IT'S
NOT LOST ON ME FOR ALL THE WORK
THAT WE'VE DONE AND WE ARE DOING
AND WE NEED TO DO AROUND HOUSING
REFORMS THAT ARE GOING TO BE
ABLE TO HELP US UNLOCK AND
PRODUCE MORE HOUSING THAT
CALIFORNIA DESPERATELY NEEDS.
HCD'S OWN DATA SHOWS AN AVERAGE
OF 150 DAYS TO BE ABLE TO ISSUE
A PERMIT, LET ALONE ALL THE
CONSTRUCTION CHALLENGES AND
EVERYTHING. COSTS OF MATERIALS
AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WE'RE
WORKING ON. I THINK THE
LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN MORE
AGGRESSIVE AND FOCUSED ON SOME
OF THE STREAMLINING EFFORTS THAT
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON, OTHER
REGULATORY QUESTIONS HAVE REALLY
CAUSED US TO THINK CRITICALLY
THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO THIRD
RAILS OR SACRED COWS WHEN IT
COMES TO TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT
THINGS. AND THE FOCUS ON
PERMITTING REFORM, I THINK, IS
THE NEXT NATURAL EXTENSION OF
WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN THAT THAT
AREA. YOU MENTIONED THAT, YOU
KNOW, WE'RE NOT HERE TO I THINK
I WROTE DOWN THE WORD BESMIRCH,
ANY OF THE ISSUES, BUT WE SHOULD
BESMIRCH THEM. WE SHOULD THINK
REALLY CRITICALLY ABOUT WHAT
IDEAS, LAWS, REGULATIONS THAT
WERE PASSED IN A TIME WHERE IT
WAS EASIER TO BUILD HOUSING,
WHERE IT WAS NECESSARY TO HAVE,
IT IS NECESSARY TO HAVE
APPROPRIATE SAFEGUARDS FOR THE
HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR
COMMUNITIES. BUT YOU HAVE TO
WONDER, ESPECIALLY WHEN
INSPECTIONS, YOU KNOW, FOLLOW
ANY CONSTRUCTION WHERE THERE ARE
OTHER SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE, HOW
MANY OF THESE ARE REDUNDANT AND
HOW MANY OF THESE ARE
NECESSARILY ADDING TO THE COST,
AND THE TIME THAT IT TAKES TO BE
ABLE TO GET HOUSING UNDERWAY, SO
I THINK THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE
HELPFUL. I KNOW THAT, COLLEAGUES
HAVE ALREADY STARTED TO
INTRODUCE BILLS IN THIS SPACE,
LITTLE AREAS TO BE ABLE TO GET
AT, QUESTIONS AROUND PERMITTING
REFORM OR ASSOCIATED FEES, BUT
THE, WHOLE SCALE FOCUS OF WHAT
WE ARE TRYING TO DO THROUGH THIS
SELECT COMMITTEES HEARING AND
REALLY LAYING EVERYTHING ON THE
TABLE, I THINK WILL BE
INCREDIBLY INFORMATIVE FOR A
ROBUST PACKAGE OF REFORMS THAT
MAYBE COULD COME OUR WAY NEXT
SESSION. SO THANK YOU FOR
CONVENING US. I'M LOOKING
FORWARD TO ALL THE PERSPECTIVE
HERE TODAY AND, TAKING A LOT OF
NOTES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU, MR. WOOD. THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR, VERY MUCH
APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY.
AND, YOU KNOW, I SIT ON THE
NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE AND
WE MEET IN THIS ROOM, AND THE
LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE'VE HAD
A NUMBER, QUITE A NUMBER OF
BILLS LOOKING FOR EXEMPTIONS
FROM SEQUA FOR HOUSING IN THE
NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE. AND
TO ME, THAT'S A THAT'S AN
INDICATION THAT SOMETHING'S NOT
QUITE RIGHT. AND WE I THINK WE
ALL KNOW THAT THERE ARE THERE
ARE HUGE CHALLENGES, I, I LOOK
AT THIS FROM A PERSPECTIVE OF I
RESPECT SEQUA. I THINK SEQUA HAS
BEEN AN AMAZING TOOL TO PROTECT
OUR ENVIRONMENT, UNLIKE ANY
OTHER STATE IN THE UNION. WE'VE
DONE A FABULOUS JOB. FROM MY
PERSPECTIVE, WHAT I DON'T LIKE
IS THE REDUNDANCY. WHAT I DON'T
LIKE IS THE DELAYS THAT COME
WITH THAT. AND SO I LOOK AT THIS
FROM A STANDPOINT I KNOW I DON'T
LIKE THE WORD STREAMLINING. I
PREFER EFFICIENCY BECAUSE I
THINK WE CAN DO THIS IN AN
EFFICIENT WAY THAT THAT DOESN'T.
WE'RE NOT TRYING TO CIRCUMVENT A
PROCESS HERE. WE'RE TRYING TO
MAKE SURE WE DON'T DUPLICATE IT
MULTIPLE TIMES AT HIDEOUS COST.
AND THEN AT A TIME EXTENSION
THAT MAKES PROJECTS COMPLETELY
UNTENABLE. SO THAT'S HOW I'M
LOOKING AT THIS. I'M REALLY
LOOKING FORWARD TO, BROAD
DISCUSSION HERE. AND I THINK WE
NEED TO GET EVERYTHING ON THE
TABLE IF WE'RE REALLY GOING TO,
LOOK AT SERIOUSLY ABOUT MOVING,
MOVING FORWARD ON, ON A NUMBER
OF FRONTS HERE IN CALIFORNIA. SO
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MISS
PETRIE-NORRIS. WELL, THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR. AND AS OTHER
MEMBERS HAVE SAID, I'M REALLY
LOOKING FORWARD TO DIGGING INTO
THIS CONVERSATION. I THINK IT'S
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AND I THINK
REALLY, INCREDIBLY FOUNDATIONAL.
I THINK, AS I WAS REFLECTING ON,
COMING INTO THIS HEARING, I
THINK THE SIMPLE TRUTH IS THAT
THERE IS JUST A YAWNING AND
WIDENING GULF BETWEEN, OUR
PRIORITIES, OUR VALUES, OUR
INTENTIONS, AND OUR RESULTS. I
THINK WE ALL RECOGNIZE THE
URGENCY OF OUR HOUSING AND
HOMELESSNESS CRISIS. YET IT IS
TAKING US DECADES TO ACTUALLY
BUILD NEW HOUSING UNITS AND
COSTING EXORBITANT SUMS, WE ALL
RECOGNIZE THE URGENCY OF THE
CLIMATE CRISIS AND RECOGNIZE
THAT WE NEED TO DRAMATICALLY
ACCELERATE THE PACE OF CLEAN
ENERGY DEPLOYMENT, BUT WE'RE NOT
GOING TO SOLVE THE CLIMATE
CRISIS BY TALKING ABOUT THE
CLIMATE CRISIS OR HAVING PRESS
RELEASES ABOUT THE CLIMATE
CRISIS. WE'VE GOT TO BUILD CLEAN
ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE, AND WE
NEED TO DRAMATICALLY ACCELERATE
THE PACE. AND I THINK, ALSO WANT
TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT NONE OF US
WANT TO THROW THE BABY OUT WITH
THE BATHWATER, BUT IT'S REALLY,
REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO DIG
INTO THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES
OF SOME OF THE RULES,
REGULATIONS, YOU KNOW, LAWS THAT
ARE ON OUR BOOKS AND UNDERSTAND
AND LIKE YOU, ASSEMBLY MEMBER
WOOD I CHEW DON'T USE THE WORD
STREAMLINE. AND I LIKE TO USE
THE WORD RATIONALIZE. AND I
THINK THAT THERE IS A REAL
OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO
RATIONALIZE OUR REGULATIONS AND
RATIONALIZE OUR REGULATORY
FRAMEWORK AND JUST LOOKING
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF
YOU AND MOVING CALIFORNIA
FORWARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
CHAIRWOMAN OF UTILITIES AND
ENERGY FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION.
ALSO, WE'LL DO SOME MESSAGE
DEVELOPMENT WORDSMITHING HERE ON
HOW WE DISCUSS THIS. IN FRONT OF
THE LIVE IN FRONT OF THE PUBLIC,
WHICH I LOVE, AND LAST BUT NOT
LEAST, MR. GRAYSON. THANK YOU.
MADAM CHAIR, FOR THIS, HEARING
THAT YOU'RE PUTTING TOGETHER
INFORMATIONAL HEARING, THE MORE
WE TALK, THE LESS WE GET TO HEAR
FROM THEM. SO I'LL BE REALLY
QUICK, HOWEVER, I DO WANT TO
SAY, ALSO, CONCUR WITH MY
COLLEAGUES ON ON THE COMMITTEE
HERE, TIME, TIME IS MORE
VALUABLE THAN MONEY WHEN IT
COMES TO CONSTRUCTION. AND ON
THE LOCAL LEVEL, THERE WAS
SOMETHING WE WOULD REFER TO
WHEN, SOMEONE WAS COMING IN TO
PRESENT AN IDEA FOR DEVELOPMENT
OR FOR PERMITTING, AND THAT WAS
IF IT WASN'T DESIRABLE, INSTEAD
OF TELLING THEM NO, WE WOULD
JUST QUOTE UNQUOTE, HUG THE
PROJECT TO DEATH. IN OTHER
WORDS, WE WOULD USE THIS PROCESS
AS A WAY TO, TIME OUT THE
PROJECT TO MAKE IT TO WHERE IT
WASN'T, FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE, SO
FOR ME, WHEN I THINK OF
PERMITTING, I ALSO THINK OF, IN
SOME CASES, ENTITLEMENT BECAUSE
THE TWO GO HAND IN HAND, THEY
EXIST TOGETHER AND, AND
ENTITLEMENT OBVIOUSLY PRECEDES,
AND ULTIMATELY RESULTS IN
PERMITTING. SO I'M VERY
INTERESTED IN HEARING WHAT OUR
GUESTS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE
PROCESS OF PERMITTING AND ALSO
HOW ENTITLEMENT BRINGS THE
IDEALISM AND THE VALUES OF THE
COMMUNITY, TOGETHER WITH Ã
DEVELOPMENT. AND IT CONNECTS THE
PRESENT WITH THE FUTURE. SO WITH
THAT, EXCITED TO GET INTO THE
HEARING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
MR. GRAYSON. I THINK THAT'S AN
EXCELLENT POINT. AND LOOKING AT
THAT HOLISTICALLY, THAT IS
CERTAINLY PART OF THE PROCESS OF
THE PERMITTING PROCESS, GREAT.
SO WITH THAT, LET'S HAVE OUR
FIRST, SET OF PANELISTS COME UP,
PLEASE COME ON UP AND I'LL
INTRODUCE YOU ALL, WE'RE GOING
TO BE HEARING FROM NICK, MORAN'S
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF URBAN
PLANNING AND PUBLIC POLICY AT
THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA,
IRVINE. HE'S GOING TO TALK TO US
ABOUT HOUSING. WE'RE GOING TO
HEAR FROM ON CLEAN ENERGY.
MICHAEL O'HARA, DIRECTOR OF THE
CLIMATE AND ENERGY POLICY
PROGRAM AT STANFORD UNIVERSITY.
COME ON, SIT UP, COME ON,
EVERYONE, WE WON'T BITE ON
WATER, NUCIA AJAMI, CHIEF
STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
FOR RESEARCH IN THE EARTH AND
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES AREA AT
LAWRENCE BERKELEY NATIONAL
LABORATORY AND ON CLIMATE
RESILIENCY. STEVE BOLAND, SENIOR
DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AND
EXTERNAL AFFAIRS. LAWRENCE
LIVERMORE NATIONAL LABORATORY.
SO WITH THAT, WHY DON'T WE HEAR
FROM WE'LL JUST GO IN ORDER OF
THE AGENDA. WHY DON'T WE HEAR
FROM NICK? FIRST, THANK YOU FOR
INVITING MY TESTIMONY. I'M AN
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA,
IRVINE. I TEACH AND WRITE ABOUT
HOUSING, LAND USE, AND
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW, AND STATE AND
LOCAL GOVERNMENT. TODAY I WOULD
LIKE TO OUTLINE CALIFORNIA'S
CHALLENGES IN PERMITTING
MULTIFAMILY HOUSING. EXPLAIN WHY
THESE CHALLENGES MATTER FOR
CALIFORNIANS AT ALL INCOME
LEVELS, AND SUGGEST HOW THE
LEGISLATURE COULD MORE
EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS THE PROBLEM.
CALIFORNIA'S ECONOMY IS STRONG
AND DYNAMIC AMONG THE 50 STATES,
CALIFORNIA RANKED FOURTH IN PER
CAPITA GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT AS
OF 2022, DEMONSTRATING THAT
THERE IS GREAT DEMAND FOR
HOUSING IN THE STATE. BUT
CALIFORNIA'S MULTIFAMILY
PERMITTING RATE HAS LONG LAGGED
BEHIND THE RATES OF OTHER STATES
, WHEREAS CALIFORNIA RANKED
FOURTH IN GDP PER CAPITA, IT
RANKED 22ND IN MULTIFAMILY,
PERMITTING FROM 2011 THROUGH
2022, MEASURED AS A PERCENTAGE
OF 2010 POPULATION. THIS TIME
PERIOD COVERS THE RECOVERY FROM
THE GREAT RECESSION AS WELL AS
THE TROUGH IN PERMITTING DURING
THE PANDEMIC PHASE OF COVID 19,
IN BOTH GOOD TIMES AND BAD,
CALIFORNIA DÍAS MULTIFAMILY
PERMITTING LAGS FAR BEHIND OTHER
ECONOMICALLY DYNAMIC STATES,
INCLUDING WASHINGTON, TEXAS AND
OREGON. THIS COMPARISON,
ILLUSTRATED IN A HANDOUT THAT I
HAVE PROVIDED, SHOWS THAT
CALIFORNIA'S PERMITTING
CHALLENGES CANNOT BE ATTRIBUTED
SOLELY TO NATIONAL FACTORS SUCH
AS HIGH INTEREST RATES, HIGH
MATERIALS COSTS, OR LABOR
SHORTAGES. WHILE IT'S PERHAPS
NOT SURPRISING THAT CALIFORNIA
LAGS BEHIND TEXAS, WHICH HAS A
FAR MORE LAISSEZ FAIRE APPROACH
TO REGULATION, IT IS NOTEWORTHY
THAT CALIFORNIA IS ALSO FAR
BEHIND BOTH WASHINGTON STATE AND
OREGON. I WILL HAVE MORE TO SAY
ABOUT WHAT CALIFORNIA COULD
LEARN FROM OUR WEST COAST
COUNTERPARTS IN A MOMENT. IT IS
PROBABLY CLEAR TO EVERYONE THAT
CALIFORNIA WOULD BENEFIT FROM
MORE DEED RESTRICTED BELOW
MARKET RATE HOUSING, BUT
CALIFORNIA WOULD ALSO BENEFIT
FROM MORE MARKET RATE HOUSING.
AND THE TWO NEEDS SHOULD NOT BE
PITTED AGAINST EACH OTHER.
THANKS TO HIGH QUALITY EMPIRICAL
RESEARCH. WE KNOW THAT NEW
MARKET RATE HOUSING FREES UP
EXISTING LOWER COST HOUSING.
HIGHER INCOME HOUSEHOLDS THAT
MOVE INTO THE NEW HOUSING VACATE
EXISTING UNITS. THE PEOPLE WHO
MOVE INTO THOSE VACATED UNITS
ALSO FREE UP EXISTING UNITS AND
SO ON AND SO FORTH. RESEARCH
COVERING 12 LARGE US CITIES,
INCLUDING SAN FRANCISCO, STUDIES
THESE CHAINS OF MOVES. THE
RESULT A NEW MARKET RATE
BUILDING THAT HOUSES 100 PEOPLE
WILL, WITHIN ROUGHLY THREE
YEARS, LEAD 45 TO 70 PEOPLE TO
MOVE OUT OF BELOW MEDIAN INCOME.
NEIGHBORHOODS IN SHORT, NEW
MARKET RATE HOUSING IN ONE
NEIGHBORHOOD LOOSENS UP THE
HOUSING MARKET FOR LOWER INCOME
HOUSEHOLDS IN OTHER
NEIGHBORHOODS. MANY PEOPLE ARE
ALSO CONCERNED THAT NEW MARKET
RATE HOUSING IN AREAS WITH
SUBSTANTIAL LOWER INCOME
POPULATIONS WILL RESULT IN
DISPLACEMENT, BUT RIGOROUS
RECENT RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT
THIS MAY GENERALLY NOT BE THE
CASE. A STUDY OF LOWER INCOME
NEIGHBORHOODS IN 11 MAJOR US
CITIES, INCLUDING LOS ANGELES
AND SAN FRANCISCO, PHÐ FINDS
THAT LARGE NEW APARTMENT
BUILDINGS IN AREAS WITH
SUBSTANTIAL LOWER INCOME
POPULATIONS DECREASE RENTS IN
NEARBY EXISTING UNITS BY ROUGHLY
6. IN COMPARISON WITH OTHERWISE
SIMILAR UNITS IN OTHERWISE
SIMILAR NEIGHBORHOODS. RESEARCH
FOCUSING EXCLUSIVELY ON SAN
FRANCISCO DEMONSTRATES THAT NEW
MARKET RATE HOUSING CAUSES
MONTHLY RENTS IN NEARBY EXISTING
UNITS TO FALL BY 1.2 TO 2.3%
RELATIVE TO OTHERWISE SIMILAR
EXISTING UNITS ELSEWHERE. THAT
STUDY ALSO FINDS THAT NEW MARKET
RATE HOUSING REDUCES
DISPLACEMENT RISKS FOR INCUMBENT
LOWER INCOME RESIDENTS. RESEARCH
CONCERNING NEW DEVELOPMENT IN
NEW YORK CITY HAS REACHED
SIMILAR CONCLUSIONS. CITIES THAT
HAVE ENGAGED IN LARGE SCALE UP
ZONINGS, ALLOWING DENSER
DEVELOPMENT TO A DEGREE NOT
OBSERVED IN CALIFORNIA, HAVE
EXPERIENCED DECLINES IN HOUSING
COSTS. THE MOST WIDE SCALE
REZONING HAS OCCURRED IN
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND, WHICH HAS
INCREASED ALLOWABLE DENSITY ON
ROUGHLY 75% OF ITS RESIDENTIAL
LAND AND EXPERIENCED RENT
DECREASES OF 21% TO 33% RELATIVE
TO A CONTROL GROUP IN THE US
CITIES AS DIFFERENT AS PORTLAND,
OREGON AND HOUSTON, TEXAS HAVE
EXPERIMENTED WITH BROAD, ALBEIT
SMALLER SCALE UP ZONINGS. IN
BOTH CASES, THESE REFORMS HAVE
YIELDED ENCOURAGING RESULTS,
REDUCING RENTS AND ENABLING HOME
OWNERSHIP BY FACILITATING
MULTIFAMILY PERMITTING WOULD
HAVE BENEFITS ACROSS THE INCOME
SPECTRUM BELOW MARKET RATE.
HOUSING IS NOT AVAILABLE TO MOST
MIDDLE INCOME OR MOST LOWER
INCOME HOUSEHOLDS IN CALIFORNIA,
EVEN IF THE STATE WERE TO DOUBLE
ITS PRODUCTION OF BELOW MARKET
RATE HOUSING, WHICH IS NOT
LIKELY TO HAPPEN, MOST OF THESE
HOUSEHOLDS WOULD CONTINUE TO
RELY ON MARKET RATE HOUSING,
ADDING MORE MARKET RATE
MULTIFAMILY UNITS WOULD MODERATE
HOUSING COSTS FOR THESE
HOUSEHOLDS. IN ADDITION,
RESEARCH INDICATES THAT LOWER
RENTS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH LOWER
RATES OF HOMELESSNESS AND
OVERCROWDING, POINTING TO THE
IMPORTANT ROLE OF MULTIFAMILY
PERMITTING IN ADDRESSING
CALIFORNIA'S HOMELESSNESS CRISIS
AND OF COURSE, FACILITATING
MULTIFAMILY PERMITTING IS
ESSENTIAL TO MEETING
CALIFORNIA'S CLIMATE CHANGE
MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION GOALS.
MULTIFAMILY HOUSING IS LESS
CARBON INTENSIVE THAN SINGLE
FAMILY HOUSING, AND IT
FACILITATES COMMUTING PATTERNS
THAT ARE LESS ENVIRONMENTALLY
HARMFUL. IN ADDITION, INFILL
HOUSING IS LESS LIKELY TO EXPOSE
ITS INHABITANTS TO WILDFIRE
RISKS THAN NEW SINGLE FAMILY
HOUSING AT THE URBAN FRINGE.
GIVEN ALL THE BENEFITS
ASSOCIATED WITH FACILITATING
MULTIFAMILY HOUSING, WHY DOES
CALIFORNIA LAGS? SO FAR BEHIND
OTHER WEST COAST STATES, NOT TO
MENTION MORE LAISSEZ FAIRE
SUNBELT STATES? FIRST, LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS CONTINUE TO IMPOSE A
MYRIAD OF RESTRICTIONS ON
MULTIFAMILY HOUSING, INCLUDING
FLAT PROHIBITIONS ON ITS
CONSTRUCTION IN MOST AREAS.
SECOND, EVEN IN ZONING DISTRICTS
WHERE MULTIFAMILY HOUSING IS
ALLOWED, IT OFTEN REQUIRES
DISCRETIONARY APPROVALS,
TRIGGERING LONG AND
UNPREDICTABLE PERMITTING
PROCESSES. THIRD. THIRD, THE
NEED FOR DISCRETIONARY APPROVALS
ALSO TRIGGERS REVIEW. UNDER
CEQA, THE CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT.
ALTHOUGH THE LEGISLATURE HAS
MADE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO
ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES, IT HAS
NOT TAKEN SUFFICIENTLY BOLD
ACTION TO MAKE A MEANINGFUL
IMPACT. THERE ARE MANY STEPS THE
LEGISLATURE COULD TAKE TO MORE
EFFECTIVELY PROMOTE MULTIFAMILY
PERMITTING, AND I AM PLEASED
THAT THIS COMMITTEE WILL
THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATE THIS
MATTER. TODAY, I WOULD LIKE TO
SUGGEST FIVE REFORMS THAT ARE
LIKELY TO HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL
IMPACT, AND THAT WOULD BUILD ON
THE INCREMENTAL REFORMS THAT THE
STATE HAS ALREADY ADOPTED.
FIRST, THE LEGISLATURE COULD
UNCONDITION ORPHALI EXEMPT
MULTIFAMILY HOUSING IN INFILL
PRIORITY AREAS FROM SEQUA.
INFILL HOUSING IS
ENVIRONMENTALLY BENEFICIAL
BECAUSE IT PROMOTES THE STATE'S
CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION AND
POLLUTION REDUCTION GOALS. MANY
STATES HAVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ASSESSMENT LAWS, BUT CEQA IS
UNIQUE IN ITS CHILLING EFFECT ON
HOUSING. TO BE SURE, THE
LEGISLATURE HAS ADOPTED MANY
EXEMPTIONS INTENDED TO
FACILITATE INFILL DEVELOPMENT,
BUT AS DEMONSTRATED IN RECENT
RESEARCH THAT I'VE CONDUCTED
WITH COLLEAGUES AT UC BERKELEY
AND UC DAVIS, THE EXISTING
EXEMPTIONS FOR INFILL
DEVELOPMENT DO NOT PROVIDE
CERTAINTY FOR DEVELOPERS AND AS
A RESULT, DO NOT EFFECTIVELY
PROMOTE INFILL DEVELOPMENT. IT
IS NOTEWORTHY THAT WASHINGTON
STATE HAS RECENTLY EXEMPTED
INFILL HOUSING FROM STATE
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
REQUIREMENTS. A MOVE THAT IS
LIKELY TO FURTHER BOLSTER ITS
SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE IN
PERMITTING MULTIFAMILY HOUSING.
CLEARLY IDENTIFYING AND CLEARLY
IDENTIFYING INFILL PRIORITY
AREAS ON A MAP AND EXEMPTING
MULTIFAMILY HOUSING IN THOSE
AREAS FROM CEQA WOULD
SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTE TO
REMEDYING CALIFORNIA'S SEVERE
MULTIFAMILY HOUSING SHORTAGE.
SECOND, THE LEGISLATURE COULD
CREATE A STATEWIDE PERMITTING
BOARD FOR MULTIFAMILY INFILL
HOUSING. SUCH A BOARD WOULD NOT
PREEMPT LOCAL RULES GOVERNING
HOUSING. IT WOULD SIMPLY ENSURE
THAT LOCAL RULES ARE
APPROPRIATELY APPLIED WITHOUT
UNDUE DELAY. MUNICIPALITIES
WOULD RETAIN CONTROL OVER ZONING
ORDINANCE ADOPTION AND REVISION,
BUT PERMIT APPLICANTS WOULD HAVE
THE OPTION OF SEEKING APPROVALS
FROM A STATE BOARD. OTHER
STATES, INCLUDING OREGON, HAVE
IMPLEMENTED STATEWIDE BOARDS
THAT CAN EFFECTIVELY OVERRIDE
LOCAL PERMITTING DECISIONS.
CALIFORNIA COULD GO FURTHER TO
PROVIDE A BOARD THAT CAN MAKE
PERMITTING DECISIONS IN THE
FIRST INSTANCE TO SHORTEN THE
TIME FRAME FOR SUCH DECISIONS.
ALTERNATIVELY THE STATE BOARD'S
JURISDICTION COULD KICK IN ONLY
IF A CITY TAKES MORE THAN A
SPECIFIED NUMBER OF DAYS FROM
THE FILING OF A PROJECT
APPLICATION TO APPROVE A
PROJECT, AS IN OREGON, THE BOARD
COULD BE COMPOSED OF ATTORNEYS
WHO ARE EXPERTS IN LAND USE
PLANNING LAW. THIRD, THE
LEGISLATURE COULD DO MORE TO
LIMIT LOCAL FEES FOR MULTIFAMILY
HOUSING. FEES CAN PROVIDE MUCH
NEEDED SUPPORT FOR LOCAL
SERVICES, BUT CALIFORNIA
MUNICIPALITIES IMPOSE UNUSUALLY
HIGH FEES. SOME OF THOSE FEES
MAY NOT EVEN BE TIED TO THE
DIRECT IMPACTS OF NEW
DEVELOPMENT, AND IT IS OFTEN
DIFFICULT FOR A DEVELOPER TO
DETERMINE THE AMOUNT OF FEES
THAT A PROJECT WILL GENERATE.
SINCE 2021, THE LEGISLATURE HAS
ADOPTED SEVERAL LAWS TO ADDRESS
THESE ISSUES, ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT
CLEAR HOW EFFECTIVE THE NEW LAWS
HAVE BEEN. AS WITH PERMITTING,
THE LEGISLATURE MIGHT CONSIDER
PROVIDING FOR EXPEDITED REVIEW
OF FEES FOR MULTIFAMILY
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS BY AN
APPOINTED STATE LEVEL BOARD.
FOURTH, THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD
CONSIDER PLACING SOME LIMITS ON
LOCAL INCLUSIONARY REQUIREMENTS
FOR MULTIFAMILY HOUSING.
INCLUSIONARY ZONING REQUIREMENTS
EITHER MANDATE OR PROVIDE
INCENTIVES FOR THE INCLUSION OF
BELOW MARKET RATE UNITS IN NEW
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.
UNDER THESE ARRANGEMENTS, THE
MARKET RATE UNITS IN A PROJECT
CROSS-SUBSIDIZED THE BELOW
MARKET RATE UNITS. ALTHOUGH IT
IS CLEAR THAT MANDATORY
INCLUSIONARY PROGRAMS CAN
PRODUCE BELOW MARKET RATE UNITS,
IT IS ALSO CLEAR THAT MANDATORY
INCLUSIONARY REQUIREMENTS
PRECLUDE DEVELOPMENT OF SOME
PROJECTS THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE
HAVE BEEN BUILT. A RECENT STUDY,
SPONSORED BY UC BERKELEY'S
TERNER CENTER FOR HOUSING
INNOVATION, ESTIMATES VERY LARGE
NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON MARKET RATE
HOUSING PRODUCTION FROM EVEN
SMALL INCLUSIONARY REQUIREMENTS,
AND FOR LARGE INCLUSIONARY
REQUIREMENTS. NEGATIVE IMPACTS
EVEN ON BELOW MARKET RATE
HOUSING PRODUCTION. WHILE IT IS
APPROPRIATE FOR LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS TO CREATE
INCLUSIONARY ZONING PROGRAMS, IT
IS ALSO APPROPRIATE FOR THE
LEGISLATURE TO SET LIMITS ON
THOSE PROGRAMS TO ENSURE THAT
THEY DO NOT UNDULY INHIBIT
HOUSING PRODUCTION. ASSEMBLY
BILL 1893, WHICH IS CURRENTLY
PENDING, IS AN IMPORTANT ATTEMPT
TO STRIKE THIS BALANCE. FINALLY,
THIS COMMITTEE SHOULD CONSIDER
TWO REASONS THAT THE
LEGISLATURE'S STATEWIDE UP
ZONING LAWS HAVE NOT YIELDED
MORE MULTIFAMILY HOUSING. THE
FIRST REASON INVOLVES THE
INCLUSIONARY REQUIREMENTS IN
THOSE LAWS. THE STATE'S DENSITY
BONUS LAW, AB 2011, WHICH ALLOWS
THE CONVERSION OF COMMERCIAL
BUILDINGS TO MULTIFAMILY
RESIDENTIAL USE AND PERMITS
STREAMLINING BILLS SUCH AS SB
35, ALL REQUIRE THE INCLUSION OF
BELOW MARKET RATE UNITS IN
QUALIFYING PROJECTS. AS WITH
LOCAL INCLUSIONARY REQUIREMENTS
SUCH STATEWIDE MANDATES MAY WELL
BE APPROPRIATE, BUT IT IS
IMPORTANT FOR LEGISLATORS FOR
LEGISLATORS TO RECOGNIZE THAT
THESE MANDATES ARE LIKELY TO
IMPEDE OVERALL HOUSING
PRODUCTION AND COULD EVEN IMPEDE
BELOW MARKET RATE PRODUCTION.
THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD CAREFULLY
WEIGH POTENTIAL INCREMENTAL
GAINS IN BELOW MARKET RATE UNITS
AGAINST POTENTIAL LOSSES IN BOTH
MARKET RATE AND BELOW MARKET
RATE UNITS IN ADDITION, MANY OF
THE LEGISLATURE'S STATEWIDE
UPZONING BILLS INCLUDE UNION
LABOR REQUIREMENTS THAT RENDER
MANY PROJECTS COST PROHIBITIVE.
AS THE SCHOLARS CHRISTOPHER
ELMENDORF AND CLAYTON NOEL NOTE,
LESS THAN 10% OF CALIFORNIA'S
RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION WORKERS
BELONG TO A LABOR UNION AND
TRYING TO SOLVE A HOUSING CRISIS
BY REQUIRING BUILDERS TO USE
UNION LABOR IS LIKE TRYING TO
SOLVE A FAMINE BY DISQUALIFYING
90% OF FARM WORKERS FROM
PLANTING CROPS. AS WITH
INCLUSIONARY REQUIREMENTS, THIS
COMMITTEE SHOULD ASSESS TRADE
OFFS BETWEEN LABOR REQUIREMENTS
AND HOUSING PRODUCTION OVER THE
PAST EIGHT YEARS, THE
LEGISLATURE HAS ADOPTED WELL
OVER 100 BILLS INTENDED TO SPUR
HOUSING PRODUCTION. ONLY ONE SET
OF LAWS, THOSE RELATED TO THE
DEVELOPMENT OF ACCESSORY
DWELLING UNITS, OR ADUS, HAS
BEEN UNAMBIGUOUSLY,
UNAMBIGUOUSLY SUCCESSFUL. ONE
ANALYSIS OF BUILDING PERMIT DATA
FURNISHED TO THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INDICATES
THAT ADU PRODUCTION INCREASED BY
NEARLY 2,800% BETWEEN 2016, WHEN
THE STATE LAUNCHED ITS RECENT
ADU REFORMS, AND 2022. BY
CONTRAST, MULTIFAMILY PRODUCTION
INCREASED BY JUST OVER 11%
DURING THE SAME INTERVAL. THE
ADU LAWS RESTRICT LOCAL PARKING
REQUIREMENTS, ELIMINATE FEES,
ESTABLISH DEFAULT BY RIGHT
DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS, LIMIT
PERMITTING TIMELINES, ELIMINATE
THE POSSIBILITY OF SKILL REVIEW,
AND PREEMPT HOMEOWNERS
ASSOCIATIONS FROM ADOPTING A
VARIETY OF RELEVANT
PROHIBITIONS, NOTABLY, THERE ARE
NO LABOR OR INCLUSIONARY
REQUIREMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE
ADU LAWS. IN SHORT, THE ADU LAWS
SIMPLY MAKE IT EASIER TO BUILD
HOUSING WITHOUT IMPOSING
ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS ON HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT. THIS SIMPLE,
PERHAPS OBVIOUS PRINCIPLE SHOULD
GUIDE THE COMMITTEE AS IT WORKS
TO DECREASE PERMITTING TIMELINES
AND INCREASE PERMIT APPLICATIONS
FOR MULTIFAMILY HOUSING. THANK
YOU, THANK YOU, APPRECIATE THAT.
AND BEFORE WE GET ON WITH OUR
OTHER GUESTS, WE'VE HAD A COUPLE
OTHER MEMBERS JOIN US. I WANT TO
GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY IF
THEY'D LIKE TO PROVIDE SOME
OPENING REMARKS, MR. CARILLO,
CHAIR OF OUR LOCAL GOVT
COMMITTEE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO
PROVIDE ANY OPENING REMARKS?
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK
YOU FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.
ALLOWED TO BE PART OF THIS
COMMITTEE. I'M A CITY PLANNER BY
PROFESSION WITH ABOUT 20 YEARS
OF EXPERIENCE WORKING FOR,
JURISDICTIONS LIKE THE CITY OF
PALMDALE, CITY OF COACHELLA, AND
DESERT HOT SPRINGS. I, KNOW THE
STRUGGLES FIRSTHAND. I KNOW HOW,
TIME CONSUMING IT IS, EVEN FOR
STAFF TO GO THROUGH AN
ENTITLEMENT PROCESS. AND AT THE
END OF THE DAY, NOT SEEING
MULTIFAMILY PROJECTS BEING
DEVELOPED THROUGHOUT THE
JURISDICTIONS THAT I WORKED ON
AND THROUGHOUT THE STATE. AS YOU
MENTIONED, I'M REALLY LOOKING
FORWARD TO THESE CONVERSATIONS
AND SEE HOW WE CAN BE MORE
SUPPORTIVE LEGISLATIVELY. I DO
AGREE WITH THE ADU'S COMMENTS
THAT YOU MADE. I THINK THAT
THAT'S A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM, AND
I THINK THAT THAT'S ONE WAY THAT
WE CAN CONTINUE TO INCREASE THE
HOUSING UNITS THAT WE NEED.
HOWEVER, THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE
SUFFICIENT. WE NEED TO WORK ON
THE VERY THINGS THAT YOU
MENTIONED, MAKING, POSSIBLE FOR
MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPERS TO BE
ABLE TO CONTINUE TO BUILD THE
UNITS THAT WE NEED. I JUST WANT
TO SAY THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR,
AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THESE
CONVERSATIONS. THANK YOU, THANK
YOU. WELL SAID, MR. ALVAREZ.
JOHN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO PROVIDE
ANY OPENING REMARKS? YEAH THANK
YOU, MADAM CHAIR, FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE PART OF THE
COMMITTEE. I WANT TO THANK THE
SPEAKER, OBVIOUSLY, FOR SETTING
UP THE COMMITTEE. AS I LOOK
AROUND THE DAIS HERE, I THINK WE
HAVE, INDIVIDUALS IN THE
LEGISLATURE WHO HAVE ALREADY
SOME OF US IN A SHORT PERIOD OF
TIME, SOME OF US A LITTLE BIT
LONGER, WORKED ON TRYING TO, TO
REALLY FOCUS ON BUILDING THE
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE NEED TO
GENERALLY IN CALIFORNIA. AND SO
I'M REALLY, REALLY HONORED TO BE
PART OF, OF THIS GROUP. LIKE
MANY COLLEAGUES WHO ARE HERE, I
COME, I COME FROM LOCAL
GOVERNMENT. AND, MY PERSPECTIVE
REALLY IS THAT, LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS, AT LEAST WHEN IT
COMES TO, TO HOUSING AND OTHER
PROJECTS THAT ARE LOCALLY
CONTROLLED, SUCH AS INCLUSIONARY
ORDINANCES AND THINGS LIKE THAT,
HAVE TRIED TO STEP UP WHERE I
THINK STATE GOVERNMENT HAS
FAILED. AND I THINK WE SHOULD
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT STATE
GOVERNMENT HAS FAILED AND THAT
THINGS LIKE, LIKE SEQUA, THE
COASTAL ACT HAVE BEEN INHIBITORS
OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE
NEED TO BUILD IN IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA WHEN IT COMES TO
PROJECTS LIKE TRANSPORTATION
INFRASTRUCTURE AND HOUSING,
CERTAINLY, I HAVE HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY MYSELF TO AUTHOR A
FEW BILLS TO TACKLE THIS
PROBLEM, SUCH AS CREATING CEQA
EXEMPTIONS FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING OR PERMITTING REFORM
FROM THE COAST FROM FOR THE
REFORM FOR THE COASTAL ZONE.
HOWEVER THESE HAVE BEEN SORT OF
ONE OFF BILLS THAT I THINK,
ALTHOUGH ARE NECESSARY, ARE NOT
SUFFICIENT. WE ARE, WE HAVE WE
HAVE MORE WORK TO BE DONE. I DO
THINK THESE ARE, ATTEMPTS BY
GOOD ATTEMPTS AND WORTHY
ATTEMPTS BY MANY LEGISLATORS IN
TRYING TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS.
AND SO, WE NEED TO WE NEED TO DO
MORE. WE NEED TO HAVE THE TOUGH
CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW
WELL-INTENTIONED AND LAWS FROM
DECADES AGO ARE, AGAIN,
INHIBITING AND ARE GETTING IN
THE WAY OF BUILDING HOUSING AND
TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS THAT ARE
IMPORTANT. AGAIN, I WANT TO
REEMPHASIZE SEQUA THE COASTAL
ACT, THE CALIFORNIA ENDANGERED
SPECIES ACT, AND OTHERS THAT
HAVE, OTHER, OTHER LEGISLATION
AND OTHER POLICY GOALS THAT,
AGAIN, WERE WORTHY AND
WORTHWHILE, NEED TO BE REVISITED
. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD, MADAM
CHAIR, TO THIS CONVERSATION, FOR
SURE. AND I HOPE THAT, LOOKING
FORWARD TO ALL OF YOU, THE
EXPERTS WHO WILL BE COMING
BEFORE US TODAY AND ASKING SOME
QUESTIONS ON HOW WE CAN MOVE
FORWARD. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
THANK YOU, MR. ALVAREZ, AND
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR GOOD
WORK. SINCE YOU'VE JOINED THE
ASSEMBLY, YOUR PERSPECTIVE HAS
BEEN VERY CRITICAL. I ALSO WANT
TO OFFER MISS QUIRK-SILVA THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME OPENING
REMARKS. SHE'S DONE A LOT OF
WORK IN THE HOUSING SPACE IN
PARTICULAR. SO WOULD YOU LIKE TO
PROVIDE OPENING REMARKS? YES.
THANK YOU. MEMBERS AND THANK YOU
FOR, PUTTING THIS SELECT
COMMITTEE TOGETHER. AS WE KNOW,
FOCUSING ON PERMITTING, NOT JUST
WITH HOUSING BUT OTHER FORMS OF
PERMITTING THROUGHOUT,
CALIFORNIA AND REALLY, THE
UNITED STATES, WE KNOW THAT IT
IS VERY SLOW PROCESS WHEN WE
COMPARE OURSELVES. SOME OF US
HAVE ACTUALLY GONE ON OUT ON
DELEGATIONS TO OTHER COUNTRIES
WHERE WHETHER IT'S
TRANSPORTATION OR HOUSING. AND
WE'RE SAYING, WELL, I HAD A
CHANCE TO GO TO MEDELLIN,
COLOMBIA, AND, YOU KNOW, HOW DID
THEY BUILD, HIGH SPEED RAIL? HOW
DID THEY BUILD, GONDOLA? HOW DID
THEY BUILD, AND CHANGE LIVES, BY
THE WAY, CONNECTING THE UPPER
PART OF MEDELLIN TO THE CIVIC
CENTER. THESE WERE NOT EASY
DECISIONS. AND YET THEY HAVE
MANY LESS REGULATIONS THAN WE
HAVE. AND SO AS MUCH AS WE WANT
TO FIX A PROBLEM, WHICH WE KNOW
IS HOUSING PRODUCTION AND
HOMELESSNESS, IT HAS BEEN VERY
SLOW AND PAINSTAKING TO SEE,
THE, THE STEPS THAT ARE BEING
MADE. AND THERE ARE SOME WINS,
AS I THINK I WALKED IN AND HEARD
ABOUT ADUS. WE KNOW THAT THERE'S
BEEN SOME PROGRESS. WE KNOW THAT
THERE'S SOME BRIGHT LIGHTS OUT
THERE, BUT THE PACE THAT ARE WE
ARE MOVING IS TOO SLOW FOR WHAT
WE NEED. AND IF WE CONTINUE AT
THIS PACE, WE IN A DECADE WILL
NOT ONLY BE TALKING ABOUT THIS
VERY SAME ISSUE, BUT WE WILL SEE
MANY, MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE
FALLEN INTO HOMELESSNESS AND SO
THAT IS MY, SHEER FOCUS. THIS
DOES NOT MEAN PROTECTING PLACES
IN CALIFORNIA THAT ARE ICONIC.
OUR STATE PARKS, A CERTAIN AREAS
IN CALIFORNIA AND HAVING THAT
BALANCE OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND
BUILDING. BUT IT ALSO MEANS WE
CAN'T JUST SAY NO, THANK YOU,
THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THE
TESTIMONY ON HOUSING. I WAS
TAKING COPIOUS NOTES, WE'LL
ALLOW TIME FOR Q&A AFTER
EVERYONE GETS TO PRESENT, LET'S
SEE, MICHAEL WALKER, I BELIEVE
YOU ARE NEXT. AND YOU'RE GOING
TO BE DISCUSSING, CLEAN ENERGY.
YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE FOR
HAVING ME TODAY, I'M GOING TO
TALK ABOUT, PERMITTING. AND I
WOULD ACTUALLY STEP BACK A
LITTLE BIT AND SAY IN THE ENERGY
CONTEXT, PLANNING, SITING AND
COST ALLOCATION ARE KEY ISSUES
FOR BUILDING OUT THE ENERGY
INFRASTRUCTURE WE NEED. AND WHEN
I SAY THE ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE,
WE NEED, I WANT TO BE CLEAR
ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS IN THE
CALIFORNIA CONTEXT, AS I'M SURE
ALL OF YOU KNOW, PROBABLY FROM
GETTING PHONE CALLS FROM YOUR
CONSTITUENTS, WE FACE AN ENERGY
AFFORDABILITY CRISIS IN
CALIFORNIA. THE CRISIS IS NOW,
NOT AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE,
I THINK, PARTICULARLY AS WE
ENTER THE HOT MONTHS OF THE YEAR
IN THE HOTTER PARTS OF OUR
STATE, MANY PEOPLE WILL FACE
VERY DIFFICULT CHOICES ABOUT NOT
JUST WHETHER TO HAVE A
COMFORTABLE HOME, BUT IF THEY
ARE OLDER, IF THERE ARE CHILDREN
IN THE HOME, IF THEY HAVE
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE, ANY
OTHER KIND OF PREEXISTING
CONDITION, WHETHER THEY CAN
AFFORD TO HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO
BE DURING HOT TIMES. AND THAT'S
A CRISIS THAT OUR STATE
CONFRONTS FOR A VARIETY OF
REASONS, NOTABLY THE, YOU KNOW,
THE, THE, OUR COLLECTIVE FAILURE
TO MANAGE WILDFIRE THREATS, MORE
PROACTIVELY AND THE RESULTING
DAMAGES AND COSTS THAT THAT HAS
IMPOSED ON OUR ELECTRIC
UTILITIES, BUT EVEN AS WE FACE
THAT AFFORDABILITY CRISIS, WE
NEED TO HAVE A SAFE SYSTEM, A
SYSTEM THAT DOESN'T KILL
CUSTOMERS, WE ALSO NEED TO HAVE
A RELIABLE SYSTEM THAT PROVIDES
ENERGY, ESPECIALLY DURING
SHORTAGE EVENTS. HOT AFTERNOONS
IN THE SUMMERTIME, OR ACTUALLY
NOT SO MUCH THE AFTERNOON THESE
DAYS, BUT THE EVENINGS IN THE
SUMMERTIME ARE THE MOST
CHALLENGING TIME FOR THE GRID TO
BE MAINTAINED, BULK POWER SYSTEM
RELIABILITY AND, AND WE NEED TO
BUILD OUT THE SYSTEM THAT ALL OF
YOUR HARD WORK OVER MANY YEARS,
HAS PRODUCED A POLICY MANDATE
FOR WHICH IS ULTIMATELY A ZERO
CARBON ELECTRICITY SYSTEM. AND
IN GENERAL, ALL OF THAT
TOGETHER, I SHOULD SAY ONE ONE
ADDITIONAL POINT. YOU KNOW, WE
NEED TO BUILD A SYSTEM THAT
TAKES ACCOUNT OF THE RAPID
ELECTRIC LOCATION THAT WE'RE
SEEING ACROSS A VARIETY OF
DOMAINS, BUT MOST NOTABLY IN
TRANSPORTATION, WHERE LIGHT DUTY
VEHICLES ARE AT THE BEGINNING,
NOT THE END, BUT THE BEGINNING
OF A TRANSITION TOWARD
ELECTRIFICATION THAT'S GOING TO
PLACE ADDITIONAL DEMANDS ON THE
ELECTRICITY SYSTEM. SO THAT'S A
CHALLENGE, THE CHALLENGE IS MADE
MORE COMPLEX BY THE FACT THAT WE
ARE A STATE THAT TODAY RELIES
HEAVILY ON NATURAL GAS FIRED
ELECTRIC POWER FOR OUR FOR A
SUBSTANTIAL FRACTION OF OUR
ELECTRICITY SUPPLY, AND AS A
MATTER OF STATE POLICY, BECAUSE
WE CARE ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE IN
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, OR WE
PRIORITIZE IT AS AN ISSUE, WE'VE
COMMITTED TO MOVING AWAY
DECISIVELY AWAY FROM RELIANCE ON
FOSSIL FIRED ELECTRIC POWER. SO
WE HAVE TO BUILD. WE HAVE TO
BUILD NOT ONLY TO ENSURE
RELIABILITY AND SAFETY. WE NEED
TO BUILD TO MEET THE DEMAND
THAT'S COMING, AND THAT DEMAND,
I GUESS MOST RECENTLY, WE'VE
SEEN A LOT OF YOU PROBABLY HAVE
SEEN A LOT OF STORIES IN THE IN
THE PAPERS AROUND GROWING DEMAND
DUE TO DATA CENTERS. THAT'S ALSO
AN IMPORTANT ISSUE TO KEEP IN
MIND. BUT I THINK FOR
CALIFORNIA, IT'S NOT RIGHT AWAY
THE PREDOMINANT ONE, BUT WE NEED
TO MEET THAT GROWING DEMAND, AND
WE NEED TO CHANGE HOW WE SUPPLY
THAT RELIABLE, AFFORDABLE
ELECTRICITY FROM A SYSTEM THAT
RELIES QUITE HEAVILY ON
CENTRALIZED, LARGE POWER PLANTS
THAT BURN FUEL TO ONE THAT
RELIES ON A MORE DISTRIBUTED
NETWORK OF SOLAR UTILITY SCALE
SOLAR AND WIND, BOTH IN
CALIFORNIA AND OUTSIDE OF
CALIFORNIA. AND WE NEED TO AND
WE ALSO NEED TO MANAGE TO BUILD
SUBSTANTIAL NEW Tð, DISTRIBUTED
ENERGY RESOURCES THAT, YOU KNOW,
ROOFTOP SOLAR AND NOT JUST
RESIDENTIAL ROOFTOP, BUT
COMMERCIAL ROOFTOPS, INDUSTRIAL
ROOFTOPS ALL OVER CALIFORNIA. SO
THAT'S A LOT OF PLANNING, SITING
AND FIGURING OUT HOW TO PAY FOR
IT. WHAT I WOULD TELL YOU IS
THAT WE'RE NOT, DOING ENOUGH
YET, THE LARGEST CHALLENGES HAVE
TO DO WITH SITING OF LARGE
UTILITY SCALE RENEWABLES IN
SUFFICIENT QUANTITY TO MEET THE
GOALS THAT WE'VE SET AS A STATE
AND PROBABLY MORE IMPORTANTLY
THAN THAT, A CHALLENGE
ASSOCIATED WITH SITING, PLANNING
AND CONSTRUCTING THE NEW
ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION. THE WIRES
THAT WILL BRING THAT RENEWABLE
POWER WHERE IT IS PRODUCED TO
THE SOURCES OF DEMAND IN
CALIFORNIA, WHICH ARE LARGELY
NOT, NOT ENTIRELY, BUT BUT ARE
SIGNIFICANTLY CONCENTRATED IN
THE SOUTH COAST AND IN THE BAY
AREA. SO WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT
THIS? THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE
WELL, THE BAD NEWS IS THAT THE
STATE HAS A VERY COMPLEX SITING
AND PLANNING PROCESS FOR
ELECTRIC INFRASTRUCTURE THAT
INVOLVES CLOSE COORDINATION OR
REQUIRES CLOSE COORDINATION
BETWEEN A SET OF AGENCIES AND
INDEPENDENT ACTORS, MOST NOTABLY
THE CALIFORNIA INDEPENDENT
SYSTEM OPERATOR, WHICH IS NOT AN
AGENCY. IT'S A NONPROFIT THAT
STANDS APART FROM THE STATE AND
OPERATES TRANSMISSION THAT'S
OWNED BY UTILITIES. BUT
COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE
INDEPENDENT SYSTEM OPERATOR, THE
ENERGY COMMISSION, AND THE PUC
AND THAT THAT HAS BEEN
CHALLENGING IN THE PAST. BUT
THANKS TO, EXECUTIVE ORDERS FROM
GOVERNOR NEWSOM AND A REAL
CONCERTED EFFORT ON THE PART OF
ALL OF THE AGENCIES IS ACTUALLY
GOING BETTER TODAY, I'D SAY,
THAN IT HAS IN A LONG TIME,
NEVERTHELESS, AND I SHOULD SAY,
THE AGENCIES ARE STARTING TO
PLAN IN A WAY THAT IS TRULY LONG
TERM. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A
LONG TIME. AND THE MOST NOTABLE
EFFORT THERE, I WOULD ARGUE, IS
THE 20 YEAR PLAN THAT THE
CALIFORNIA INDEPENDENT SYSTEM
OPERATOR RECENTLY HAS STARTED
PRODUCING. THEY PRODUCED THE
FIRST ONE LAST YEAR AND THE
SECOND ONE THIS YEAR, AND IT'S
ALLOWING A LONGER LOOK FORWARD
IN THE PLANNING PROCESS, WHICH
TAKES ACCOUNT OF THE REALITY
TODAY, WHICH IS THAT IT TAKES
ABOUT TEN YEARS ON AVERAGE TO
BUILD A NEW TRANSMISSION LINE.
SO WE NEED TO BE THINKING MORE
THAN TEN YEARS AHEAD, TEN YEARS.
THINKING TEN YEARS AHEAD IS LIKE
JUST IN TIME DELIVERY IN THE
TRANSMISSION PLANNING PROCESS.
THE ISO RECOGNIZED THIS STARTED
LOOKING 20 YEARS AHEAD. IN
ADDITION, THE ISO WHICH WHICH IS
AN IMPORTANT CONTROL ON WHICH
KINDS OF GENERATION GET GETS
CONNECTED TO THE SYSTEM, IS ALSO
STARTING TO THINK IN MORE
INNOVATIVE WAYS ABOUT HOW TO I
MEAN, THE METAPHOR THAT I USE
AND MAYBE THIS SHOWS MY AGE, BUT
THERE'S A MOVIE FROM A LONG TIME
AGO WHERE SOMEONE SAYS IF YOU
BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME AND
THAT IS THE WAY THAT WE NEED TO
BE THINKING ABOUT BUILDING
ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION. AT THIS
POINT, WE NEED TO IDENTIFY,
PROACTIVELY IDENTIFY AREAS WHERE
WE WANT TO HAVE MORE RENEWABLE
ENERGY, AND THEN WE NEED TO
BUILD THE TRANSMISSION TO THOSE
AREAS AND THEN ALLOW PROJECTS TO
CLUSTER AROUND THAT AVAILABLE
TRANSMISSION, THAT KIND OF
CLUSTERING APPROACH IS SOMETHING
THAT THE ISO HAS BEEN A LEADER
ON. IS WORKING ON. IT'S I WOULD
SAY NO ONE WOULD ARGUE THAT THIS
IS A DONE PROJECT THAT WE HAVE
THE THAT WE HAVE, WE'RE BUILDING
ENOUGH TRANSMISSION AND ENOUGH
GENERATION, TO BE CONFIDENT AT
THIS POINT THAT WE WILL ACHIEVE
OUR GOALS. SO THAT'S THE SORT OF
WITHIN THE STATE PICTURE.
THERE'S ANOTHER ASPECT TO THIS
WHICH IS PLANNING OUR
COLLABORATION WITH OTHER
REGIONS. THIS IS ALSO A VERY
IMPORTANT PART OF THE SITING AND
PLANNING CHALLENGES THAT WE
CONFRONT NOW, TODAY, WE ARE WE
PLAN WITHIN CALIFORNIA AND TO
SOME DEGREE TO A VERY LIMITED
DEGREE. WE ARE. CALIFORNIA IS
BUILDING TRANSMISSION LINES TO
OTHER ATTRACT OF RENEWABLE
ENERGY RESOURCES, ESPECIALLY
WIND AND SOLAR OR ESPECIALLY
WIND ACTUALLY, THAT ARE LOCATED
OUTSIDE OF CALIFORNIA. I WOULD
ARGUE, AND I THINK MANY IN THE
POWER SECTOR WOULD AGREE, THAT
WE NEED TO DEEPEN OUR
COLLABORATION WITH OTHER STATES
SO THAT WE CAN PLAN THESE
INTER-REGIONAL LINES THAT THAT
CONNECT ONE REGION, CALIFORNIA,
TO, TO OTHER REGIONS, AND THAT
THAT COLLABORATION, AGAIN, IS
BEING LED BY OUR AGENCIES, IN
PARTICULAR BY THE CEC AND THE
CPUC IN WHAT'S CALLED THE
PATHWAYS INITIATIVE, WHICH IS AN
EFFORT TO DEVELOP, A SET OF
SERVICES THAT THAT AND A SORT OF
GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE THAT WOULD
THAT WOULD DEEPEN AND ALLOW FOR
DEEPENING OF THAT COLLABORATION.
AS WE DO THAT, WE NEED TO
MAINTAIN OUR ABILITY TO STAY
CLOSE TO OUR VALUES ON CLIMATE
BECAUSE WE'RE COLLABORATING WITH
FOLKS THAT MAY NOT SHARE THOSE
VALUES. BUT I THINK THAT IS A
DOABLE OUTCOME, AND IT
RECOGNIZES ALSO A REALITY THAT
WE, WE'RE NOT AN ENERGY ISLAND.
WE NEVER HAVE BEEN IN THE OLD
DAYS WHEN I USED TO HAVE TO
TEACH MY ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
STUDENTS ABOUT COAL FIRED
ELECTRIC POWER, I WOULD SAY
CALIFORNIA DOESN'T HAVE COAL
FIRED ELECTRIC POWER PLANTS
ANYMORE, BUT WE HAVE IN
CALIFORNIA. BUT THAT'S BECAUSE
WE HAVE THEM ON THE REZ IN
ARIZONA AND IN WE HAVE THEM IN
NEVADA. WE HAVE THEM OVER THE
HORIZON. WE HAVE THEM IN UTAH AT
INTERMOUNTAIN. AND THEN WE BRING
THAT COAL FIRED POWER IN OVER
WIRES. WE HAVE NEVER BEEN AN
ISLAND. WE WILL NOT BE AN ISLAND
IN THE ENERGY TRANSITION IN
TERMS OF OUR ELECTRICITY SYSTEM.
AND WE ARE BETTER OFF BOTH FROM
AN AFFORDABILITY AND A
RELIABILITY PERSPECTIVE OF IF WE
ARE NOT AN ISLAND. THE LAST
POINT THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO
MAKE IN THIS CONTEXT IS THAT I'M
SURE MAYBE NOT RIGHT NOW, BUT AT
VARIOUS POINTS IN THE PAST, YOU
PROBABLY HAVE HEARD FROM
CONSTITUENTS THAT ARE VERY UPSET
ABOUT CHANGES TO ROOFTOP SOLAR
IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. WE
CAN HAVE ARGUMENTS UNTIL THE END
OF TIME ABOUT THE RIGHT WAY TO
COMPENSATE ROOFTOP SOLAR IN
CALIFORNIA. THE REALITY IS
THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT MORE
OF IT. INCREASE IN RATES MEAN
THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT
MORE OF IT, BECAUSE THE MORE
THAT THE UTILITY RATES GO UP,
THE MORE ATTRACTIVE WHATEVER
DEAL YOU'RE GETTING FROM ROOFTOP
SOLAR LOOKS, INTERACTING WITH
THAT HAS BEEN A DECLINE IN, THE
COST OF STATIONARY STORAGE
BATTERIES THAT YOU CAN HANG ON
YOUR HOUSE AND USE TO
ESSENTIALLY ARBITRAGE THE TIME
OF USE PRICES THAT UTILITIES ARE
REQUIRED TO OFFER. IF YOU HAVE
ROOFTOP SOLAR PLUS STORAGE, YOU
CAN AVOID THE HIGH COST
ELECTRICITY PRICE THAT OCCURS
FROM FIVE TO OR 3 P.M. TO
MIDNIGHT ON MY RATE. AND JUST
USE YOUR BATTERIES AT THAT POINT
AND CHARGE YOUR BATTERIES UP ON
LOW COST SOLAR IN THE MIDDLE OF
THE DAY. THAT'S SOMETHING WE
ACTUALLY WANT TO ENCOURAGE
CALIFORNIANS TO DO. IT HELPS TO
REDUCE THE NEED TO BUILD UTILITY
SCALE SOLAR. IT HELPS TO REDUCE
THE NEED TO BUILD THE HIGH
VOLTAGE TRANSMISSION LINES,
WHICH WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO
BUILD. BUT THE QUESTION IS SORT
OF HOW MUCH IS IT AN IMPOSSIBLE
AMOUNT OR IS IT A FEASIBLE
AMOUNT? AND THE, THE BIGGEST
CHALLENGE, I THINK THAT THAT
WITH, ROOFTOP SOLAR IS THAT WE
PAY TOO MUCH FOR IT IN
CALIFORNIA AND WE LARGELY AND
LET ME JUST GIVE YOU A SENSE FOR
THAT. AND THIS IS IMPORTANT TO
UNDERSTAND AUSTRALIA, NEW SOUTH
WALES, A PROVINCE IN AUSTRALIA
SIMILARLY SITUATED TO CALIFORNIA
WITH RESPECT TO CLIMATE, THEY
HAVE BIG WILDFIRE PROBLEMS JUST
LIKE WE DO. THEY CALL THEM
BUSHFIRE OVER THERE. BUT IT'S A
PLACE THAT WE CAN LOOK TO AS
SORT OF A ANALOGOUS SITUATION.
ROOFTOP SOLAR IN AUSTRALIA COSTS
A DOLLAR A WATT FOR ROOFTOP
INSTALLED ROOFTOP SOLAR IN
CALIFORNIA COSTS $4 A WATT. SO A
FACTOR OF FOUR. DIFFERENCE IN
COST. THE REASONS FOR THAT
APPEAL. AND I'LL JUST TELL YOU,
THE HARDWARE GOING ON THE ROOF
IS THE SAME. THERE IS NO
DIFFERENCE. SO WHAT'S HAPPENING?
THERE IS SOMETHING HAVING TO DO
WITH SITING AND PERMITTING AND
IT DOES APPEAR THAT CALIFORNIA
COULD MAKE SUBSTANTIAL
IMPROVEMENTS TO THE COST OF
ROOFTOP SOLAR, BY IMPROVING ON
HOW WE HOW LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
PERMIT IN GENERAL IN AUSTRALIA,
IT'S MINISTERIAL, RIGHT? IT'S
NOT SOMETHING THAT HAS TO GO
THROUGH A PLANNING DESK, WHICH
MEANS THE COMPANY INSTALLING THE
SOLAR DOESN'T NEED TO HAVE A
PLANNING EXPERT ON THEIR TEAM,
WHICH IS A MAJOR COST, AND A
PLANNING EXPERT FOR EVERY
JURISDICTION IN WHICH THEY WORK,
IN ADDITION, THE UTILITY
APPROVALS, WHICH ARE ALSO A
MAJOR BARRIER, THE
INTERCONNECTION REQUEST IS MUCH
SIMPLER IN AUSTRALIA AND MORE OF
A MINISTERIAL APPROVAL AND THEN
THE UTILITIES ARE CHARGED WITH
MANAGING THAT ADDITIONAL
RESOURCE THAT'S ON THE GRID, SO
CONNECT AND MANAGE. RIGHT. AND
THAT THE, I THINK THAT I'M NOT
OPTIMISTIC THAT WE COULD GET TO
$1 A WATT IN CALIFORNIA, BUT
THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT ROOFTOP
SOLAR COULD BE A LOT CHEAPER
THAN IT IS. AND THAT WE COULD
AND THAT WOULD THAT WOULD COME
VIA PLANNING AND PERMITTING
REFORM AND THAT THAT IN TURN
WOULD LOWER THE DEMAND FOR OR
FOR BUILDING OR POTENTIALLY
MEDIATE OR HELP US TO MEDIATE
THE DEMAND FOR BUILDING A LOT OF
THE VERY HARD TO CONSTRUCT STUFF
WHERE ESPECIALLY HIGH VOLTAGE
TRANSMISSION, THE LAST THING I
WOULD SAY ON ELECTRICITY IS THAT
, THERE ARE SOME TECHNOLOGICAL
SOLUTIONS THAT WE NEED TO PAY
ATTENTION TO, IN PARTICULAR,
THAT PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT
ONE IS WHAT'S CALLED RE
CONDUCTOR ING. THIS IS A
TECHNOLOGY WHERE INSTEAD OF
USING A TRADITIONAL HIGH VOLTAGE
CONDUCTOR, A CONDUCTOR IS FANCY
ELECTRICITY. SPEAK FOR THE WIRE,
ON THE ON TOP OF THE POLE, YOU
INSTALL A WIRE THAT HAS A CARBON
FIBER CORE, AND THAT MEANS THAT
THE WIRE DOESN'T SAG WHEN IT
GETS HOT. AND THAT MEANS YOU CAN
RUN TWICE THE ENERGY THROUGH THE
WIRE. AND SO YOU CAN TAKE THE
SAME POLE. OR MAYBE YOU HAVE TO
REPLACE THE POLE BECAUSE THE
POLE WAS THE TOWER WAS
CONSTRUCTED IN THE 1920S DURING
ANOTHER ERA OR THE 1960S, BUT
YOU CAN TAKE THE SAME RIGHT OF
WAY, THE SAME WITH THE SAME
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND DOUBLE
THE ENERGY FLOWS MOVING THROUGH
IT. AND THAT, I THINK, IS A IS A
PLANNING AND SITING AND
PERMITTING HACK THAT WE SHOULD
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF TO THE MAXIMUM
EXTENT POSSIBLE IN CALIFORNIA
BECAUSE I PERSONALLY THINK THAT
WE'RE I HOPE THAT ALL OF YOU
MAKE PROGRESS ON THIS ISSUE AND
THAT YOU FACILITATE EASIER AND
MORE RAPID AND LOWER COST
PERMITTING AND SITING THAT IS
RESPONSIBLE WITHIN CALIFORNIA'S
BORDERS. BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO
GO TO ONE YEAR FROM TEN YEARS.
MAYBE WE COULD GET TO SEVEN
YEARS AND THAT WOULD BE A MAJOR
IMPROVEMENT. MAYBE FIVE. THAT
WOULD BE A MASSIVE IMPROVEMENT.
IT WOULD BE GAME CHANGING. BUT
WE'RE STILL GOING TO NEED TO
BUILD REALLY UNPRECEDENTED
AMOUNTS OF ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE
OVER THE NEXT TWO DECADES. WE
ARE TRANSFORMING A FOUNDATION OF
MODERN SOCIETY. WHEN WE SAY
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ZERO CARBON
ELECTRICITY, THAT MEANS BUILDING
A LOT OF STUFF. WE HAVEN'T BUILT
A LOT OF THIS KIND OF THING
SINCE PRIOR TO THE OPEC OIL
EMBARGO. RIGHT. WE JUST HAVEN'T
WE HAVEN'T NEEDED TO, PARTLY
BECAUSE CALIFORNIA HAS BEEN IN A
PROCESS OF DEINDUSTRIALIZATION,
AND PARTLY BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN
SO EFFECTIVE IN OUR ENERGY
EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS THAT DEMAND
FOR POWER HASN'T GROWN, BUT
WE'RE OUT OF THAT ERA, AND WE'RE
OUT OF THAT ERA IN MULTIPLE WAYS
. SAFETY FIRST. RIGHT. WE NEED
TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T KILL
ANYONE WITH OUR SYSTEM. WE NEED
TO AVOID LÀ HYENAS AND NAPA
SONOMA FIRESTORMS AND CAMPFIRES.
WE NEED TO BUILD AN
UNPRECEDENTED AMOUNT OF NEW
INFRASTRUCTURE TO MEET THE NEW
DEMAND. RIGHT. WE HAVEN'T HAD
NEW DEMAND IN DECADES IN NOT
JUST ONE GENERATION, BUT SEVERAL
GENERATIONS IN CALIFORNIA. AND
WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO
TRANSFORM THE SYSTEM TO A ZERO
CARBON SYSTEM, BECAUSE SO MANY
OF THE EFFECTS THAT WE'RE
SUFFERING IN, LIKE THE SAFETY
ISSUES WITH, WITH THE POWER
SYSTEM IN CALIFORNIA, THEY'D BE
MUCH LESS OF A PROBLEM IF WE HAD
LESS CLIMATE CHANGE. AND SO WE
NEED TO LEAD ON THAT. AND WE
ARE, I THINK, THE, THE, THE
ADMINISTRATION AND THE THREE
AGENCIES OR THE TWO AGENCIES AND
THE CAISO ARE REALLY ARE
STEPPING UP TO THIS CHALLENGE.
THEY ARE BEING HONEST ABOUT THE
MAGNITUDE OF THE CHALLENGE, BUT
YOU CAN ALSO HELP THEM AND YOU
CAN HELP THEM BY, IDENTIFYING
SORT OF KEY BARRIERS TO
PERMITTING AND, AND, AND, AND
TRYING TO LIGHTEN THEM. I WOULD
ARGUE THAT ESPECIALLY RECENT
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY INDICATES
THAT EVEN AS WE LOWER THE SITING
AND PERMITTING BARRIERS IN THE
POWER SECTOR, GIVEN THE
AFFORDABILITY CRISIS, WE ALSO
NEED TO FIND NEW MONEY TO PAY
FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, BECAUSE JUST
LOWERING THE SITING BARRIERS IS
GOING TO LEAD TO HIGHER RATES.
AND SO THERE'S A KIND OF
COMBINED AFFORDABILITY AND
PLANNING PERSPECTIVES THAT NEEDS
TO, NEEDS TO OCCUR IN ORDER TO
MAKE PROGRESS IN THIS SPACE,
WITH THAT, I'LL JUST THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR CONSIDERING THE
ISSUE, PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS
ISSUE. I THINK IT'S INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT TO CALIFORNIA, AND I'M
GRATIFIED THAT THIS COMMITTEE
HAS FORMED AND IS GOING TO BE
FOCUSED ON IT. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. I
APPRECIATE THAT, AND AGAIN,
WE'LL HEAR OUR PANELISTS FIRST.
THEN WE CAN OPEN IT FOR Q&A,
NEXT WE'LL HEAR ALL ABOUT OUR
WATER ISSUES, NIUSHA AJAMI,
PLEASE TAKE IT AWAY. THANK YOU
SO MUCH. CHAIR. WIX. MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE, I REALLY
APPRECIATE TO BE HERE AND
TALKING ABOUT SUCH AN IMPORTANT
ISSUE. I JUST NOTE THAT A LOT OF
THE WORK THAT I'M GOING TO CITE
HERE, OR STATE IS BASED ON THE
WORK I'VE DONE WHEN I WAS AT
STANFORD RUNNING A WATER POLICY
PROGRAM AND SOME OF MY PERSONAL
EXPERIENCE WHEN I WAS ON THE
REGIONAL WATER QUALITY CONTROL
BOARD IN THE BAY AREA AND
CURRENTLY AS A COMMISSIONER AT
SFPUC, THIS WAS STATED A FEW
TIMES, BUT I SAY IT AGAIN, WE
LIVE IN A WORLD GOVERNED BY 19TH
CENTURY LAWS, SUPPORTED BY 20TH
CENTURY INFRASTRUCTURE. FOR ALL
THE WHILE FACING THE UNIQUE
CHALLENGES OF THE 21ST CENTURY,
OUR INSTITUTIONS, GOVERNANCE
STRUCTURE AND FINANCIAL TOOLS
WERE DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THE
REALITIES OF THE PAST, NOT THE
COMPLEX AND DYNAMIC ISSUES WE
ENCOUNTER TODAY. THE PREVAILING
LINEAR ONCE THROUGH CENTRALIZED
WATER INFRASTRUCTURE MODEL,
OVERLAID BY A SILOED AND
FRAGMENTED GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE,
DOMINATES OUR WATER SUPPLY
PORTFOLIO. WE HAVE DIVIDED OUR
NATURAL WATER CYCLE INTO THREE
DISTINCT BUCKETS WATER,
WASTEWATER, FLOOD WATER, AND
DESIGNED REGULATORY AND
GOVERNANCE SYSTEM TO MANAGE THEM
. AS SUCH, HUMAN BEHAVIOR,
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES AND
ECOSYSTEM IMPACTS WERE NOT
INCORPORATED INTO THIS MODEL AT
THE TIME OF ITS INCEPTION. THIS
NETWORK OF AGING PIPES, PUMPS,
DAMS, AND AQUEDUCTS ARE REACHING
THE END OF THE DESIGN. THEIR
DESIGN LIFE CREATING AN
INFLEXIBLE SYSTEM INCAPABLE OF
WITHSTANDING VARIOUS SOCIAL AND
ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES WE ARE
FACING TODAY. CLIMATE CHANGE IS
FURTHER UNDERMINING THE
RESILIENCE AND RELIABILITY OF
WATER INFRASTRUCTURE DAILY FROM
EXTREME DROUGHTS AND RISING SEA
LEVELS TO DEVASTATING STORMS,
FLOODS AND MEGA-FIRES, OUR
CURRENT WATER INFRASTRUCTURE
SYSTEM AND ITS GOVERNANCE MODEL
ARE UNDER IMMENSE PRESSURE. IN
MANY CASES, THEY LACK THE
CAPACITY FOR CAPACITY TO HANDLE
THESE COMPOUNDING AND CASCADING
RISKS, FURTHER HIGHLIGHTING THE
INEFFICIENCIES AND INJUSTICES
INHERENT IN THIS SYSTEM. DESPITE
ITS IMPORTANCE AS A TOOL FOR
PROTECTING AIR AND WATER QUALITY
AND FOR MITIGATING IMPACTS TO
PROTECTED SPECIES AND ECOSYSTEM,
THE ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITTING
PROCESS IS WIDELY RECOGNIZED TO
BE INEFFICIENT AND MARKED BY
DELAYS. THESE INEFFICIENCIES ARE
PARTICULARLY PREVALENT FOR MORE
INNOVATIVE PROJECTS, WHILE A
FASTER PROCESS IS NOT
NECESSARILY MORE EFFICIENT IT,
IF THAT SPEED REDUCES Ã PERMITS
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, IT IS
IMPORTANT TO MAKE THE PERMITTING
PROCESS MORE EFFECTIVE AND
EFFICIENT SIMULTANEOUSLY. I'M
GOING TO ELABORATE ON SOME OF
THESE SYSTEMATIC CHALLENGES AND
HIGHLIGHT THE OPPORTUNITY AREAS,
ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE
GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE AND
PERMITTING PROCESS. WE HAVE A WE
HAVE A REGULATORY FRAGMENTATION
THAT IS REALLY CHALLENGING A LOT
OF OUR DECISION MAKING PROCESS.
AS I NOTED EARLIER, WE HAVE
SEGMENTED OUR NATURAL WATER
CYCLE INTO THREE DISTINCT
CATEGORIES WATER, WASTEWATER,
AND FLOOD WATER. WHILE ALSO
DIVIDING UP OUR WATERSHEDS BASED
ON POLITICAL BOUNDARIES.
SEPARATE REGULATORY GOVERNANCE
SYSTEMS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED TO
MANAGE EACH CATEGORY
INDIVIDUALLY AND ACROSS
POLITICAL BORDERS. FINANCIAL
RESOURCES ALSO HAVE BEEN
ALLOCATED ACCORDINGLY AT THE
FEDERAL, STATE AND COUNTY
LEVELS, OFTEN RESULTING IN
ISOLATED FINDING, ISOLATED
FUNDING STREAMS FOR EACH PART
BASED ON ITS MISSIONS.
ADDITIONALLY, THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT EXERCISES REGULATORY
OVERSIGHT OVER SEVERAL OF THESE
SYSTEMS THROUGH THE CLEAN WATER
ACT OR AS A WATER RIGHT HOLDER
AND OR THROUGH OTHER FEDERAL
LAWS AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORKS.
FURTHERMORE, LOCAL AND REGIONAL
JURISDICTIONS HAVE THEIR OWN
ORDINANCES THAT GOVERN AND
MANAGE WATER ABOVE AND BEYOND
THESE STATE AND FEDERAL
GOVERNANCE STRUCTURES. THIS
MULTITUDE OF STATUTES IMPLY
HUNTING REGULATIONS, AGENCY
POLICIES, AND COURT DECISIONS
FROM THE PERMITTING PROCESS
DETERMINES THE PERMIT REQUIRED.
WHAT AGENCIES LOOK FOR DURING
THE PERMITTING PROCESS, AND WHAT
ACTIVITIES THEY CAN AUTHORIZE AT
ANY GIVEN TIME. AT LEAST 12
ENTITIES HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES
OVER WATER SUPPLY. ANOTHER 12
OVERSEE WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT
AND SEVEN ARE IN CHARGE OF FLOOD
CONTROL. IN SOME CASES, THESE
ARE OVERLAPS, BUT NOT ALWAYS.
OBTAINING EVEN A SINGLE PERMIT
REQUIRES METICULOUS ADHERENCE TO
COMPLICATED AND CONFLICTING SET
OF LAWS AND REGULATIONS. THIS
FRAGMENTED APPROACH CAN LEAD TO
INEFFICIENCIES AND CHALLENGES IN
MANAGING OUR WATER RESOURCES
HOLISTICALLY. IT CAN ALSO LIMIT
ACCESS TO FEDERALLY OR STATE, A
STATE APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO,
FUNDS TO INCONSISTENT TO
INCONSISTENTLY REQUIREMENTS AND
CRITERIA FOR LARGER PROJECTS.
THE COMPLEXITY INCREASES BECAUSE
MULTIPLE PERMITS ARE TYPICALLY
REQUIRED, NECESSITATING
ENGAGEMENT WITH SEVERAL
AGENCIES, EACH GOVERNED BY IN
DIFFERENT AUTHORIZATION
REGULATIONS. DIFFERENT
AUTHORIZING REGULATIONS. EACH
AGENCY HAS A SPECIFIC
APPLICATION PROCESS, PROCEDURE
FORMS, TIMELINES WHICH CAN WHICH
CAN VARY EVEN WITHIN DIFFERENT
REGIONS OF THE SAME AGENCY.
ADDITIONALLY, THE PERMITS ARE
SOMETIMES INTERDEPENDENT,
MEANING ONE AGENCY MUST WAIT FOR
ANOTHER PERMIT TO BE ISSUED
BEFORE MAKING THEIR DECISIONS.
FOR INSTANCE, CLEAN WATER ACT
SECTION 404 CERTIFICATION
REQUIRES A COMPLETED BIOLOGICAL
ASSESSMENT UNDER THE ENDANGERED
SPECIES ACT AND THE ISSUANCE OF
THE CLEAN WATER ACT, SECTION 401
CERTIFICATION, EACH OF WHICH IS
HANDLED BY SEPARATE AGENCIES. IN
SOME CASES, A MINIMUM
REQUIREMENT PROVIDED BY ONE
AGENCY MATCHES THE MAXIMUM
REQUIREMENT OF THE OTHER,
LEAVING NO LEEWAY TO ADAPT TO A
PARTICULAR REQUIREMENT OF A
SITE. FURTHERMORE, INNOVATIVE
CLIMATE SOLUTIONS SUCH AS NATURE
BASED SOLUTIONS, MULTIPLE
BENEFIT STRATEGIES, CIRCULAR
ECONOMY MODELS, AND INTEGRATED
RESOURCE SECTOR INTEGRATED
SECTOR SYNERGIES SUCH AS
INCLUDING THINKING ABOUT WATER,
ENERGY AND TRANSPORTATION AND
CARBON AS A SYNERGISTIC
STRATEGY, OFFER SUBSTANTIAL
POTENTIAL FOR CREATING A MORE
CLIMATE RESILIENT AND EQUITABLE
FUTURE. HOWEVER THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE
SOLUTIONS IS OFTEN HINDERED BY
THE COMPLEXITY OF EXISTING
PERMITTING PROCESS. THE CURRENT
REGULATORY FRAMEWORK STRUGGLES
TO ACCOMMODATE SUCH INTEGRATED
APPROACHES, NECESSITATING
COORDINATION ACROSS MULTIPLE
JURISDICTIONS AND AGENCIES. THE
FRAGMENTED REGULATORY LANDSCAPE
PRESENTS SIGNIFICANT OBSTACLES
COMPOUNDED BY RIGID LAWS THAT
OFTEN FAVOR TRADITIONAL
SOLUTIONS OVER INNOVATIVE ONES.
TO FULLY LEVERAGE LEVERAGE THE
BENEFITS OF THESE CLIMATE
SOLUTIONS, IT IS IMPERATIVE TO
REFORM THE PRIMARY PERMITTING
PROCESS FOSTERING A REGULATORY
ENVIRONMENT THAT SUPPORT
INNOVATIVE AND COLLABORATIVE
PROCESSES IS. ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS
THE UPTAKE OF WATER REUSE. MANY
OF YOU MIGHT HAVE AGENCIES THAT
ARE LOOKING AT WATER REUSE,
VARIOUS WATER REUSE PROJECTS
FROM BUILDING SCALE IN SAN
FRANCISCO TO REGIONAL SCALE ARE
TRANSFORMING THE CONVENTIONAL
ONCE THROUGH WATER REUSE NETWORK
THAT WE HAVE REQUIRING WATER AND
WASTEWATER ENTITIES TO WORK
TOGETHER TO MANAGE THEIR FLOWS,
MEET THE REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS
. VOIGTS. HOWEVER, MANY OF THESE
PROJECTS ALSO SUFFER FROM
COMPLEX AND MULTI-LAYERED
PERMITTING PROCESS, ESPECIALLY
THE SMALLER ONES MAKING THEIR
IMPLEMENTATION. IMPLEMENTING
OFTEN DIFFICULT AND INEFFICIENT.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN SAN FRANCISCO WE
HAVE AN ONSITE REUSE SYSTEM
ORDINANCE, WHICH IS ACTUALLY
WORKING PERFECTLY BECAUSE WE ARE
A CITY AND A COUNTY. SO WE
ACTUALLY STREAMLINED OR MADE THE
PERMITTING PROCESS MORE
EFFICIENT. HOWEVER, THIS IS NOT
TRUE FOR A LOT OF OTHER
LOCALITIES. SO PEOPLE NEED TO GO
TO PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE
REGIONAL, REGIONAL WATER BOARD
AND THEIR CITIES AND A LOT OF
DIFFERENT OTHER AGENCIES THAT
THEY HAVE TO GO. IN THIS CASE, A
FRAGMENTATION. I OFFER THREE
SUGGESTIONS CLEAR DEFINITIONS
AND CRITERIA. ESTABLISHING
UNIFORM DEFINITIONS AND CRITERIA
CAN CAN CERTAINLY PROMOTE
CONSISTENCY, CONSISTENCY ACROSS
JURISDICTIONS AND STREAMLINE THE
INTERPRETATION OF THE
REGULATIONS TO INTERAGENCY
COORDINATION. IMPLEMENTING
FORMAL MECHANISMS FOR
INTERAGENCY COLLABORATION, SUCH
AS TASK FORCES AND SHARED
COMMUNICATION PLATFORMS, CAN
HARMONIZE PERMITTING PROCESSES
AND EXPEDITE DECISION MAKING.
INCENTIVIZING COLLABORATION
USING FUNDING MECHANISMS TO
INCENTIVIZE AGENCIES TO WORK
TOGETHER TOWARDS COMMON GOALS
CAN FOSTER COOPERATION AND
REDUCE BUREAUCRATIC BARRIERS.
THE SECOND POINT I WANTED TO
NOTE HERE IS LACK OF DIGITAL
INFRASTRUCTURE AND SMART
PROCESSES. MODERNIZING AND
MODERNIZING A PERMITTING PROCESS
WITH DIGITAL TOOLS IS ESSENTIAL
FOR ENHANCING EFFICIENCY AND
TRANSPARENCY. THINK ABOUT ALL OF
US. WE LIVE IN A DIGITAL ERA.
OUR PERMITTING PROCESS LIVES IN
AN ANALOG ERA, UTILIZING ONLINE
TOOLS, CROWDSOURCING
INFORMATION, MAPPING EXISTING
DATA, AND BUILDING ONLINE
TRACKERS CAN SIGNIFICANTLY
IMPROVE PROCESS EFFICIENCY. THE
PERMIT APPLICATION PROCESS
GENERALLY INVOLVES SERIAL SERIAL
REVIEWS BY MULTIPLE AGENCIES,
DESPITE EACH AGENCY HAVING
SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT FORMS AND
INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS. SOME
INFORMATION, SUCH AS PROJECT
DESCRIPTIONS, IS OFTEN
DUPLICATED ACROSS MULTIPLE
APPLICATIONS. THIS RESULTING
MULTIPLE FORMS REQUESTING THE
SAME INFORMATION IN DIFFERENT
WAYS. REFORM ATTEMPTS TO CREATE
INTEGRATED PERMITTING PROCESS.
THIS COULD LEAD TO CREATION OF A
SINGLE FORM THAT COLLECTS ALL
NECESSARY INFORMATION FOR MAJOR
PERMITS. THIS APPROACH ALLOWS
SORRY ALLOWS APPLICATIONS
APPLICANTS TO PROVIDE
INFORMATION ONCE FILLING OUT AND
FILING A SINGLE COMPREHENSIVE
FORM. IN ADDITION, BUILDING AN
ONLINE DATABASE OF TECHNICAL
INFORMATION SUCH AS DISTRIBUTION
OF ENDANGERED SPECIES, CRITICAL
HABITAT, AND PREVIOUS PREVIOUS
PERMIT REQUIREMENTS CAN REALLY
IMPROVE OF THE PROCESS. THIS
DATABASE WOULD ENSURE THAT NEW
INFORMATION DOES NOT HAVE TO BE
GATHERED AND NEW. FOR EVERY
PROJECT OPERATING IN THE SIMILAR
WATERSHED OR GEOGRAPHIC AREA,
STREAMLINING OR MAKING THE
PROCESS MORE EFFICIENT AND
REDUCING REDUCING REDUNDANCY. IF
WE BASICALLY END UP WANTING TO
PERMIT A DIFFERENT KIND OF
PROJECTS IN A SINGLE WATERSHED,
EVERY ONE OF THOSE PERMITS HAVE
TO DO HAVE TO FILE IN THE
ENTERED SPECIES, DO THE
BIOLOGICAL, REVIEW AND FILE
THEM. AND NONE OF THOSE ARE
INCLUDED AND NOBODY ELSE CAN USE
IT AGAIN. SO THAT'S A VERY
INEFFICIENT PROCESS AT THIS
REQUIREMENT. AT THIS, ALL OF
THIS REQUIRES SUBSTANTIAL
INVESTMENT IN CREATION OF A
DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO
SUPPORT THESE PROCESSES. ACROSS
THE BOARD. SUCH INFRASTRUCTURE
WOULD ENCOMPASS SEVERAL CRITICAL
COMPONENTS INTEGRATED DATA
MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS. DEVELOPING
CENTRALIZED DATABASE THAT
CONSOLIDATES TECHNICAL
INFORMATION CAN ELIMINATE THE
REDUNDANCY AND PROVIDE UP TO
DATE INFORMATION FOR DECISION
MAKING. DIGITAL PLATFORMS FOR
SEAMLESS COMMUNICATION AND
COLLABORATION AMONG AGENCIES CAN
STREAMLINE, REVIEW AND
ACCELERATE PROCESS APPROVAL.
PROCESS USER FRIENDLY PORTALS
FOR SUBMITTING PERMIT
APPLICATION CAN SIMPLIFY THE
PROCESS, ALLOWING APPLICANTS TO
PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE
INFORMATION IN ONE PLACE AND
TRACK THEIR APPLICATION STATUS
IN REAL TIME. LEVERAGING AI
TOOLS TO ASSESS INITIAL REVIEW
CAN EXPEDITE PRELIMINARY
ASSESSMENT AND ENSURE COMPLIANCE
WITH REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS. IN
CONCLUSION, WE ARE BUILDING THE
FUTURE TODAY. OUR CURRENT
PERMITTING PROCESS MUST EVOLVE
TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF THE 21ST
CENTURY BY EMBRACING DIGITAL
INNOVATION AND FOSTERING GREATER
COLLABORATION AMONG REGULATORY
AGENCIES, WE CAN CREATE A MORE
EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE
PERMITTING FRAMEWORK. THIS
APPROACH NOT ONLY SUPPORTS
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, BUT
ALSO PROMOTES SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT AND RESILIENCE IN
THE FACE OF CLIMATE CHANGE. I
REALLY DO APPRECIATE FOR YOUR
YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS CRITICAL
ISSUE THE TOPIC OF STREAMLINING
AND EFFICIENCY HAS BEEN IN THIS
HOUSE FOR A LONG TIME. I USED TO
WORK HERE AND I DO APPRECIATE
THAT EVERYTHING WE DO SOMEHOW
NEEDS TO FIX THIS, VERY
FRAGMENTED AND OLD PROCESS. WE
CAN CALL IT WHATEVER WE CAN.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR THE TESTIMONY, LASTLY, WE'LL
HEAR ON CLIMATE RESILIENCY,
STEVE BOLIN, GOOD MORNING, AND
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INVITATION TO
SPEAK BEFORE YOU. MY NAME IS
STEVE BOLIN. I CURRENTLY LEAD,
GOVERNMENT AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
AT LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL
LAB. PRIOR TO THAT, THOUGH, I
LED THE ENERGY AND HOMELAND
SECURITY PROGRAM FOR HALF A
DOZEN YEARS. I'VE HAD THE
BENEFIT OF SERVING THE STATE
TWICE. I WAS THE STATE OIL AND
GAS SUPERVISOR IN 2014 AND 2015.
AND WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE HYDRAULIC
FRACTURING REGULATIONS AS
REQUIRED BY SENATE BILL FOUR. SO
IT WASN'T THE MOST FUN I'VE HAD
IN MY LIFE, BUT IT GAVE ME MORE
INSIGHTS INTO SOME OF THE
CHALLENGES THAT YOU ALL FACE AS
YOU CONSIDER REGULATORY REFORM,
THE SECOND TIME I SERVED THE
STATE WAS AS THE ACTING STATE
GEOLOGIST IN 2020 AND 2021, THAT
GAVE ME A FRONT ROW SEAT ON
MANY, MANY, MANY Kò,
MULTI-AGENCY DISCUSSIONS ON ON
HOW WE, SEQUESTER, CO2
GEOLOGICALLY IN THE STATE. THE
STATE IS BLESSED WITH SOME OF
THE BEST GEOLOGY FOR
SEQUESTRATION OF CO2 AND THAT
ALSO GAVE ME A REALLY GOOD,
INSIGHT INTO SOME OF THE
CHALLENGES THAT YOU ALL FACE IN
TERMS OF DEALING WITH THAT
ISSUE. YOU'VE HEARD FROM ALL OF
US ON THE ON THE PANEL THAT WE
HAVE TO WE WILL HAVE TO HAVE
MASSIVE INFRASTRUCTURE BUILDS
OVER THE NEXT FEW DECADES TO
MEET THE CHALLENGES OF CLIMATE
CHANGE, THE POWER NEEDS
SWITCHING OFF FOSSIL FUELS, A
HUGE TRANSITION, THE MAGNITUDE,
THOUGH, IS REALLY HARD FOR
EVERYONE TO GRASP JUST TO
ELECTRIFY THE TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEM. THE CPUC, ESTIMATES THAT
WE NEED THREE TIMES THE AMOUNT
OF POWER ON THE GRID THAN WE
CURRENTLY HAVE TO ELECTRIFY ALL
OF CALIFORNIA'S ECONOMY. WE NEED
FIVE TIMES. SO THESE ARE THESE
ARE MASSIVE EFFORTS, AND THEY'RE
AT ALL SCALES FROM THE SIZE OF
THE CULVERT IN THE ROAD THAT YOU
TRAVEL TO GET HOME, HOW BIG IS
THAT GOING TO HAVE TO BE GIVEN
INTENSE RAINSTORMS THAT ARE
GOING TO BE AFFECTING THE STATE
ALREADY Dð ATMOSPHERIC RIVERS,
TO THESE ISSUES THAT MY
COLLEAGUE DOCTOR WAH TALKED
ABOUT IN TERMS OF THIS, THE
MAGNITUDE OF THE POWER NEEDS OF
THE STATE, HOWEVER, THE
OVERRIDING ISSUE IS PERFECT AS
STARTING TO BECOME THE ENEMY OF
THE GOOD IN THE STATE. AND IN
TRYING TO SOLVE MULTIFACETED
PROBLEMS AND DOING SO, DOING SO
IN, IN, IN WAYS THAT, THAT TRY
TO DRIVE TOWARDS MANY POLICY
GOALS. WE END UP BEING PARALYZED
AND ACTUALLY DOING NOTHING AND I
WAS REMINDED OF THIS AS I
THOUGHT ABOUT THE TESTIMONY
TODAY WHEN I WAS A POSTDOCTORAL
RESEARCH FELLOW AT UCLA. THE
PERIPHERAL CANAL WAS THE BIG
DEBATE AT THE TIME, AND I HAD A
WATER ENGINEER COLLEAGUE SAY,
YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER
WAYS THAT IT COULD BE DONE. AND
A LOT OF THEM ARE WORSE, BUT WE
STILL HAVE TO SOLVE THIS
FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM OF HOW WE
PROTECT OUR WATER CONVEYANCE
SYSTEM IN THE STATE, WHICH NOW
IS STILL AT RISK OF ABSOLUTE
FAILURE, AND NOW WE HAVE, WHAT,
45 YEARS LATER, WE HAVE TUNNELS.
WE'RE, WE'RE DEBATING WE'RE
DEBATING WHETHER WE HAVE 1 OR 2.
THE SAME PROBLEM EXISTS. YOU
HAVE THE RISK OF HAVING COMPLETE
FAILURE OF YOUR WATER CONVEYANCE
SYSTEM BECAUSE YOU MIX WATER
FROM NORTHERN CALIFORNIA IN THE
EASTERN PART OF THE DELTA. AND
IF YOU LOSE LEVEES DURING A
SEISMIC EVENT, THAT WATER WILL
BE CONTAMINATED WITH SALTWATER.
SO YOU THAT'S WHAT, 45 YEARS AND
WE STILL HAVEN'T SOLVED THAT
PROBLEM. YOU HAVE TO SOLVE MAJOR
PROBLEMS WITH OUR ELECTRICAL
GRID, WITH OUR WATER
INFRASTRUCTURE AND SO FORTH, IN
MUCH LESS TIME THAN THAT. SO
PERFECT CAN'T BE THE ENEMY OF
THE GOOD. WE HAVE TO HAVE
ADAPTIVE APPROACHES TO THESE
PROBLEMS. YOU'RE GOING TO LEARN
AS YOU GO. WE'RE GOING TO LEARN.
WE ALWAYS LEARN AS WE GO. BUT
ONE THING THAT HASN'T BEEN
ADDRESSED AT THIS PANEL IS
CULTURE. AND WHEN I WAS, THE OIL
AND GAS SUPERVISOR AND
IMPLEMENTING A NEW SET OF
REGULATIONS AS, AS I SAID,
REQUIRED BY REGULATION, BY
LEGISLATION, WHAT I DISCOVERED
WAS THERE WERE MULTIPLE AGENCIES
THAT WERE PART OF REGULATING
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING IN THE
STATE, WHICH WAS THE SB FOUR.
LAW WAS ABOUT, AND IN MY
DISCUSSIONS WITH THE WATER BOARD
AND MY DISCUSSIONS WITH WHAT WAS
THEN CALLED THE DEPARTMENT OF
TOXIC SUBSTANCE CONTROL AND THE
CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION,
WHAT I FOUND WAS A CULTURE OF
REGULATION WHERE PEOPLE WOULD
SAY TO ME, I'M A GEOLOGIST. I'M
NOT A REGULATOR. SO IT WAS A IT
WAS A NEW WORLD TO ME, THEY
WOULD SAY THINGS WILL MOVE
FORWARD WHEN WE HAVE DONE OUR
WORK AND THERE WAS, I FELT, AN
UNFORTUNATE ATTITUDE OF THAT WE
NEED TO DO OUR WORK. WE'LL TAKE
AS LONG AS WE WANT TO GET IT
DONE. SO THIS IS A PRIMARILY AN
EXECUTIVE BRANCH PROBLEM, AND
IT'S GOING TO TAKE LEADERSHIP IN
THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH. BUT THERE
IS A CULTURE OF REGULATION THAT,
THAT EMPHASIZES THE NEED TO BE
EXTRA, SPECIALLY CAREFUL, EXTRA
PERFECT, THAT, THAT THINGS TAKE
AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF TIME,
AND IN MY VIEW, AS A PRAGMATIST,
TRYING TO, RIGHT. THE SHIP OF A
REGULATORY AGENCY THAT WAS
HAVING TROUBLES, MEET WHAT
GOVERNOR BROWN HAD ASKED ME TO
DO. I NEED I NEED INDUSTRY TO BE
ABLE TO FUNCTION, AND I NEED TO
DO IT IN AN ENVIRONMENTALLY
SOUND WAY. I CONSTANTLY RAN
INTO, ROADBLOCKS IN THE
EXECUTION OF MY DUTIES BY OTHER
STATE AGENCIES WHO WANTED TO GO
SLOW BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO GET
IT JUST RIGHT. THERE IS NO SUCH
THING AS JUST RIGHT, BECAUSE THE
SITUATION CHANGES AS YOU MOVE
ALONG. WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE
MOVING INTO A PERIOD OF RAPID
CHANGE. AND SO. SO, PERFECT
CAN'T BE THE ENEMY OF THE GOOD.
IT JUST CAN'T BE. IT FORECLOSES
OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU MAY NEED
IN THE FUTURE. ANOTHER EXAMPLE
IS, IS DO WE IN OUR IN OUR ZEAL
TO MOVE AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUELS
AND I AND THAT'S THAT'S
ABSOLUTELY WE NEED TO DO THAT AS
FAST AS POSSIBLE. WELL, WE DON'T
WANT TO FORECLOSE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE CARBON
NEGATIVE NATURAL GAS FLOWING
THROUGH THE, THE, THE, THE
NATURAL GAS DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
IN THE STATE. SO WE HAVE TO BE
CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT WE OPPOSE,
BECAUSE THERE MAY BE OTHER
SOLUTIONS THAT ARE ACTUALLY
BENEFICIAL FROM A CLIMATE POINT
OF VIEW, THAT, THAT WE NEED TO
CONSIDER. SO MY PLEA TO YOU IS
TO FORM A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
EXECUTIVE BRANCH TO CHANGE THE
CULTURE OF REGULATION THAT SAYS
IT'S OKAY TO TAKE TIME, IT'S NOT
OKAY TO TAKE TIME. WE DON'T HAVE
TIME, SECONDLY, YOU'RE GOING TO
HAVE TO DO SOME VERY CHALLENGING
THINGS, AND, THAT, THAT THEY'RE
HARD. THEY'RE ABSOLUTELY, VERY,
VERY, VERY HARD. QUADRUPLING
QUINTUPLING THE AMOUNT OF POWER
ON THE GRID, RECONSTRUCTING OR
PUTTING UP NEW WIRES. AS DOCTOR
WARREN SAID, ALL OF THAT TAKES
MONEY. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
FIND THAT MONEY. PUBLIC
INVESTMENT IS GOING TO BE
REQUIRED. AND THE GOOD NEWS IS,
AT THE MOMENT, WE'LL SEE WHAT
HAPPENS IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.
THERE'S A LOT OF FEDERAL
INVESTMENT THAT COULD COME IF
THE STATE'S WILLING TO INVEST
SOME AS WELL. SO, I'LL CONCLUDE
MY STATEMENT BECAUSE I THINK
HAVING Q&A IS PROBABLY MORE
IMPORTANT THAN LISTENING TO ME
SPEAK, BUT MULTI-AGED THèC
EFFORTS ARE REQUIRED FOR JUST
ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED TO
DO, AND WE NEED TO HAVE THOSE
EFFORTS PROCEED IN PARALLEL. THE
WHOLE ISSUE AROUND, STORING CO2
UNDERGROUND IS, IS A REQUIREMENT
FOR THE STATE TO MEET ITS
CLIMATE GOALS. THERE'S NO WAY
AROUND IT. THERE ARE NO AMOUNT
OF TREES WE CAN PLANT. THERE'S
NO AMOUNT OF WETLANDS WE CAN
RESTORE THAT ARE GOING TO SOLVE
THE PROBLEM THAT THAT WE SEE, IN
ORDER TO DEAL WITH 400 MILLION
METRIC TONS A YEAR OF CARBON
EMISSIONS, GEOLOGIC
SEQUESTRATION OF CO2 IS
REQUIRED, AS UNTIL WE GET
FARTHER DOWN THE ROAD AND HAVE A
CARBON FREE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,
AND OTHER CARBON FREE PROCESSES.
THE GOOD NEWS THERE IS THAT WE
HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY. WE CAN
CHANGE HOW WE USE OUR WASTE
PRODUCTS, FOREST WASTE,
MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE, AG WASTE,
TURN IT INTO HYDROGEN, WHICH THE
KECK SAYS THE STATE NEEDS, AND
PUT THE CO2 UNDERGROUND. WE
WON'T STORE OUR OUR OUR CO2. OUT
OF THE PROBLEM, BUT IT DOES
PROVIDE US TRANSITION IN TIME AS
WE GET EVERYTHING ELSE INVOLVED.
BUT THERE'S A HALF A DOZEN
AGENCIES INVOLVED IN PERMITTING
A SINGLE, SITE, THERE ARE, OVER
140 SITES AROUND THE WORLD,
GEOLOGIC SEQUESTRATION SITES
AROUND THE WORLD THAT ARE BEING
IN DEVELOPMENT RIGHT NOW.
THERE'S ABOUT 45 THAT ARE
OPERATIONAL. THERE'S ABOUT 50
MILLION TONS OF CO2 GOING
UNDERGROUND, AS CLIMATE
MITIGATION AROUND THE WORLD
RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE GREAT
GEOLOGY, WE NEED TO DO IT, BUT
WE CAN'T WE CAN'T GET ONE
PERMITTED. SO WE HAVE TO FIND A
WAY TO PARALLELIZE THEM. THAT
GETS TO EFFICIENCY. I THINK THAT
ASSEMBLY MEMBER WOOD TALKED
ABOUT SO THAT THESE THINGS CAN
HAPPEN FAIRLY QUICKLY BECAUSE
YOU'RE OUT OF TIME. YOU'RE JUST
ARE OUT OF TIME. AND IF WE'RE IF
WE'RE ACTUALLY IN A CRISIS, WE
ACTUALLY NEED TO ACT LIKE WE'RE
IN A CRISIS. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. I APPRECIATE YOUR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK BEFORE YOU.
THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. WE'VE
GOT A COUPLE MEMBERS WHO I WANT
I KNOW, WANT TO SPEAK, FIRST
WE'LL TURN TO MR. WOOD. FIRST OF
ALL, THANK YOU. THIS IS A GREAT
PANEL, AND I VERY MUCH
APPRECIATE THERE ARE SOME COMMON
THEMES IN YOUR TESTIMONY HERE
WHICH I WON'T, WON'T GO GET INTO
INTO A LOT. BUT BUT I DO WANT
TO, GO BACK TO, MR. BOHLEN, THIS
PARALLELIZATION AND PARALLEL
PARALLELIZATION WOULD BE, I
THINK, WOULD BE HUGELY VALUABLE.
AND SO MANY THINGS WE SEE,
EVERYTHING HAPPENS SEQUENTIALLY
AND IT AND YOU'RE DEALING WITH
THESE SILOS AND NO ONE'S WORKING
ON THE SAME PROJECT AT THE SAME
TIME. IT TAKES A HUGE, HUGE
AMOUNT OF TIME TO GET ANYTHING
DONE, AND I WOULD AGREE, THE
PERFECT IS BECOMING THE ENEMY OF
THE GOOD. AND HOW DO WE MAKE
THAT CULTURE SHIFT HAPPEN HERE
IN CALIFORNIA, WITH REGARDS TO
ENERGY, I'M SORT OF STUNNED THAT
WE IN CALIFORNIA DON'T HAVE A
SECRETARY OF ENERGY, WE HAVE THE
FIFTH LARGEST ECONOMY IN THE
WORLD. WE'RE FACING UNPARALLELED
, FOURTH. WELL, WHATEVER. PRETTY
BIG. OKAY. FOURTH. THANK YOU.
AND WHILE WE HAVE, YOU KNOW,
WHILE SOME AGENCIES SEEM TO HAVE
MORE INFLUENCE OR ANOTHER, WHAT
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IS AN AGENCY
OR A CZAR OR SOMEBODY WHO COULD
ACTUALLY COMPEL AGENCIES TO WORK
TOGETHER AND GET THESE THINGS
DONE. AND RIGHT NOW, IT FEELS
LIKE THE AGENCY IS KIND OF THEY
ALL KIND OF DO THEIR OWN THING,
AND IT'S GREAT. AND DOCTOR
O'HARA TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW,
THE CDC AND CAISO AND PUC WERE
COMING TOGETHER. AND IT SEEMS
LIKE THE OUTCOME OF THAT IS THAT
NOW WE HAVE A 20 YEAR PLAN. BUT
WHEN IT COMES TO ACTUALLY
GETTING PROJECTS DONE, WE STILL
WORK IN THAT SEQUENTIAL PARALLEL
WAY, WHICH IS DUPLICATIVE MANY
TIMES AROUND, ESPECIALLY AROUND
CEQA, AND, AND FRUSTRATING.
THERE IT'S LIKE WE AREN'T
WORKING. IT'S LIKE WE AREN'T
REACTING TO A CRISIS THAT IS AN
ABSOLUTE, WHICH IS A CRISIS
CRISIS HERE. SO, DOCTOR WALKER,
YOU TALKED ABOUT RECONNECTING,
WHICH I THINK IS A FABULOUS
CONCEPT. I WOULD IMAGINE THAT
REQUIRES A LEVEL OF SEQUEL
ANALYSIS, PROBABLY MULTIPLE
AGENCIES TO DO THAT. I DON'T
KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT, BUT I
THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD
FIND OUT, YOU SAID THAT THERE
ARE Kò BARRIERS. I MEAN, WHAT IS
THAT? AND THAT THE LEGISLATURE
SHOULD BE, YOU KNOW, DIRECTING
THAT. SO SO PART OF IT IS LIKE
IN THE BIG WORLD, WHY US? WE
DON'T HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE. WHY
AREN'T AGENCIES WHO HAVE A
PROBLEM MORE PROACTIVE IN COMING
UP WITH SOLUTIONS AND ASKING US
AS A LEGISLATURE TO HELP THEM
THROUGH A PROCESS? THERE IS
OFTEN SILENCE WHEN, WHEN, WHEN
THERE'S WE KNOW THERE'S A
PROBLEM OUT THERE, AND, AND WE
KNOW THAT SOMETIMES AGENCIES
ACTUALLY HAVE AUTHORITY TO DO
WHAT WE WANT THEM TO DO, BUT
THEY WON'T DO IT UNTIL WE TELL
THEM TO DO IT. AND THAT I, WE
HAVE SEEN IT IN HEALTH CARE MANY
TIMES LIKE, NO, YOU HAVE THE
AUTHORITY. NO WE NEED YOU TO
SPECIFICALLY TELL US TO USE OUR
AUTHORITY. SO THIS RELUCTANCE BY
AGENCY TO MOVE THINGS FORWARD IS
REALLY FRUSTRATING. I SEE MR.
BAUM NODDING OVER THERE, ABOUT
THAT. SO, SO I GUESS, YOU KNOW,
COMING BACK, I'M COMING BACK TO
THE WATER PIECE HERE. JUST IN
GENERAL, THE IDEA OF
PROGRAMMATIC, CEQA ANALYSIS OR
WOULD BE WOULD BE HELPFUL. SO
WE'RE NOT DOING DUPLICATION.
WHEN I WAS ON A PLANNING
COMMISSION YEARS AGO, I REMEMBER
SEEING THAT, A SEQUA ANALYSIS
COME TO US, AND I WAS READING
THROUGH THE CEQA ANALYSIS, AND I
ACTUALLY READ THEM, AND CAME
ACROSS REFERENCES TO ANOTHER
CITY. THESE ARE CUT AND PASTE.
THESE ARE DUPLICATIVE, WASTEFUL
DOCUMENTS BECAUSE THEIR CUT AND
PASTE THE SAME THING FOR CITIES
OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. SO
WHY ARE WE WHY ARE WE DOING WHY
ARE WE DOING THIS. SO ACTUALLY
THAT'S A LONG STATEMENT. BUT I
DO, I SHOULD CALL YOU DOC
GRAHAM. IF YOU KNOW YOUR MOVIES,
WELL, YOU'LL KNOW WHO I'M
TALKING ABOUT. OKAY IS LIKE,
OKAY, WE, THE CEC, PUC CAISO
HAVE COME TOGETHER AND THEY'VE
COME UP WITH THIS, YOU KNOW,
THEY'RE WORKING TOGETHER. THEY
GOT A 20 YEAR PLAN NOW, BUT I
HAVE ASKED REPEATEDLY, WHAT ARE
THE GOALS OF YOUR COLLABORATION?
WHAT DO YOU I MEAN, IT'S GREAT
THAT YOU NOW HAVE A 20 YEAR
PLAN. GREAT BUT WE HAVE A HUGE
CHALLENGE AHEAD OF US, AND
THERE'S A RELUCTANCE TO SET
GOALS, HOW THIS COLLABORATION
COULD BE MORE EFFECTIVE, I, I'VE
ASKED IN MULTIPLE HEARINGS ABOUT
THIS. CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT THE
GOAL OF YOUR COLLABORATION IS
AND GET GET NO ANSWERS. AND SO,
SO AS WE LOOK AT WE KNOW THAT
PLANNING, SITING, SITING,
FINANCING OF INFRASTRUCTURE IS A
HUGE CHALLENGE HERE, DO YOU HAVE
FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE? AND I
HAVE TREMENDOUS RESPECT FOR YOU
AND THE WORK THAT YOU DO ON SO
MANY AREAS. DO YOU HAVE A
THOUGHTS ABOUT HOW WE HOW WE CAN
DO THAT? I I'VE GIVEN YOU MY
IDEA. I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE AN
ENERGY CZAR, SOMEONE WHO CAN
POUND HEADS AND MAKE ALL THESE
AGENCIES ACTUALLY DO THE WORK
AND BE RESPONSIBLE TO THAT
PERSON WHO CAN THEN BE
RESPONSIBLE TO THE GOVERNOR TO
GET STUFF DONE INSTEAD OF
AGENCIES, JUST KIND OF ALL DOING
THEIR OWN THING OUT THERE, SO IF
YOU HAD A CRYSTAL BALL, DOCTOR
AURORA, WHAT WOULD YOU HOW COULD
WE EXPECT AND FOCUS THIS ON
TRANSMISSION? BECAUSE THAT'S
BEEN A HUGE ISSUE. STATE KNOWS
IT'S A PROBLEM. KNOWN IT FOR A
COUPLE OF YEARS. WE'RE MAKING
LITTLE TINY BITS OF PROGRESS
HERE. JUST FOCUS ON TRANSMISSION
FOR A MINUTE, I WOULD SUGGEST
TWO POTENTIAL POLICY IDEAS, BOTH
THAT HAVE BEEN TRIED
SUCCESSFULLY AND HAVE BEEN
SUCCESSFUL IN OTHER STATES. AND
I THINK WE SHOULD NOT BE SHY
ABOUT LOOKING TO OTHER STATES
THAT HAVE SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS TO
BUILD OUT THEIR SYSTEMS. ONE IS
WHAT IS CALLED A RENEWABLE
ENERGY TRANSMISSION AUTHORITY.
THAT'S A THAT'S A Ã OR AN
ORGANIZATION THAT WAS CREATED AT
BOTH IN NEW MEXICO AND COLORADO
AND IS DESIGNED TO FACILITATE
GREATER BUILDOUT, ESPECIALLY OF
THE LARGE KIND OF NOT NOT THE
LOCAL PROJECTS, BUT THE BIG
LINES THAT THAT SORT OF CONNECT
NEW AREAS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY
TO, TO THE LOAD, READER'S ARE
ARE A WAY TO BOTH, SORT OF
CIRCUMVENT THE INVESTOR OWNED
UTILITY TRANSMISSION PLANNING
PROCESS TO SOME DEGREE. AND ALSO
TO BRING NEW ACTORS AND NEW
MONEY INTO THAT PROCESS. AND WE
NEED NEW MONEY IN THAT PROCESS.
OUR IOUS HAVE LOTS OF CHALLENGES
DUE TO WILDFIRE THAT THEY'RE
STILL WORKING THROUGH AND
OVERCOMING, ANOTHER POLICY IDEA
THAT WAS HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL IN
TEXAS, OF ALL PLACES. YOU KNOW,
THINKING ABOUT POLICY IDEAS FROM
EVERYWHERE IS WHAT WE SHOULD BE
DOING, I THINK IS SOMETHING
CALLED, COMPETITIVE RENEWABLE
ENERGY ZONES. IT'S COMPETITIVE
BECAUSE TEXAS, BUT THE BASIC
IDEA IS TO SAY WHERE WE WANT
RENEWABLE ENERGY TO BE. SO FOR
EXAMPLE, IN CALIFORNIA, WE HAVE
A LOT OF AG LAND IN ON THE
WESTERN SIDE OF THE SACRAMENTO
VALLEY THAT IS UNSUITABLE FOR
BEING IN PRODUCTION AT THIS
POINT BECAUSE OF THE WATER. LOTS
OF REASONS. IT'S DISTURBED LAND.
GREAT PLACE TO PUT ENERGY
RESOURCES AS AN ACTRESS WOULD
SAY. LET'S BUILD THE
TRANSMISSION TO GO TO THAT AREA
SUFFICIENT TO FULLY UTILIZE THE
RENEWABLE RESOURCE THAT'S THERE,
AND THEN LET THE RENEWABLE
RESOURCES SHOW UP AND, AND, AND
CONNECT TO THAT TRANSMISSION,
BUILD IT, BUILD THE TRANSMISSION
, LEAD WITH THE TRANSMISSION. IF
YOU LEAD TO A PLACE WHERE
PERMITTING AND SITING IS LESS
PAINFUL. IF WE'RE NOT KILLING
JOSHUA TREES AND DESERT
TORTOISES TO INSTALL THE SOLAR
RIGHT, THAT WILL BE EASIER. AND
BUT BUT OUR PROCESS, AS HAS BEEN
POINTED OUT, IS VERY
INCREMENTAL. THE WAY THAT THE
PROCESS WORKS TODAY IS A PROJECT
COMES IN AND SAYS, I WANT TO
INTERCONNECT. AND THEN THE GRID
OPERATOR SAYS, WELL, WHAT THE
UPGRADES WOULD BE NECESSARY FOR
THIS PROJECT TO INTERCONNECT,
RATHER THAN SAYING, WE WANT TO
SEE GIGAWATTS OF POWER IN THIS
SPOT, AND THEREFORE WE'RE GOING
TO BUILD THE TRANSMISSION TO
SUPPORT THAT IN THE BELIEF THAT
THE POWER DEVELOPED, THE POWER
PLANT DEVELOPERS WILL SHOW UP IF
THERE IS TRANSMISSION. I THINK
THOSE TWO IDEAS COULD BE VERY
THEY WILL COME. YEAH YES. AND
TEXAS DID THAT AND THEY BUILT A
WIND INDUSTRY ON IT AND IT
WORKED. WELL THERE IS AND I'LL
AND I'LL LEAVE I KNOW I DON'T
WANT TO MONOPOLIZE TIME HERE,
BUT, THERE IS HUGE RELUCTANCE ON
THAT PIECE OF IT IN ONE
OVERSIGHT HEARING WE HAD WE
HEARD THAT, ASKED, YOU KNOW,
THERE'S RELUCTANCE TO OVERBUILD
BECAUSE THERE'S A FEAR THAT WE
WON'T BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE
THAT INFRASTRUCTURE. SO I ASKED
THE QUESTION, NOW, HOW WHEN WAS
THE LAST TIME WE OVERBUILT
TRANSMISSION IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA, 1930S. AND GUESS
WHAT, FOLKS? WE'VE USED IT ALL
UP, YOU KNOW, AND SO, SO THERE'S
THIS FEAR OF, OF BEING
INNOVATIVE IN THAT, IN THAT WAY.
AND THAT'S AND THAT'S PARALYZING
US. AND THAT'S A THAT'S A REAL
PROBLEM. SO THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. WE REALLY ARE TRYING TO
BUILD A FIELD OF DREAMS HERE.
SO, WE'LL DO MISS QUIRK-SILVA
NEXT. AND THEN MR. ALVAREZ, JUST
A FEW COMMENTS. Ã REALLY
APPRECIATED ALL OF YOUR
PRESENTATIONS. AND ACTUALLY,
THERE'S SOME VERY SPECIFIC
POLICY IDEAS. I THINK ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT GOES ACROSS ALL OF
THEM, WHETHER IT'S HOUSING OR
CLIMATE OR WATER, ARE THINGS
THAT WE HAVE SEEN, NOT ONLY AT
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, BUT THE STATE
IS THIS, FEAR AND THIS STALL AND
DELAY. AND SO WHETHER IT'S AT A
LOCAL LEVEL OR A STATE
BUREAUCRACY, WE CONTINUE TO SEE
NO URGENCY AND THIS NO URGENCY,
WHETHER IT'S A DEPARTMENT HEAD,
WHETHER IT'S SOMEBODY WHO HAS
PAPERS ON THEIR DESK THAT THEY
NEED TO MOVE A PROJECT FORWARD.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN AUDITS,
REPORTS THROUGH THE STATE NOW
FOR A HANDFUL OF YEARS THAT
SAID, YOU KNOW, ON WATER WELLS,
WE'VE HAD, THE FUNDING. AND YET
THEY WEREN'T PROCESSED. WE'VE
SEEN HIGH SPEED RAIL, THE
TUNNELS, MIDDLE MILE. SO MANY
BIG THINGS IN CALIFORNIA THAT
WERE NOT MOVING. SO I WILL JUST
SAY THAT I APPRECIATE YOUR
REMARKS, THAT WE ARE OUT OF
TOWN, OUT OF TIME, AND I KNOW WE
HAVE A YOUNGER GENERATION. I'M
ON MY LAST TERM. BUT SOME OF
THESE THINGS WE WERE TALKING
ABOUT WHEN I ARRIVED HERE IN
2013 AND WE HAVE NOT MADE
PROGRESS. PROGRESS ON THEM. AND
SO UNLESS WE GET OUT OF THE WAY
OF OURSELVES AND WE GET SOME
KIND OF URGENCY, THIS WILL IN
FACT BE THE SAME CONVERSATION.
YOU WILL BE HAVING AND SOME OF
YOU IN THE AUDIENCE, BECAUSE WE
ARE NOT MOVING ON THESE PROJECTS
AND THE BALANCE BETWEEN
ENVIRONMENT AND BUILDING AND
BUILDING THESE BIG
INFRASTRUCTURES, WE HAVE TO
DECIDE OUR LIVES. IMPORTANT IS
HOUSING. IMPORTANT IS SAFE
WATER. IMPORTANT IS POWER. AND
ESPECIALLY IN OUR VULNERABLE
COMMUNITIES, IF THEY CANNOT GET
TO THEIR JOBS, IF THEY DON'T
HAVE SAFE DRINKING WATER, ALL OF
THESE THINGS THERE IS A ROAD
TOWARDS THE CENTER. AND SO I'LL
JUST END WITH THAT, YOU SAID
WE'RE OUT OF TIME. WE'RE
PARALYZED, AND WE'RE ACTUALLY
DOING NOTHING. AND I HAVE BEEN
ON THESE COMMITTEES NOW FOR TEN
YEARS. WE HAVE TO GET MOVING.
CALIFORNIA. THANK YOU. SPEAKING
OF THAT, I HAVE TO GET MOVING.
THANK YOU, MISS QUIRK-SILVA, MR.
ALVAREZ, AND THEN MISS
PETRIE-NORRIS. THANK YOU, I
APPRECIATE ALL YOUR PANELS. I
HAVE QUESTIONS, PROBABLY FOR ALL
OF YOU. I THINK THE ONE, THOUGH.
THE ONE COMMENT I'LL MAKE IS THE
THEME THAT, RUNS THROUGH ALL OF
ALL OF THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO
HAPPEN THAT THIS COMMITTEE WILL
BE DISCUSSING IS, IS ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT MATTERS THE MOST TO
CALIFORNIANS, WHICH IS THE COST
OF LIVING. ALL OF THESE HAVE
THAT COMMON THEME. AND SO I
THINK THE COMMITTEE IS THIS
SELECT COMMITTEE IS APPROPRIATE
BECAUSE WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION
ON THINGS, BUT ALSO BECAUSE WE
NEED TO BE RESPONSIVE TO WHAT
CALIFORNIANS ARE ASKING FOR. IT
COSTS TOO MUCH FOR WATER. IT
COSTS TOO MUCH FOR HOUSING. IT
COSTS TOO MUCH FOR ELECTRICITY.
K¾T, AND SO REALLY, THE PROBLEMS
THAT WE ARE THAT ARE REGULATORY
IN NATURE AND PERMITTING IN
NATURE, AS THIS COMMITTEE, IS
FOCUSED ON LEAD TO THOSE HIGHER
COSTS. SO I TOO AM LOOKING
FORWARD TO, A WORK PRODUCT WITH
MANY POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS TO,
TO BE IMPLEMENTED AND, AND,
WORKED ON OVER THE NEXT YEAR.
LET ME FIRST START WITH ASKING
ABOUT, ABOUT HOUSING. I DO THINK
THAT, THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
HAVE TRIED TO STEP UP IN PLACES
WHERE THE WHERE THE STATE HAS
FAILED. I THINK YOU SEE THINGS
LIKE, I KNOW WHEN I WAS ON THE
CITY COUNCIL, WE DID
INCLUSIONARY ORDINANCES BECAUSE
WE JUST HAD NO OTHER TOOLS. WE
DID REGULATORY REFORM, BUT WE
COULD NOT REFORM CEQA. THAT WAS
SOMETHING BEYOND OUR ABILITY.
AND SO I THINK IN, IN, I THINK
OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE
ON THE GROUND RESPOND A LOT
FASTER THAN STATE GOVERNMENT
DOES. WE ARE MUCH SLOWER TO
RESPOND, BUT I ALSO DO DO KNOW
THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS PUT
FORWARD, MANY LAWS OVER THE LAST
SEVERAL YEARS, AND YOU WERE
TOUCHING, ABOUT THIS, NICK,
ABOUT HOW ONLY THE ADU LAWS HAVE
HAD SOME DEMONSTRABLE RESULT,
AND I'M JUST CURIOUS, DO YOU DO
YOU DO YOU HAVE A POLICY CENTER
WHO IS ANALYZING SOME OF THIS
LEGISLATION AND ITS EFFECTS?
BECAUSE I'M HEARING, ANECDOTAL
EVIDENCE ABOUT OTHER LAWS THAT
SEEM TO HAVE SOME INTEREST AND
SOME ARE HELPING TO, TO MOVE THE
BALL. BUT I DO FEAR THAT WE ARE
TRYING TO DO A LOT AND I THINK
WE SHOULD DO A LOT, BUT THEN
ALSO NOT REALLY SURE. YOU KNOW,
IF IT'S TOO SURGICAL AND
THEREFORE NOT REALLY MAKING A
TREMENDOUS IMPACT. AND I'M JUST
CURIOUS, HOW CAN WE MEASURE THIS
AS WE GO FORWARD? WELL, I MEAN,
THE BEST WAY TO MEASURE IT WOULD
BE TO RANDOMLY ASSIGN POLICIES,
TO, TO, TO WITHIN JURISDICTIONS,
BUT I DON'T THAT DOESN'T SEEM
LIKE A WAY FORWARD, SHORT OF
THAT, I THINK THE TERNER CENTER
FOR HOUSING INNOVATION AT UC
BERKELEY IS DOING A LOT OF
EXCELLENT WORK TO ASSESS THESE
POLICIES, YOU KNOW, AND I WOULD
SAY THAT THAT, THERE ARE MANY
LAWS THAT HAVE HAD SMALL EFFECTS
IN VERY TARGETED AREAS. THEY ARE
NOT MOVING THE NEEDLE IN THE BIG
WAY THAT, THAT THAT STATE
AGENCIES AND MANY INDEPENDENT
ANALYSTS HAVE IDENTIFIED AS
NECESSARY TO ADDRESS THE SEVERE
PROBLEM OF HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
AND HOMELESSNESS IN, IN
CALIFORNIA AND WITH RESPECT TO
LOCAL SOLUTIONS, YOU KNOW, THERE
ARE AS YOU KNOW, THERE ARE 482
CITIES AND 58 COUNTIES IN
CALIFORNIA. SOME, I THINK, ARE
TRYING VERY HARD TO ADDRESS THE
PROBLEM, BUT MAYBE LACK THE
TECHNICAL RESOURCES TO IMPLEMENT
EFFECTIVE POLICIES. SOME, QUITE
FRANKLY, ARE NOT TRYING VERY
HARD TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM AND
IN FACT ARE ACTING IN WAYS THAT
MAGNIFY THE PROBLEM. AND
CERTAINLY STATE STATE, STATE,
STATE LEGISLATIVE, EFFORT IS
NECESSARY TO ADDRESS THOSE
ISSUES. AND WITH RESPECT TO
INCLUSIONARY ZONING, AS I SAID,
YOU KNOW, IT CAN PRODUCE BELOW
MARKET RATE UNITS. IT CAN ALSO
INHIBIT MARKET RATE UNITS, AND
IT CAN EVEN INHIBIT BELOW MARKET
RATE UNITS, BECAUSE IF IT
PREVENTS PROJECTS FROM BEING
DEVELOPED AT ALL, THEN THOSE
PROJECTS WON'T HAVE ANY MARKET
RATE UNITS OR BELOW MARKET RATE
UNITS. AND SO I THINK THIS IS AN
AREA WHERE IT IS ACTUALLY QUITE
APPROPRIATE FOR THE LEGISLATURE
TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT LOCAL
INCLUSIONARY ORDINANCES ARE, ARE
CRAFTED IN A WAY THAT, THAT
MAXIMIZE THE BENEFITS AND
MINIMIZES SOME OF THE PROBLEMS
ASSOCIATED. DEFINITELY
INTERESTED IN FOLLOWING UP ON
THAT, YOU YOU TALKED ABOUT
EXEMPTING FEES AGAIN FROM LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS PERSPECTIVE, YOU
KNOW, FEES IS WHAT HELPS US
BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE. OUR
LIBRARIES, OUR POLICE STATIONS,
OUR FIRE STATIONS, OUR PARKS
THAT MAKE COMMUNITIES. AND SO
THAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT. I WILL
NOTE, THOUGH, ON ON SOMETHING
VERY SPECIFIC ON ADUS. THERE'S
THERE CONTINUES TO BE A
CONFLICT. AND THIS IS MAYBE
SOMETHING FOR US TO REVIEW, WE
HAD EXEMPTED OR ATTEMPTED TO
EXEMPT FEES FROM ADUS. AND I
KNOW FOR A FACT, BECAUSE I BUILT
AN ADU THAT THAT'S. NO, THAT'S
NOT THE CASE. WE'RE STILL
PAYING. I HAD TO PAY ALMOST
$15,000 FOR A WATER CONNECTION
FEE. JUST THE FEE, NOT THE
CONSTRUCTION. AND, ROUGHLY
$5,000 FOR A SCHOOL FEE FOR A
ONE BEDROOM UNIT THAT WILL NOT
HAVE CHILDREN LIVING IN IT
BECAUSE IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE
TO HAVE MULTIPLE MORE THAN 1 OR
2 PEOPLE LIVING AT A ONE
BEDROOM. THAT'S NOT HUMANE, AND
SO THE TYPE OF TENANT LIKELY
WILL NOT BE SOMEONE WITH
CHILDREN. SO YOU'RE PAYING
SCHOOL FEES FOR, FOR SOMETHING.
SO THAT CONTINUES TO BE AN
ISSUE. ARE THERE OTHERS THAT
YOU'VE IDENTIFIED IN TERMS OF
FEES THAT MAYBE ARE MORE
SPECIFIC? WELL, I MEAN, ACTUALLY
WHAT I SAID ABOUT FEES WAS NOT
THAT THAT THEY THAT MULTIFAMILY
DEVELOPMENT SHOULD BE EXEMPT
FROM FEES, BUT THAT FEES SHOULD
CLEARLY BE TIED TO THE IMPACTS
OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND THE
PROBLEM THAT YOU'RE IDENTIFYING
WITH RESPECT TO YOUR ADU IS
EXACTLY THE PROBLEM THAT I THINK
MANY BUILDERS OF MULTIFAMILY
HOUSING EXPERIENCE WITH RESPECT
TO MULTIFAMILY HOUSING, WHICH IS
THAT THEY ARE REQUIRED TO PAY
FEES THAT MAY NOT ACTUALLY,
MITIGATE THE IMPACTS OF THAT
PARTICULAR DEVELOPMENT. AND SO I
DO THINK THAT, THERE ARE THERE
ARE A VARIETY OF, OF WAYS ONE
WOULD BE TO, TO PROVIDE SOME,
SOME FORM OF STATE REVIEW FOR
FEES. ANOTHER WOULD BE, FOR
EXAMPLE, TO CREATE AN EXACTIONS
BUDGET FOR A MUNICIPALITY, FOR
MUNICIPALITIES, SO THAT THEY
COULD SORT OF DETERMINE HOW THE
TOTAL MAGNITUDE OF EXACTIONS AND
THEN DETERMINE HOW TO ALLOCATE
THEM, THERE ARE A VARIETY OF
DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT MECHANISMS,
BUT I THINK THAT THE KEY ISSUE
IS, YOU KNOW, AS A RESULT OF
PROP 13, AMONG OTHER LAWS, IT IS
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CERTAINLY ARE
VERY CONSTRAINED IN TERMS OF
RESOURCES. FEES ARE IMPORTANT,
BUT THEY CAN BE ABUSED. YOU ALSO
TALKED ABOUT CEQA EXEMPTIONS AND
TPAS AS ONE POLICY SUGGESTION.
OAN I THOUGHT WE HAD DONE. THE
LEGISLATURE HAD DONE SOME PRETTY
SIGNIFICANT WORK AROUND TPA'S
TRANSIT PRIORITY AREAS WHEN IT
COMES TO REGULATORY REFORM, BUT
IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S STILL
SOME BARRIERS THERE. SO YES,
I'VE DONE TWO RESEARCH PROJECTS
ON THIS. ON THIS ISSUE, THERE
ARE A VARIETY OF EXCEPTIONS TO
THE EXEMPTIONS. AND YES, SO OFF
THE I MEAN, BASICALLY THE
PROJECT HAS TO CHECK A LARGE
NUMBER OF BOXES IN ORDER TO
QUALIFY. AND WHETHER IT CHECKS
THOSE BOXES IS OFTEN AT THE IS
OFTEN AT THE DISCRETION OF THE
LOCAL DECISION MAKER. I WOULD
ALSO NOTE THAT, THE STRONGEST
PREDICTOR OF WHETHER A PROJECT
WILL REDUCE VEHICLE MILES
TRAVELED IS PROXIMITY TO JOBS
VIA AUTO. SO RESTRICTING INFILL
DEVELOPMENT TO TRANSIT PRIORITY
AREAS, I THINK FROM FROM A
PERSPECTIVE OF ADDRESSING BOTH
THE TRANSPORTATION PROBLEMS OF
CALIFORNIA AND THE HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY PROBLEMS IS
PROBABLY OVERLY RESTRICTIVE. AND
WHAT I'M SUGGESTING IS A
STRAIGHT UP CEQA EXEMPTION IS A
MAP BASED EXEMPTION OF INFILL
PROJECTS, OVER A CERTAIN UNIT
THRESHOLD SO THAT THE BOX
CHECKING IS VERY CLEAR, OKAY.
DEFINITELY FOLLOW UP ON THOSE
TWO, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE AND
MAYBE JUST FOR TIME. I HAVE
QUESTIONS FOR ALL OF YOU, BUT
FOR TIME PURPOSES, I'LL FOCUS
ON, ON ON HOUSING AT THE MOMENT.
NO, I HAVE TO ASK ENERGY
QUESTIONS, TOO. NICK, YOU
TOUCHED ABOUT CERTAIN CITIES
THAT ARE MAYBE NOT
PARTICIPATING. IS THERE A
GENERAL THEME AS TO WHAT THESE
WHAT THESE CITIES LOOK LIKE?
WHAT PARTS OF CALIFORNIA THEY'RE
FROM, DEMOGRAPHIC MIX? ARE THERE
ANY CONSISTENT THEMES? I MEAN,
CERTAINLY, I THINK HISTORICALLY
IT'S BEEN MORE COASTAL,
RELATIVELY AFFLUENT COMMUNITIES,
AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE
EXCEPTIONS, I THINK, THERE. BUT
BUT THERE ARE MANY INSTANCES IN
WHICH THAT REMAINS THE CASE. AND
THOSE ARE ALSO FREQUENTLY AREAS
WHERE MORE HOUSING WOULD HAVE,
SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS IN TERMS OF
PROXIMITY TO JOBS AND, AND OTHER
OTHER RESOURCES, BUT NOT
EXCLUSIVELY. I MEAN, I THINK
THERE ARE MANY THERE ARE MANY
CITIES THAT THAT INTENTIONALLY
OR NOT, YOU KNOW, I THINK MANY
CITIES UNINTENTIONALLY PLACE
OBSTACLES TO MULTI-FAMILY
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. LET ME ASK
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ENERGY, AND I
HEARD, IS IT DOCTOR WALKER?
YEAH. THANK YOU, TALK ABOUT
SOLAR AND WIND QUITE A BIT. DID
NOT HEAR YOU TALK ABOUT
HYDROGEN, ALTHOUGH LATER IT WAS
BROUGHT UP, BY MR. BOLIN, DO YOU
HAVE A PERSPECTIVE ON ON THAT
AND WHAT ROLE THAT PLAYS IN THE
FUTURE ENERGY NEEDS OF
CALIFORNIA AND WHETHER,
PERMITTING OF PROJECTS RELATED
TO THAT ALSO NEED TO WE NEED TO
FIGURE OUT WAYS TO STREAMLINE OR
TO FACILITATE THAT. SO LET'S
SEE. HYDROGEN IS A COMPLICATED
ISSUE BECAUSE, THE BIG QUESTION
THAT EVERYONE SHOULD ASK ABOUT
ANY HYDROGEN PROPOSAL IS WHERE
DO YOU GET YOUR HYDROGEN FROM?
BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF
HYDROGEN THAT'S BEING OFFERED AS
LIKE A SOLUTION TODAY THAT IS
NOT ACTUALLY A CLIMATE SOLUTION.
AND IT WOULD BE MUCH BETTER TO
JUST BURN NATURAL GAS. SO UNTIL
WE HAVE HAVE LARGE SCALE
PROPOSALS TO PRODUCE WHAT IS
CALLED GREEN HYDROGEN, AND THAT
WHAT THAT BASICALLY MEANS IS
MAKING HYDROGEN OUT OF WATER,
SPLITTING THE WATER MOLECULE
INTO AN H2 AND AN O2 OR COUPLE,
YOU KNOW, GET THE STOICHIOMETRY,
RIGHT. BUT WHATEVER, THE UNTIL
WE HAVE THOSE KINDS OF PROJECTS,
I THINK HYDROGEN IS NOT REALLY A
SOLUTION, AND IT IS IT IS. SO
I'M EXCITED TO SEE THAT KIND OF
TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT. I THINK
THE COST OF ELECTROLYZERS, THE
Kò DEVICE THAT BREAKS THAT, THAT
BOND AND MAKES GREEN HYDROGEN IS
COMING DOWN. BUT THE REALITY IS
ALSO THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO
POWER THOSE ELECTROLYZERS WITH A
TON OF RENEWABLE ENERGY FOR THE
WHOLE THING TO ACTUALLY BE ZERO
CARBON. AND SO I THINK THE STATE
SHOULD SUPPORT THAT, THAT THE
STATE SHOULD SUPPORT PILOT
PROJECTS IN THAT SPACE. AND BY
PILOT, I MEAN BOTH SMALL SCALE
AND MUCH LARGER SCALE TO SEE IF
IT WORKS. BUT WE SHOULD ALSO BE
CLEAR EYED THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS
IS NOT A TECHNOLOGY THAT HAS
BEEN USED AT THE SCALE THAT WE
ARE CONTEMPLATING IT AND
INTEGRATE IT INTO THE SYSTEMS
THAT IT WILL NEED TO BE
INTEGRATED INTO HYDROGEN IN
PIPELINES IS, YOU KNOW, IN
NATURAL GAS PIPELINES IS KIND OF
A NOT A GREAT SOLUTION. THERE'S
A VERY LIMITED AMOUNT OF
HYDROGEN THAT CAN BE PUT INTO
THOSE PIPELINES WITHOUT CAUSING
BIG ISSUES WITH THE SYSTEM, SO
DO WE WANT TO BUILD A HYDROGEN
SPECIFIC PIPELINE SYSTEM? THAT
IS A VERY OPEN QUESTION. OR
WOULD IT MAKE SENSE TO HAVE AN
ELECTROLYZER NEXT TO A POWER
PLANT THAT ONLY RUNS ON THE
HOTTEST SUMMER AFTERNOONS, AND
MAYBE IT'S A SMALL ELECTROLYZER,
AND SO IT'S MAKING JUST ENOUGH
HYDROGEN FOR THAT PEAKER TO RUN
WHEN IT NEEDS TO RUN. MAYBE
THAT'S A SOLUTION, BUT I GUESS I
THINK WE'RE, WE'RE EARLY AND WE
CAN PLAN TO USE A LOT OF GREEN
HYDROGEN, BUT THE INDUSTRY DOES
NOT EXIST. AND IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT TO BE CLEAR WHEN
SOMETHING IS LIKE A MODEL
OUTCOME WHERE WE'RE LIKE, OH, WE
NEED TO GET TO THIS AMOUNT OF
CARBON BY THIS YEAR. SO WE NEED
TO HAVE SOME HYDROGEN. THAT'S
ONE THING. ANOTHER THING IS ARE
THERE INVESTABLE FINANCEABLE
PROJECTS AND THAT WE'RE MUCH
FURTHER AWAY FROM, I WOULD
ARGUE, LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT
TRANSMISSION. AND I HAD WRITTEN
DOWN THE QUESTION BEFORE YOU
MENTIONED THE PHRASE, WHICH WAS
NEW TO ME, I THINK, CORRECT ME.
RECONNECTING. RECONNECTING.
YEAH. RECONNECTING OKAY. I WROTE
THE QUESTION, YOU TALKED ABOUT
BUILDING NEW TRANSMISSION LINES
AS A NEED, AND THEN MY FOLLOW
UP, MY NOTES WAS WHAT ABOUT
ENHANCING EXISTING? SO THEN YOU
DID TALK ABOUT RECONSTRUCTING,
IT LET ME ASK, IS THAT BEING
DONE TODAY WITH NEW INSTALLATION
OR IS IT NOT? ARE PEOPLE IS THIS
A TECHNOLOGY THAT YOU SEE, IN
THE FUTURE, OR IS IT ACTUALLY A
REAL TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE OR
REAL SYSTEM AVAILABLE? IT'S A
REAL TECHNOLOGY. THERE HAVE BEEN
CHALLENGES WITH SUPPLY CHAIN
GETTING, YOU KNOW, GETTING
ENOUGH WIRE OF LINEAR FEET OF
WIRE THAT YOU NEED, I WOULD SAY
CREATING A CLEAR AND SUSTAINED
DEMAND WOULD HELP TO FACILITATE
SOLVING SOME OF THOSE SUPPLY
CHAIN ISSUES. AND SO CALIFORNIA
COULD POTENTIALLY BE A LEADER IN
THAT AND SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE
HAVE AN OLDER SYSTEM. WE HAVE
PARTS OF OUR SYSTEM, AS WE ALL
LEARNED, MUCH TO OUR DISMAY,
THAT WERE BUILT IN THE 1920S,
YOU KNOW, AND WE HAVE PARTS OF A
LOT OF OUR SYSTEM WAS BUILT IN
THE 1960S, AND WE COULD TAKE
THAT EXISTING SYSTEM AND, AND
REALLY THINK SYSTEMATICALLY
ABOUT RECONSTRUCTING A LARGE
FRACTION OF IT TO STRENGTHEN THE
BACKBONE, RIGHT, TO STRENGTHEN
OUR ABILITY, LIKE ON A HOT
AFTERNOON SOON TO MOVE POWER
INTO CALIFORNIA FROM THE
BONNEVILLE POWER AUTHORITY,
WHICH IS A KEY EXTERNAL RESOURCE
THAT WE RELY UPON, AND ALSO TO
MOVE OUR OWN POWER OUT OF THE
STATE WHEN WE HAVE TOO MUCH OF
IT. YOU KNOW, ON A IN A ON AN
APRIL DAY AT NOON, WE HAVE FAR
TOO MUCH SOLAR POWER AND WE'RE
SORRY TO INTERRUPT. SO THIS IS
LARGE SCALE CON, YES.
CONDUCTING, NOT TRANSMISSION
LINES AND COMMUNITIES AND
NEIGHBORHOODS. OKAY. YEAH. THIS
IS THIS IS A YES. SO THERE'S
SORT OF THERE ARE ESSENTIALLY
TWO SYSTEMS THAT WE HAVE TO
SUPPORT THE, THERE'S THE, THE,
THE BIG SYSTEM, KIND OF LIKE THE
INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM OF
TRANSMISSION. AND THEN THE LOCAL
ROADS ARE WHAT WE CALL THE
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM. THIS IS NOT
SO MUCH IN THE DISTRIBUTION
SYSTEM. OKAY. AND LAST ONE AND
I'LL JUST DO HOUSING AND ENERGY,
ALTHOUGH I HAVE QUESTIONS ON
WATER AND ON, ESPECIALLY ON THE
CULTURE OF REGULATION, I THINK
THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO
REALLY TALK MORE ABOUT. BUT
MINISTERIAL AND
NON-DISCRETIONARY OF SOLAR, IS
THAT NOT CURRENTLY STATE LAW. SO
THERE IS STILL DISCRETIONARY
PROCESSES FOR HOME SOLAR,
RESIDENTIAL SOLAR AND SMALL
SCALE COMMERCIAL. SO THERE ARE
IMPORTANT STEPS IN THE PLANNING
AND PERMITTING PROCESS WHERE,
FOR EXAMPLE, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
IS INVOLVED BECAUSE THEY MAY
WANT TO BE UP ON YOUR ROOF IN A
IF YOU HAVE A HOUSE FIRE, THERE
ARE THERE'S AN IMPORTANT
PERMITTING PROCESS INVOLVING
INTERCONNECTION TO THE
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM THAT THE
WIRES IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT
THE UTILITY CONTROLS AND DOES IN
A PARTICULAR WAY. THAT TAKES
TIME AND EXPERTISE TO NAVIGATE
AND THE IN GENERAL, THE
PERMITTING PROCESSES DOES
REQUIRE EXPERTISE WITH MANAGING
THE PLANNING DESK AT WHATEVER,
YOU KNOW, LOCAL AGENCY. AND
THAT'S NOT TRUE IN EVERY
COUNTRY. AND THOSE COUNTRIES
HAVE RELIABLE ELECTRICITY
SYSTEMS AND THEIR ROOFTOP SOLAR
COSTS A LOT LESS. I THINK IT IS
A IT IS A PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE
NOT WORKED ENOUGH ON IN THE
UNITED STATES AND ESPECIALLY IN
CALIFORNIA, WHERE WE HAVE A LOT
OF INTEREST IN THE TECHNOLOGY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR. THANK YOU, MR. ALVAREZ.
WE WILL NOW GO TO MISS
PETRIE-NORRIS AND THEN MR.
CARILLO. THANK YOU, MADAM. THEN
MR. BENNET. THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR
BEING HERE. REALLY APPRECIATE
YOU DIGGING IN WITH US. AND
OFFERING REALLY CONCRETE POLICY
PROPOSALS. I SOMETIMES THINK WE
HAVE CONVERSATIONS. EVERYONE
SAYS, GOSH, WE NEED TO SPEED UP
PERMITTING. WE NEED WE NEED
REFORMS. AND YOU SAY, OKAY,
GREAT, WE NEED SOME IDEAS. SO I
APPRECIATE THAT YOU GUYS HAVE
COME WITH THOSE AND LOOK FORWARD
TO PURSUING THOSE. I DO WANT TO
DIG IN A LITTLE BIT MORE TO, TO,
THE ENERGY CONVERSATION, SO AND
I GUESS WE, ASSEMBLY MEMBER WOOD
TALKED A BIT ABOUT CONCERNS, HIS
FRUSTRATION ABOUT THE LENGTH OF
THE TRANSMISSION PLANNING
PROCESS. AS YOU HIGHLIGHTED,
IT'S TAKING US TEN YEARS TO
BUILD NEW TRANSMISSION PROJECTS,
WE'RE NEVER GOING TO GET IT TO
ONE. WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE
RIGHT GOAL? BECAUSE I THINK IT
IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO
COLLECTIVELY BE ORIENTED AROUND
A GOAL THAT'S AMBITIOUS BUT ALSO
REALISTIC, AND ORIENT THE
LEGISLATURE AS WELL AS OUR
AGENCY PARTNERS AROUND THAT. SO
WHAT DO YOU THINK SHOULD BE OUR
GOAL, I WOULD BE THRILLED IF WE
COULD ROUGHLY DOUBLE THE RATE OF
TRANSMISSION CONSTRUCTION IN
CALIFORNIA. SO YOU KNOW THAT
TYPICALLY THAT'S MEASURED IN
TERMS OF FUNNY UNIT CALLED
GIGAWATT MILES. BUT, YOU KNOW,
THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS TO
SLICE IT. BUT I THINK WE NEED TO
ROUGHLY DOUBLE WHAT WE'RE DOING.
AND SO YOU COULD IMAGINE ONE WAY
TO THINK ABOUT THAT IS CUTTING
THE PERMITTING TIME TO FIVE
YEARS FROM TEN. RIGHT. OR THE
AVERAGE TIME TO PLACING A NEW
LINE IN OPERATION OR, OR, YOU
KNOW, ROUGHLY DOUBLING THE
NUMBER OF LINES THAT ARE IN
INCLUDED IN THE TRANSMISSION
PLANNING PROCESS AT PRESENT. I
THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S
KIND OF A ROUGH ORDER OF
MAGNITUDE OF WHERE WE NEED TO
BE. I WOULDN'T WANT TO GET TOO
FIXATED ON A PARTICULAR NUMBER
BECAUSE FOR TRANSMISSION, JUST
LIKE FOR HOUSING PLACE MATTERS,
RIGHT? IT'S ALSO BUILDING THE
LINE THAT WE NEED, NOT JUST
BUILDING LINES. AND SO AND SOME
OF THOSE PLACES ARE PARTICULARLY
HARD. YOU KNOW, WE FACE
RELIABILITY CONSTRAINTS
PARTICULARLY, YOU KNOW, IN
CERTAIN PARTS OF THE STATE
BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH
TRANSMISSION LINES, FOR EXAMPLE,
THAT SERVE THE SOUTH COAST, AREA
. SO THAT MEANS WE HAVE TO KEEP
ON THESE ONCE THROUGH COOLING
POWER PLANTS THAT THAT ARE IN EJ
COMMUNITIES THAT THE STATE IS
COMMITTED TO GETTING RID OF. AND
YEAR AFTER YEAR, WE HAVE TO KEEP
THEM AROUND. AND SO THE
SOLUTIONS THERE INVOLVE
INCREASING THE FLEXIBILITY OF
THE SYSTEM. AND THEN YOU ALSO
SAID WE NEED TO FIND NEW WAYS TO
PAY FOR THIS. AND THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT WE IN THE
COMMITTEE WE'VE BEEN DIGGING
INTO A BIT. BUT CAN YOU SAY A
LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT, AS
WELL AS ARE THERE MODELS IN
OTHER STATES THAT WE SHOULD BE
LOOKING TO, IS IT THE RENEWABLE
ENERGY TRANSMISSION AUTHORITY,
OR ARE THERE SOME OTHER MODELS
THAT THAT WE SHOULD SHOULD BE
LOOKING TO? WELL, I THINK, A
COUPLE OF THINGS. I THINK WE DO
NEED TO LOOK AT SOURCES OF, YOU
KNOW, REALLY COST EFFECTIVE USE
OF THE MONEY WE DO HAVE. AND,
YOU KNOW, ONE OPTION THERE, I'M
NOT NECESSARILY SAYING IT'S A
IT'S IT HAS PROS AND CONS. IS
PUBLIC FINANCE OF TRANSMISSION
WHICH WILL LOWER ITS OVERALL
COST BECAUSE THEN YOU'RE NOT
PAYING A RATE OF RETURN TO
RATEPAYERS. I'M SORRY TO
SHAREHOLDERS. ANOTHER OPTION IS
REALLY FACILITY SITING THE
CONSTRUCTION OF WHAT IS CALLED
MERCHANT TRANSMISSION, WHERE A
THIRD PARTY OWNS THE
TRANSMISSION AND MAKES MONEY
FROM SELLING. BASICALLY, YOU
KNOW, BASICALLY RENTING OUT THE
TRANSMISSION CAPACITY, AND,
THIRD OPTION THAT I WOULD I
PERSONALLY THINK NEEDS TO BE ON
THE TABLE IS A MAJOR STATE LED
INVESTMENT THAT TAKES GREENHOUSE
GAS REDUCTION FUNDS, AND INVEST
THEM IN HIGH VOLTAGE
TRANSMISSION, HIGH VOLTAGE
TRANSMISSION IS THE THING THAT
WE NEED TO ACHIEVE THE CLEAN
ENERGY TRANSITION. WHATEVER YOUR
VIEWS ARE ABOUT WHICH ENERGY
RESOURCE, WHETHER IT'S HYDROGEN
OR CARBON CAPTURE OR I FAVOR
ENHANCED GEOTHERMAL, WHATEVER IT
IS, WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO BUILD
A LOT OF TRANSMISSION AND IT'S A
IT'S A ONE TIME KIND OF
INVESTMENT THAT'S DRIVEN BY THE
POLICY GOAL SET BY AB 32 AND SB
32. AND I GUESS MY VIEW WOULD BE
WE SHOULD BE WILLING TO INVEST
THE RESOURCES THAT ARE GENERATED
BY CAP AND TRADE IN THE SOLUTION
THAT IS DELIVERING REDUCTIONS IN
THE LARGEST MAGNITUDE, CALLED
THE GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION
FUND. SO IT SEEMS LIKE INDEED WE
SHOULD BE LOOKING TO MAXIMIZE
THE AMOUNT OF GREENHOUSE GAS
REDUCED. IT IS ALWAYS
OVERSUBSCRIBED, AS I'M SURE YOU
KNOW, WHICH IS WHAT MAKES THIS
IDEA SO HARD. BUT IT'S ALSO A
GROWING POT OF MONEY AS THE
PRICE OF ALLOWANCES GOES UP. AND
THEN JUST ONE FOLLOW UP QUESTION
ON, THE CONVERSATION AROUND GRID
ENHANCING TECHNOLOGIES
RECONNECTING. WE'VE HAD A BIT OF
CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT THIS
YEAR AS WELL. AND ADVOCATES ARE
SAYING WE'RE NOT DOING ENOUGH.
WE'RE NOT MOVING QUICKLY ENOUGH.
IN CALIFORNIA, THE AGENCIES
WOULD SAY, OH, YEAH, WE'RE
TAKING ALL THAT INTO ACCOUNT.
WE'RE DOING ALL OF THAT. SOUNDS
LIKE YOU WOULD PERHAPS MORE
AGREE WITH THE ADVOCATES. AND
AGAIN, THERE ARE THERE STATES
WHO WE CAN LOOK TO WHO ARE DOING
A GOOD JOB ON THAT FRONT. I'M
NOT AWARE OF A STATE THAT'S
TAKEN A KIND OF COMPREHENSIVE
APPROACH TO RECONNECTING AT THIS
POINT, I DO THINK THIS LIKE
ANOTHER ANOTHER FRAME TO THINK
ABOUT, LIKE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
THE ENERGY SYSTEM, WE HAVE TO
KEEP BE IN TOUCH WITH THE
REALITY OF THE POLITICS AROUND
THE ENERGY SYSTEM WHERE THE
INVESTOR OWNED UTILITIES ARE
VERY IMPORTANT IN THE
CONVERSATION. AND SO I THINK
GETTING THE INCENTIVES RIGHT FOR
THE INVESTOR OWNED UTILITIES TO
BE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT
RECONNECTING, PERHAPS LOWERING,
PERMITTING BARRIERS FOR
RECONNECTING, LIKE TO THE DEGREE
THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS, REALLY
STREAMLINE THAT, BECAUSE THE
REALITY IS YOU'RE YOU'RE
REPLACING SOMETHING THAT'S THERE
WITH SOMETHING THAT LOOKS JUST
LIKE IT, ONLY IT HAS DIFFERENT
MATERIALS THAT ALLOW IT TO
PERFORM BETTER. AND THAT SHOULD
NOT BE A MAJOR CEQA PROCESS, SO,
SO REALLY STREAMLINING THAT AND,
AND, AND PRIORITIZING PROJECTS
THAT CAN BE DONE QUICKLY. RIGHT.
PRIORITIZING SPEED I THINK IS
AND THAT'S WHERE RE CONDUCTOR
WILL SHINE. YEP. GOT IT. THANK
YOU THANK YOU. WE'LL DO MR.
CARILLO. THANK YOU. I'LL BE
BRIEF, SINCE WE HAVE TWO OTHER
PANELS, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE
SOME COMMENTS ON, WHAT SOME OF
YOU HAVE SAID THE THAT THE
PERFECT IS THE ENEMY OF THE
STATE. I THINK THAT WE'VE REALLY
SEEN THAT. AND THE PRICE FOR
PERFECTION IS THE HOUSING CRISIS
THAT WE HAVE, I SEE THAT AS THE
MAIN OBSTACLE FOR US TO CONTINUE
TO ACTUALLY BUILD THE UNITS THAT
WE NEED WHEN WE GO FOR
PERFECTION. THERE'S NOT GOING TO
BE THAT POINT. AND TO ME, THAT'S
CLEARLY SHOWN, BY THE WAY, THAT
WE LOOK FOR PERFECTION IN GOING
THROUGH ENTITLEMENT PROCESSES,
FINANCING PROCESSES AND THE
CULTURE OF REGULATING THOSE
PROCESSES. AND TO ME, THAT
REALLY STARTS AT THE LOCAL
LEVEL, WHEN WE SEE DEVELOPMENT
COMING IN WHERE YOU HAVE TO GET
PLANNING APPROVAL FIRST BUILDING
AND SAFETY, THEN ENGINEERING
THEN, AND SO MANY OTHER
DIFFERENT STEPS, THERE'S BEEN
SOME IMPROVEMENTS. SOME LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS HAVE STARTED TO DO
CONCURRENT REVIEW, THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT IS NECESSARY, BUT
AT THE SAME TIME, WHEN WE START
LOOKING AT NOT DOING ANYTHING
UNTIL WE FEEL THAT IT'S PERFECT,
WE ARE SEEING THE PRICE FOR
THAT. AND THAT'S ALL THE,
UNHOUSED PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE
ACROSS THE STATE. AND I FEEL THE
SAME WAY ABOUT HYDROGEN BECAUSE
IF WE LOOK FOR THAT PERFECT
MOMENT WITH THE THREE PILLARS
BEING AT 100, WE'RE GOING TO PAY
OFF BY NOT BEING ABLE TO
ELECTRIFY THE STATE COMPLETELY.
I FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT WE NEED
TO BE CONSCIENTIOUS ABOUT THE
ENVIRONMENT, BUT WHEN WE STRIVE
TO GET PERFECTION, WE'RE
SUFFERING. IN OTHER FIELDS, THE
OTHER THING I WANTED TO MENTION
IS THE CULTURE THAT WE HAVE IN
CALIFORNIA WHERE, WHEN I SEE
PERFORMANCE FROM DEVELOPERS,
WHEN I WAS A PLANNER, THERE
WOULD ALWAYS HAVE AN AREA FOR
THE LAWSUITS FROM SEQUA YOU GO
THROUGH THE PROCESS ENTITLEMENT
PROCESS, BUT THEN THE COST OF
GOING THROUGH THE LAWSUITS $1
MILLION OR MORE. AND THAT IS
ALSO TIME CONSUMING, MULTIFAMILY
DEVELOPMENT TAKES SEVEN YEARS IN
AVERAGE TO BUILD 100 UNITS AT
THAT MODEL. WE'RE NEVER GOING TO
BE ABLE TO SOLVE THE CRISIS. I
HAVE NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
GO OVERSEAS TO SEE WHAT OTHER
COUNTRIES ARE DOING, LIKE VIENNA
AND, FINLAND AND OTHERS. AND ONE
OF THE ISSUES THAT I SEE IS THAT
MAYBE IT'S THE DISTRUST THAT
WE'VE CREATED BECAUSE FROM MY
UNDERSTANDING, IN OTHER
COUNTRIES OVERSEAS, IF THE
GOVERNMENT SAYS WE NEED TO BUILD
1000 UNITS, PEOPLE SAY, OKAY,
BUILD THEM, WHEREAS WE'RE HERE
IN CALIFORNIA TO THE NIMBY, YOU
KNOW, I WANT TO BUILD THOSE
UNITS. I WANT TO SEE THOSE UNITS
BECAUSE WE NEED TO HOUSE THE
PEOPLE THAT WE SEE ON THE
STREETS. AS LONG AS YOU DON'T DO
IT IN MY BACKYARD, DO IT
SOMEWHERE ELSE, AND I THINK THAT
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE
CREATED, THAT LACKING TRUST IN
GOVERNMENT. AND I ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT BECAUSE OF THE TREMENDOUS
AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE PUT INTO
TO, ADDRESSING THE HOUSING
CRISIS THAT WE HAVE, WHERE IS
THAT MONEY? IT'S NOWHERE TO BE
SEEN. AND IF THAT INVESTMENT
SHOWED INCREMENTS OF IMPROVING
THE SITUATION, WE WOULD HAVE THE
TRUST IN PEOPLE THAT WE NEED TO
BUILD THESE HOUSING UNITS. I'M
FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. I GO
TO LA QUITE OFTEN AND I SEE THE
SITUATION GETTING WORSE. SO THE
TRUST IN THE PEOPLE THAT WE
REPRESENT IS NOT THERE ANYMORE.
I THINK THAT'S THE CULTURAL,
PROBLEM THAT WE FACE IN OUR
STATE. AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE, BUT
IT'S THE REALITY. AND WE NEED TO
FIND WAYS TO GAIN THAT TRUST
AGAIN. AND I WILL JUST, CLOSE MY
STATEMENT BY ASKING IF YOU SEE A
POTENTIAL TO CREATE, SOME SORT
OF REDEVELOPMENT MECHANISM TO
INCENTIVIZE THOSE MULTIFAMILY
DEVELOPERS BECAUSE THE
INVESTMENT IS HUGE, NOT ONLY,
AGAIN, WAITING SEVEN YEARS TO
ACTUALLY PUT A SHOVEL ON THE
GROUND TO BUILD THE UNITS, BUT
THE COST OF HAVING TO GO THROUGH
THAT CEQA LAWSUIT THAT IS
INEVITABLY PART OF THE PROCESS
FOR DEVELOPMENT, AND THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT I STARTED TALKING
ABOUT WHEN I GOT ELECTED. I'M
FIRST TERM, AND I WANTED TO SEE
WE COULD HAVE THAT DIALOG ABOUT
MAYBE NOT CALL IT REDEVELOPMENT,
BUT SOMETHING THAT WOULD
INCENTIVIZE OUR LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS FROM ATTRACTING
THOSE DEVELOPERS SO THAT WE CAN
BUILD THE UNITS THAT WE NEED.
AND AGAIN, THE ADU IS A PERFECT
EXAMPLE OF A POSITIVE MOVE. I
HAVE AN ADU. I'M BUILDING AN ADU
AMONGST PROPERTY AND I SEE THAT
BEING PART OF THE SOLUTION. BUT
AGAIN, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE
ENOUGH BECAUSE WE NEED TO BUILD
THE NUMBERS THAT WE NEED IN
MULTIFAMILY HOUSING, BUT NO
ONE'S GOING TO DO IT BECAUSE
IT'S JUST SO EXPENSIVE. IT TAKES
SEVEN YEARS TO BUILD 100 UNITS
AND WHICH IS NEVER GOING TO GET
THERE. AND FOR ME, QUITE
HONESTLY, GETTING THE TRUST IN
THE PEOPLE AGAIN IN HAVING TO
INVEST MORE STATE MONEY IN
ADDRESSING THE HOUSING CRISIS
THAT WE HAVE, IS GOING TO BE A
CHALLENGE THAT I DON'T BELIEVE
WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO,
WITHOUT HAVING TO SHOW THAT WE
CAN ACTUALLY BE HAVING THE
CONVERSATIONS OF INCENTIVIZING
THOSE THAT WANT TO BUILD
HOUSING, BUT IT'S JUST DOESN'T
PENCIL OUT. SO I JUST LIKE TO
HEAR THERE'S ANY, ANY
CONVERSATIONS OR ANY WAYS THAT
YOU WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE CAN,
INVEST AGAIN IN BUILDING THE
UNITS THAT WE NEED THROUGH
MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPERS? YES, SO
I AM, I GUESS, NOT PARTICULARLY
OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE PROSPECTS
FOR A TAX INCREMENT FINANCE
REGIME ALONG THE LINES OF WHAT
REDEVELOPMENT WAS PREVIOUSLY AND
THE REASON IS, I THINK A LOT OF
FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
PERSPECTIVES, A LOT OF THE
ADVANTAGES TO THE REDEVELOPMENT
REGIME WAS THAT IT SORT OF
CIRCUMVENTED THE, THE
OVERLAPPING, THE OVERLAPPING
GOVERNMENTAL DEMANDS ON, ON A
LIMITED POOL OF TAX REVENUE. IT
ALSO THERE'S AN UNDERLYING
ACCOUNTING QUESTION ABOUT TAX
INCREMENT FINANCE, WHICH IS, IS
THE INCREASE IN VALUE DUE TO THE
INVESTMENT ON THE PARCEL, OR IS
IT DUE TO BROADER ECONOMIC
CHANGES. AND I THINK THERE'S
ABUNDANT EVIDENCE THAT CERTAINLY
IN CALIFORNIA, A LOT OF THAT
INCREMENT IN VALUE WAS DUE TO
BROADER ECONOMIC CHANGES. AND SO
PROBABLY AS AN AS A MATTER OF
ACCOUNTING, IT WASN'T JUSTIFIED.
I THINK A MORE PROMISING
APPROACH WOULD BE TO IMPLEMENT
PARCEL TAXES ALONG THE LINES OF
MELLO-ROOS DISTRICTS FOR
MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT.
MELLO-ROOS, OF COURSE, IS A KEY
FINANCING TOOL FOR SINGLE FAMILY
DEVELOPMENT. WE HAVEN'T REALLY
THOUGHT ABOUT WAYS OF
TRANSPOSING IT TO THE
MULTIFAMILY WORLD AND I THINK
THAT IS A MUCH MORE, FROM MY
PERSPECTIVE, A MUCH MORE
PROMISING APPROACH. AND I WOULD
BE GLAD TO FOLLOW UP ABOUT THAT
AS WELL. THANK YOU, MR. BENNETT,
WHO, BY THE WAY, IS NOT ON THE
COMMITTEE, BUT WHO'S HERE, JUST
FOR FUN. AND WE WELCOME HIM AND
HE CAN BE ON THE COMMITTEE IF
HE'D LIKE. THANK. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. THIS HAS BEEN A LOT OF
FUN. ALL RIGHT, BUT MY COMMENTS
ARE PARTIALLY TO FOCUS TO THE
CHAIR. AND SO I APPRECIATE THE
INVITATION TO BE HERE TODAY AND
REACHING OUT JUST HEARING THIS
COMMENT, MY ONE QUICK DIGRESSION
IS JUST A REMINDER THAT IF WE'RE
NOT BUILDING TRULY AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, WE'RE MAKING A MISTAKE.
THAT'S WHERE THE CRISIS IS, AND,
AND WE KEEP, HAVING THOSE AREAS
SUBVERTED BY TURNING AROUND AND
BUILDING MARKET RATE HOUSING.
AND WE DON'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM
THAT WE NEED TO SOLVE. BUT
THAT'S NOT WHAT I WANTED TO SAY.
THE IMPORTANT THING THAT THAT I
WANTED TO SAY IS THERE'S NO
DOUBT IN MY MIND OF GIVING WHAT
I KNOW ABOUT THE CHAIR, THAT
YOU'RE GOING TO COME UP WITH A
WORK PRODUCT OUT OF THIS EFFORT,
AND SO THERE WILL BE A WORK
PRODUCT. THERE'S SOME COMMENTS
ABOUT WE HAVE TO CREATE A WORK
PRODUCT. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO
HELP WITH AND WHAT I THINK IS
IMPORTANT IS THAT WE TRY TO
AVOID THE WE'RE GOING TO DO
STREAMLINING ENVIRONMENTAL CGRTS
ARE GOING TO TRY TO BLOCK
STREAMLINING, EFFORT AND
MENTALITY THAT IS OUT THERE.
BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT
THEY'RE DOING IN DENMARK, WHERE
THEY HAVE MUCH MORE
COLLABORATION BETWEEN INDUSTRY,
GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE THAT
ARE VERY CONCERNED, LIKE MYSELF,
ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT, IS THAT
THEY HAVE THEY REALIZE AND WHAT
WE HAVE TO REMIND EVERYBODY IS
THAT STREAMLINE IS ACTUALLY AN
ENVIRONMENTAL NECESSITY. AND IT
STREAMLINING DOING IT RIGHT IS
THE WAY TO GET RID OF THOSE OTC
PLANTS THAT ARE POLLUTING IN
THOSE ENVIRONMENTS THAT IF WE
DON'T RAPIDLY MAKE THE CHANGES
THAT WE NEED, WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE MORE ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE.
SO MY APPEAL TO EVERYBODY IS
DON'T TURN THIS INTO A BATTLE,
REGARDLESS OF WHICH SIDE YOU'RE
ON. AND THERE ARE PEOPLE ON BOTH
SIDES THAT WANT TO TURN THIS
INTO A BATTLE. LET'S SEE IF ON
THIS ISSUE WE CAN GET IT RIGHT.
BUT IT WILL TAKE DEFT POLITICAL
LEADERSHIP TO BE ABLE TO PULL
THAT OFF. AND THAT'S THE
CHALLENGE. AND I HAVE A LOT OF
RESPECT FOR YOUR ABILITY TO DO
THAT. AND THAT'S THE ROLE I WILL
CONTINUE TO TRY TO PLAY TO HELP
THIS PROCESS. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU, MR. BENNETT. AND, THAT'S
EXACTLY THE POINT OF THE
COMMITTEE IS TO BRING TOGETHER
ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF
STAKEHOLDERS TO FIGURE OUT HOW
WE CAN COLLABORATIVELY FIGURE
OUT THE SOLUTIONS HERE AND WORK
TOWARD A SOLUTION. AND, YES,
THERE WILL BE A WORK PRODUCT,
AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU
INVOLVED AS MUCH AS YOU'D CARE
TO BE, DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS FOR THIS GROUP OF
PANELISTS? YES, YES. ASSEMBLY
MEMBER I JUST WANTED TO SAY, I
KNOW NOBODY ASKED ABOUT WATER,
BUT I SINCE I DON'T WANT WATER
TO BE FORGOTTEN, I WANT TO SAY
TWO THINGS. YOU HEARD A LOT
ABOUT ENERGY TRANSITION. AND WE
HAVE BEEN IN THIS ENERGY
TRANSITION, PROCESS FOR THE PAST
20, 25 YEARS OR EVEN LONGER, THE
WATER PIECE IS A LOT MORE
COMPLEX. YOU DON'T THINK ABOUT
IT AS MUCH BECAUSE EVERYBODY
THINKS THE ONLY WAY TO DEAL WITH
WATER IS THE IS THE DAMS. AND
AQUEDUCTS AND PERIPHERAL CANAL
OR SOMETHING LIKE ALONG THAT
LINE. BUT WATER IS A MUCH MORE
COMPLEX AND HAS A LOT OF
SOLUTIONS THAT COME IN DIFFERENT
SIZES AND SHAPES. SO AS YOU'RE
THINKING ABOUT HOW TO DEAL WITH
WATER IN THE PERMITTING PROCESS,
THINK ABOUT MODULAR SOLUTIONS.
SOLUTIONS THAT CAN BE BUILT
GRADUALLY. CAN BE BUILT LOCALLY.
AND ACTUALLY THEY'RE NOT
CENTRALIZED BECAUSE WE DO
ACTUALLY CURRENTLY HAVE WATER
PROJECTS THAT ARE OVERSIZE UNDER
UTILIZED AND POTENTIALLY MAY
NEVER BE UTILIZED BECAUSE OF THE
WAY WE ARE TRANSITIONING AND
BECAUSE OF THE CLIMATE AND THE
WAY THE WATER NGUYEN WATER
COMES. AND WHEN IT GOES, IT JUST
IMPACTS IT. SO JUST WANTED TO
MAKE SURE THINK WHEN YOU'RE
THINKING ABOUT WATER, THINK
ABOUT INNOVATIVE WATER
SOLUTIONS, NOT THE ONES FROM THE
PAST CENTURY. OKAY. AND OUR LAST
QUESTION HERE, OR COMMENTS FROM
MR. WOOD. AND THEN WE'LL MOVE TO
THE NEXT PANEL. AND IT'S WATER
RELATED. SO THANK YOU. I THINK
THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE
DON'T THE OTHER THINGS WE DON'T
DO WELL HERE IS WE DON'T WE'RE
NOT PLANNING FAR ENOUGH AHEAD
FOR DROUGHT. SO WE WAIT UNTIL
DROUGHT HAPPENS. AND THEN WE PUT
WE HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH OF STEPS
THAT WE HAVE TO DO TO GET MOVE.
MOVING ON THAT. AND THEN IT'S IT
JUST SEEMS STRANGE TO ME THAT WE
HAD TO RELY ON AN EXECUTIVE
ORDER TO ALLOW FOR, STORMWATER
RECHARGE. IT'S LIKE, WHY WHY DO
WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH AN
EXECUTIVE ORDER PROCESS? WHY
ISN'T THAT JUST PART OF OUR OUR
EXISTING POLICY FOR THE
BENEFICIAL REUSE OF STORMWATER
TO RECHARGE OUR AQUIFERS? IT'S I
JUST DON'T GET IT SOMETIMES. BUT
ANYWAY, I SUSPECT THERE'S
PROBABLY A SEQUEL PROBLEM WITH
THAT. THANK YOU. WELL, THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION.
AND WE WILL DEFINITELY BE BACK
IN TOUCH, NEXT, AND I KNOW WE
ARE, HAVING VERY THOROUGH
CONVERSATIONS, WHICH I
DEFINITELY APPRECIATE. I'M
HOPING THE NEXT COUPLE PANELS,
WE CAN MOVE A LITTLE BIT MORE
SWIFTLY ON, THOUGH WE DO WANT TO
HEAR EVERYONE'S PERSPECTIVE ON
THE PANEL, WE HAVE OUR STATE
GOVERNMENT PERSPECTIVE. WE WILL
HAVE CHRISTOPHER CALFEE, WHO I
BELIEVE IS IN THE AUDIENCE
COMING UP HERE. SPECIAL COUNSEL
TO THE SECRETARY, CALIFORNIA
NATURAL RESOURCES AGENCY AND
SHANNON WEST, HOUSING
ACCOUNTABILITY UNIT, CHIEF,
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING
AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
RIGHT. WE HAVE MR. CALFEE GO
FIRST. GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR
, AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE THIS
MORNING. I AM CHRISTOPHER
CALFEE, A SPECIAL COUNSEL TO
SECRETARY CROWFOOT AT THE
CALIFORNIA NATURAL RESOURCES
AGENCY. THE NATURAL RESOURCES
AGENCY'S MISSION IS TO RESTORE,
PROTECT AND MANAGE THE STATE'S
NATURAL, HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL
RESOURCES. WE OVERSEE AND
SUPPORT MORE THAN 26 DISTINCT
DEPARTMENTS, CONSERVANCIES,
COMMISSIONS, MANY OF WHOM PLAY A
ROLE IN PROJECT PERMITTING,
INCLUDING THE DEPARTMENT OF FISH
AND WILDLIFE, THE COASTAL
COMMISSION AND THE STATE LANDS
COMMISSION. THANK YOU. MANY OF
OUR DEPARTMENTS ARE ALSO ON THE
FRONT LINES OF RESPONDING TO OUR
RAPIDLY CHANGING CLIMATE,
INCLUDING CAL FIRE, THE
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES
AND THE ENERGY COMMISSION. THE
NATURAL RESOURCES AGENCY HAS A
LONG HISTORY OF COLLABORATING
WITH STATE AND LOCAL PARTNERS TO
FACILITATE PROJECTS OF ALL KINDS
THAT AVOID HARM AND PROVIDE
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS TO THE
STATE. THIS MORNING, I WILL
PROVIDE A BRIEF CONTEXT FOR
PERMITTING THAT OCCURS WITHIN
OUR AGENCY, AND THEN DESCRIBES
SOME OF THIS ADMINISTRATION'S
EFFORTS TO INCREASE THE
EFFICIENCY OF THE PERMITTING
PROCESS. WHAT WE COMMONLY REFER
TO AS PERMITTING IS, IN FACT,
IMPLEMENTATION OF VALUES
EXPRESSED BY OUR LEGISLATURE ON
BEHALF OF ITS CONSTITUENTS AND
IN SOME CASES, DIRECTLY BY THE
PEOPLE THROUGH PROPOSITION. FOR
EXAMPLE, OUR VALUE FOR
PRESERVATION OF SPECIES AND
HABITAT IS CODIFIED IN THE
CALIFORNIA ENDANGERED SPECIES
ACT. THE DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND
WILDLIFE OVERSEES PROJECTS THAT
MAY IMPACT ENDANGERED SPECIES
AND IMPLEMENTS THE VALUE OF
SPECIES PROTECTION OAN BY
REQUIRING PROJECTS TO MITIGATE
IMPACTS IN ORDER TO GET AN
INCIDENTAL TAKE PERMIT. OTHER
EXAMPLES INCLUDE THE WATER
BOARDS PROTECTING WATER QUALITY,
THE AIR RESOURCES BOARD
PROTECTING AIR QUALITY, THE
COASTAL COMMISSION PROTECTING
COASTAL RESOURCES, THE BOARD OF
FORESTRY PRESERVING TIMBER
RESOURCES, THE STATE HISTORIC
PRESERVATION OFFICE PRESERVING
CULTURAL RESOURCES, AND MANY,
MANY OTHERS AS PROJECT
PROPONENTS MAY NEED APPROVALS
FROM EACH OF THESE AGENCIES IN
ORDER, EXCUSE ME, MAY NEED
APPROVALS FROM EACH OF THESE
AGENCIES PURSUANT TO LAWS
CREATED BY THE LEGISLATURE AND
IN SOME CASES, DELEGATED BY
FEDERAL STATUTE. WHEN WE TALK
ABOUT PERMITTING, WE ALSO
COMMONLY REFER TO PROCESSES
DESIGNED TO ENSURE PUBLIC
PARTICIPATION IN DECISION MAKING
. ONE OF THE PRIMARY DRIVERS
BEHIND THE CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT, FOR
EXAMPLE, WAS TO ENSURE THAT THE
PUBLIC WAS GIVEN INFORMATION
ABOUT PROPOSED PROJECTS AND THE
POTENTIAL IMPACT OF THOSE
PROJECTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT, AND
AN OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN
THROUGH WRITTEN COMMENTS AND
PUBLIC HEARINGS. DESPITE MAKERS
ARE REQUIRED TO MAKE WRITTEN
FINDINGS ABOUT PROJECTS AND
PROJECT IMPACTS PRECISELY SO
THAT THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS THAT
THE REASONS THAT THOSE PROJECTS
ARE APPROVED OR NOT, AND IF THEY
DISAGREE, THE PUBLIC CAN TAKE
ACTION AT THE NEXT ELECTION.
THEN, OF COURSE, MANY PROJECTS
ALSO PROMOTE PUBLIC VALUES, SUCH
AS PROVIDING ADEQUATE HOUSING,
INFRASTRUCTURE NECESSARY FOR A
HIGH STANDARD OF LIVING ENERGY
FACILITIES THAT KEEP THE LIGHTS
ON, AND MANY, MANY MORE. AND SO
ATTENTION NATURALLY EXISTS
BETWEEN PROMOTING ALL OF OUR
VALUES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION, PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
, AND NEW DEVELOPMENT OF ALL
KINDS. SIMILAR TENSIONS MAY
EXIST RELATED TO LABOR
STANDARDS, PUBLIC HEALTH, ETC,
BUT I FOCUS MY COMMENTS ON
MATTERS WITHIN MY AGENCY'S
EXPERTISE, BALANCING THOSE MANY
VOLUMES OCCASIONALLY REQUIRES
SOME RECALIBRATION, PARTICULARLY
IN THE FACE OF NEW
CIRCUMSTANCES. AS JUST ONE
EXAMPLE, CLIMATE CHANGE AND
HABITAT LOSS ARE HAPPENING
RAPIDLY. WE KNOW THAT WE NEED TO
INCREASE THE PACE AND SCALE OF
RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT,
WATER MANAGEMENT AND FOREST
TREATMENTS IN ORDER TO BEST
PROTECT OURSELVES FROM A
CHANGING CLIMATE, WE HAVE TO
THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT HOW WE
PRESERVE ALL OF OUR VALUES.
WHICH LEADS ME TO THIS
ADMINISTRATION'S EFFORTS TO
IMPROVE PERMITTING PROCESSES.
ONE OF GOVERNOR NEWSOM'S VERY
FIRST EXECUTIVE ACTIONS WAS TO
DIRECT CAL FIRE TO IDENTIFY
CALIFORNIA COMMUNITIES THAT WERE
MOST VULNERABLE TO WILDFIRE, AND
THEN TAKE RAPID ACTION TO REDUCE
THOSE RISKS THROUGH FUEL BREAKS
AND FOREST THINNING PROJECTS.
EVEN THOUGH SEQUA WAS SUSPENDED
THROUGH AN EMERGENCY
DECLARATION, CAL FIRE
COLLABORATED CLOSELY WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
AND THE WATER BOARDS TO DEVELOP
BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES THAT
WOULD BE INCORPORATED INTO
PROJECTS TO PROTECT
ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES. THIS
INFORMATION ABOUT CAL FIRE'S
WORK WAS ALSO POSTED PUBLICLY ON
ITS WEBSITE FOR FULL
TRANSPARENCY. SINCE THEN, THIS
ADMINISTRATION HAS TAKEN MANY
STEPS TO IMPROVE PERMITTING
PROCESSES WITHOUT SACRIFICING
OUR VALUES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL
RESOURCES OR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.
I WILL DESCRIBE A FEW HERE. ONE
VERY RECENT EXAMPLE IS THIS
GOVERNOR'S WORK ON
INFRASTRUCTURE. IN MAY OF LAST
YEAR, HE ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE
ORDER CREATING A CABINET LEVEL
INFRASTRUCTURE STRIKE TEAM TO
TRACK PROGRESS ON PROJECTS,
PROVIDE A VENUE FOR RESOLVING
PERMITTING ISSUES AND TO
CONTINUE TO COLLECT IDEAS FOR
IMPROVEMENTS. FOR MORE ON THE
STRIKE TEAM'S WORK, PLEASE FEEL
FREE TO VISIT THE WEBSITE BILKHA
DOT GOV. AT THE SAME TIME, THE
GOVERNOR ALSO PROPOSED A PACKAGE
OF REFORMS DESIGNED TO ENABLE
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS TO BE
BUILT MORE QUICKLY AND WORKED
WITH THIS LEGISLATURE TO SHAPE
THOSE PROPOSALS AND ULTIMATELY
ENACT THOSE MEASURES INTO LAW.
THOSE INCLUDED PROVIDING A
STREAMLINED JUDICIAL PROCESS FOR
CEQA CHALLENGES, UPDATED
PROTECTIONS FOR SPECIES, AND
MORE EFFICIENT PROJECT DELIVERY
METHODS. NOTABLY, ONE OF THE
FIRST PROJECTS TO MAKE USE OF
THE CEQA JUDICIAL STREAMLINING
PROVISIONS IS ALREADY RAPIDLY
GOING THROUGH THE LITIGATION
PROCESS. ANOTHER IMPORTANT
EFFORT UNDERWAY IS THE CUTTING
THE GREEN TAPE INITIATIVE, LED
BY THE NATURAL RESOURCES AGENCY.
CUTTING GREEN TAPE IS FOCUSED ON
IMPROVING INTERAGENCY
COORDINATION AND PARTNERSHIPS,
AGENCY PROCESSES AND POLICIES TO
ALLOW ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION AND
STEWARDSHIP TO OCCUR MORE
QUICKLY, SIMPLY AND COST
EFFECTIVELY. ONE EXAMPLE OF
THAT, CUTTING THE GREEN TAPE
INNOVATIONS, WAS THE DEVELOPMENT
OF A STATUTORY EXEMPTION FROM
SEQUA FOR HABITAT RESTORATION
PROJECTS. TO BE ELIGIBLE, SUCH
PROJECTS HAVE TO MEET RIGOROUS
ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS. RESULT
IN LONG TERM NET BENEFITS TO
CLIMATE RESILIENCY, BIODIVERSITY
AND SPECIES RECOVERY. THERE MUST
ALSO BE PROCEDURES AND ONGOING
MANAGEMENT FOR THE PROTECTION OF
THE ENVIRONMENT, AND INFORMATION
ABOUT THE PROJECTS MUST BE
PUBLICLY AVAILABLE. TO DATE, 49
PROJECTS HAVE MOVED FORWARD MORE
QUICKLY BECAUSE OF THAT
EXEMPTION, WITH ONE ANALYSIS
SHOWING THAT PROJECT PROPONENTS
SAVED AN AVERAGE OF 70. EXCUSE
ME, $77,000 PER PROJECT AND
SEVEN MONTHS IN PERMITTING TIME,
WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY SAVING
STATE MONEY ON PROCESSING AND
STAFF TIMES. THIS IS JUST ONE
EXAMPLE OF CHANGES IN HOW THE
STATE SUPPORTS IMPLEMENTATION OF
GOOD ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS.
THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN SEVERAL
IMPROVEMENTS IN PROGRAMMATIC
PERMITTING. CROSS-AGENCY
COORDINATION AND ALIGNMENT ON
PERMITTING PROCESSES AND EFFORTS
TO ALIGN WITH FEDERAL PARTNERS
ON THEIR PERMITTING PROCESSES
THROUGH CONSISTENCY
DETERMINATIONS AND OTHER TOOLS
THAT HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY CUT DOWN
TIME AND COSTS FOR DOING
RESTORATION OR STEWARDSHIP
PROJECTS. INFORMATION ON THESE
IMPROVEMENTS IS AVAILABLE AT THE
DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE.
CUTTING THE GREEN TAPE WEBSITE,
AS WELL AS EXTERNAL PARTNER
WEBSITES INCLUDING THE
CALIFORNIA LANDSCAPE STEWARDSHIP
NETWORK, CUTTING THE GREEN TAPE
WEBSITE, AND SUSTAINABLE
CONSERVATION'S ACCELERATING
RESTORATION WEBSITE. MUCH MORE
WORK CONTINUES TO IMPROVE
PROCESSES, EVEN IF IT DOESN'T
ATTRACT THE ATTENTION OF SOME OF
THE ITEMS LISTED ABOVE. I'M
HAPPY TO DIVE INTO MORE OF THOSE
IF THE COMMITTEE IS INTERESTED.
BUT IN CLOSING, I WANT TO
REITERATE THAT THIS
ADMINISTRATION IS VERY FOCUSED
ON IMPROVING OUR PROCESSES IN A
WAY THAT PRESERVES OUR VALUES,
BUT ALLOWS US TO MOVE AT THE
SPEED NECESSARY TO CONFRONT OUR
GROWING CHALLENGES. THANK YOU
AGAIN FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
APPEAR, AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER
ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. MISS
WEST, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO? YES.
THANK YOU. HI I'M SHANNON WEST.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. I'M
DELIGHTED TO BE HERE. AND WHEN I
SAY THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO JUST
SHARE WITH YOU SOME OF MY
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. I STARTED
MY CAREER IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR,
WORKING FOR ARCHITECTURE AND
PLANNING FIRMS, WORKING ON
PERMITTING FROM THAT SIDE OF THE
DESK. I WORKED IN LOCAL
GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL PLANNING
FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS, SO I'VE
WORKED IN CURRENT PLANNING WITH
APPLICANTS NAVIGATING THAT
PROCESS. AND NOW I'M AT THE
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, WORKING
WITH BOTH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS,
NAVIGATING NEW LAWS, DEVELOPMENT
APPLICANTS WHO ARE NAVIGATING
THE SAME LAWS, AND I'VE GOT A
LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA BACKGROUND
WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF
BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, WHERE I FOCUS
PRIMARILY ON PERMIT
STREAMLINING. SO WHEN I SAY I'M
DELIGHTED TO BE HERE, IT IS WITH
AUTHENTICITY. THIS IS LITERALLY
MY FAVORITE TOPIC, BUT TODAY I'M
HERE ON BEHALF OF HCD, AND I'D
LIKE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT OUR
PERSPECTIVE. SO AS A STATE WE'VE
BEEN WORKING ON REFORMS THAT
ADDRESS THE HOUSING CRISIS. THE
LEGISLATURE HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT
LEGISLATIVE CHANGES IN RECENT
YEARS, AND HCD, ALONGSIDE LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS, HAVE BEEN CHARGED
WITH IMPLEMENTING OF MANY OF
THESE REFORMS. WHILE WE HAVE
MADE GOOD PROGRESS, WE NEED EVEN
MORE HOUSING IN THE RIGHT PLACES
AND WE NEED IT FASTER. TO THIS
END, IT IS IMPORTANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE OUR PROGRESS AND
EXPLORE WAYS TO BUILD ON
SOLUTIONS WITH DEMONSTRATED
SUCCESS. THE EVIDENCE OF THIS
PROGRESS CAN BE FOUND IN ANNUAL
PROGRESS REPORT OR APRIL. DATA
THAT HCD COLLECTS FROM CITIES
AND COUNTIES, BASED ON THE
LATEST APRIL DATA AVAILABLE
SUBMITTED IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR.
SO FOR 2023, WE HAVE SEEN SOME
IMPRESSIVE IMPROVEMENTS. CGRTS
HOUSING PRODUCTION HAS INCREASED
TOTAL HOUSING UNITS COMPLETED,
INCREASING FROM 70,000IN 2018 TO
112,000IN 2023. IF WE NARROW
THAT DATA SET TO INCLUDE UNITS
CREATED BY STREAMLINING
PROVISIONS. SO SB 35, SB SIX, AB
2011, WE CAN OBSERVE AN INCREASE
FROM APPROXIMATELY 5000 UNITS IN
2018 TO 8500 UNITS IN 2023. AND
IF WE SLICE THE DATA TO FOCUS ON
DEED RESTRICTED UNITS, THOSE ARE
CREATED OUT OF INCLUSIONARY
HOUSING ORDINANCES OR STATE
DENSITY BONUS LAW. WE CAN
OBSERVE AN INCREASE FROM
APPROXIMATELY 30,000 UNITS IN
2018 TO 50,000IN 2023.
MEANWHILE, PROJECT TIMELINES
HAVE BEEN DECREASING. WE MEASURE
THIS IN THREE DIFFERENT
SEGMENTS. ONE IS SUBMITTAL TO
ENTITLEMENT, THE OTHER FROM
ENTITLEMENT TO PERMIT AND
FINALLY PERMIT TO COMPLETION.
AND ALL OF THESE TIME FRAMES ARE
DECREASING. SUBMITTAL TO
ENTITLEMENT HAS DECREASED FROM
145 DAYS TO 64 DAYS IN IN 2023.
ENTITLEMENT TO PERMITTED HAS
GONE FROM 117 TO 85 DAYS FROM
2018 TO 2023, AND FINALLY
PERMITTED TO COMPLETION HAS
DECREASED FROM 265 DAYS TO 178
DAYS, IT'S BEEN MENTIONED HERE
ALREADY THIS MORNING. ACCESSORY
DWELLING, UNIT PERMITTING, IS
REALLY IMPRESSIVE. FROM
APPROXIMATELY 9000 UNITS
PERMITTED IN 2018 TO 28,000IN
2023. IS THIS EVIDENCE THAT
WE'VE SOLVED THE STATE'S
PROBLEM? OBVIOUSLY NOT. WE'RE
ALL HERE BECAUSE WE'VE GOT WORK
TO DO, BUT IT DOES SHOW THAT OUR
COLLECTIVE EFFORTS ARE NUDGING
TRENDS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION,
AND WE'RE READY TO KEEP GOING.
OUR ADMINISTRATION HAS
UNDERTAKEN A MULTI FACETED
APPROACH TO TACKLE OUR NEED FOR
HOUSING, ADDRESSING HOUSING
ELEMENTS, PROMOTING PRO HOUSING
POLICIES, ALLOCATING SUBSTANTIAL
FUNDING TO CATALYZE CHANGES AND
HOLDING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
ACCOUNTABLE TO THEIR
RESPONSIBILITIES TO COMPLY WITH
STATE HOUSING LAWS. HOUSING
ELEMENTS ARE LOCAL HOUSING PLANS
IN WHICH CITIES AND COUNTIES
IDENTIFY HOW THEY ARE GOING TO
MEET THEIR HOUSING NEED. THIS
TOOL REQUIRES CITIES TO IDENTIFY
THEIR HOUSING NEEDS AND PLAN
ACCORDINGLY. CITIES MUST
IDENTIFY POTENTIAL HOUSING SITES
AND THEN ZONED FOR THEIR FUTURE
HOUSING NEEDS. CURRENTLY ALL
CITIES AND COUNTIES THROUGHOUT
THE STATE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF
UPDATING THEIR HOUSING ELEMENTS.
HCD THEN REVIEWS AND APPROVES
THEM. AS OF TODAY, 66% OF
JURISDICTIONS HAVE APPROVED
HOUSING ELEMENTS AND 34% OF THEM
ARE ON THEIR WAY. HCD PROVIDES
SUPPORT TO JURISDICTIONS THROUGH
THE PROCESS GUIDING THEM TO
COMPLIANCE WITH STATE HOUSING
LAWS. THIS COLLABORATION HAS
RESULTED IN SIGNIFICANT STRIDES,
WITH MANY JURISDICTIONS
DEMONSTRATING A COMMENDABLE
COMMITMENT TO CREATING EFFECTIVE
HOUSING ELEMENTS. THE SUCCESS
STORIES ARE NUMEROUS,
HIGHLIGHTING INNOVATIVE
STRATEGIES SUCH AS ADOPTION OF
MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING SOLUTIONS
AND OVERCOMING LOCAL RESISTANCE
THROUGH EFFECTIVE POLICY MAKING.
IN ADDITION, RECOGNIZING AND
REWARDING JURISDICTIONS THAT GO
ABOVE AND BEYOND THEIR HOUSING
ELEMENT. THE PRO HOUSING
DESIGNATION PROGRAM REMAINS AN
INNOVATIVE PROGRAM FOR REMOVING
DEVELOPMENT BARRIERS AND
INCENTIVIZING HOUSING
PRODUCTION. WE'VE WITNESSED 50
JURISDICTIONS EARN THE COVETED
PRO HOUSING DESIGNATION AS OF
JUNE 1ST OF THIS YEAR, SIGNALING
THEIR DEDICATION TO ACCELERATING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRODUCTION
AND PRESERVATION. THE PRO
HOUSING INCENTIVE PROGRAM
FURTHER INCENTIVIZES DESIGNATED
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS BY PROVIDING
ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND PRIORITY
PROCESSING IN VARIOUS HOUSING
AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAMS. AS OF JUNE 1ST, WE ARE
FINISHING THE SECOND ROUND OF
FUNDING THROUGH THIS PROGRAM AND
A THIRD ROUND IS ANTICIPATED
LATER THIS YEAR. THE PRO HOUSING
INCENTIVE PROGRAM HAS ENCOURAGED
JURISDICTIONS TO EMBRACE
INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS BY FUNDING
PRE-DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES,
PROVIDING MATCHING FUNDS FOR
LOCAL AND REGIONAL TRUST FUNDS,
HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AND
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING,
AND MORE. HOWEVER, OUR JOURNEY
AT HCD DOES NOT END WITH A
DESIGNATION AND INCENTIVES. WE
UNDERSTAND THE COMPLEXITIES
FACED BY LOCAL JURISDICTIONS AND
WE ARE HERE AS PARTNERS, NOT
ADVERSARIES. HCD HAS EXTENDED
SUBSTANTIAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT,
ALLOCATING OVER $1 BILLION IN
PLANNING GRANTS AND
INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING. WE ARE
COMMITTED TO ASSISTING LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS IN NAVIGATING
CHALLENGES AND UNLOCKING THE
TRUE POTENTIAL OF THEIR
COMMUNITIES. ONCE THE PLANNING
WORK IS DONE, THE RUBBER MEETS
THE ROAD AND LOCAL PERMITTING
PROCESSES. HCD'S HOUSING
ACCOUNTABILITY UNIT, OR WHO
WORKS WITH HOUSING DEVELOPERS
AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO ENSURE
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS
ARE BEING PROCESSED. CONSISTENT
WITH STATE HOUSING LAWS. SINCE
ITS INCEPTION, THE WHO HAS
UNLOCKED 23,000 HOUSING UNITS
BECAUSE LOCAL PERMITTING
PROCESSES CAN BE A REAL BARRIER
TO MEETING OUR COLLECTIVE
HOUSING GOALS, THE LEGISLATURE
HAS PASSED SEVERAL BILLS THAT
REQUIRE STREAMLINED MINISTERIAL
REVIEW OF QUALIFIED HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS AND IT
ENTRUSTED ENFORCEMENT OF THOSE
PROVISIONS WITH HCD. THE HCD
PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO
HOUSING DEVELOPERS AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS ABOUT THESE LAWS
AND, WHEN NECESSARY, ISSUES
NOTICES OF VIOLATION AND MAKES
REFERRALS TO THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL. WELL, AS A REMINDER,
AND YOU MAY NOT NEED IT, BUT I'M
GOING TO SAY IT ANYWAY. THERE
ARE SOME RECENT STREAMLINING
PROVISIONS, INCLUDING SB 35 FROM
2017, WHICH REQUIRES STREAMLINED
MINISTERIAL APPROVAL FOR
DEVELOPMENTS IN LOCALITIES THAT
HAVE NOT YET MADE SUFFICIENT
PROGRESS TOWARD THEIR ALLOCATION
OF THEIR REGIONAL HOUSING NEED.
THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HIGH
ROAD JOBS ACT, OR AB 2011 OF
2022, REQUIRES STREAMLINED
MINISTERIAL APPROVAL FOR
MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENTS THAT
ARE EITHER 100% AFFORDABLE ON
PROPERTY, ZONED FOR COMMERCIAL
USES, OR MIXED INCOME PROJECTS
THAT ABUT COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS
AND STREAMLINING PROVISIONS FOR
BI RIGHT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. AB
2162 OF 2018 REQUIRES SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING TO BE ALLOWED AS A USE
BY RIGHT IN ZONES WHERE
MULTIFAMILY AND MIXED USE ARE
PERMITTED. THESE STREAMLINING
STATUTES CREATE PATHWAYS THAT
ALLOW PROJECTS TO MOVE FORWARD
WITHOUT BEING SUBJECT TO LENGTHY
AND COSTLY ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
PROCESSES. UNDER SEQUA, EACH OF
THESE STATUTES HAVE BEEN CRAFTED
TO EXCLUDE SITES WITH
ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITIES. IN
ADDITION TO STREAMLINING
STATUTES, THE LEGISLATURE HAS
TAKEN STEPS TO INCREASE
TRANSPARENCY FOR HOUSING
DEVELOPERS AND LIMIT DELAYS ON
PROCESSING OF HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. THE
HOUSING CRISIS ACT OF 2019
CREATED THE FIVE HEARING RULE,
WHICH PROHIBITS A LOCAL
GOVERNMENT FROM HOLDING MORE
THAN FIVE HEARINGS TO CONSIDER A
PROPOSED HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
PROJECT. IF THE PROJECT COMPLIES
WITH ALL APPLICABLE OBJECTIVE
GENERAL PLAN AND ZONING
STANDARDS. THE PERMIT
STREAMLINING ACT, OR PSA, HAS
EXISTED SINCE THE 1970S.
HOWEVER, HCD'S ENFORCEMENT
AUTHORITY OVER THE PSA IS
RELATIVELY NEW. THE PSA WAS
DESIGNED TO INCREASE
TRANSPARENCY AND CONSISTENCY IN
THE LOCAL PERMITTING PROCESS.
THE PSA REQUIRES LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS TO PROVIDE
APPLICANTS A SUBMITTAL
CHECKLIST. THE PSA ALSO LIMITS
THE AMOUNT OF TIME LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS HAVE TO REVIEW
APPLICATIONS FOR COMPLETENESS.
THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE MANY
HOUSING STATUTES USE
APPLICATION, COMPLETENESS AS THE
THRESHOLD TO FREEZE APPLICABLE
STANDARDS, AND IN SOME CASES
START THE CLOCK ON PROCESSING
TIME. WHILE THE PSA HAS EXISTED
FOR DECADES, IT HAS BEEN
CONSISTENTLY IGNORED, WITH HCD'S
INCREASED AUTHORITY TO ENFORCE
KEY PARTS OF THE PSA HOUSING
APPLICANTS ARE FINDING MORE
SUCCESS IN HOLDING JURISDICTIONS
ACCOUNTABLE TO PRESCRIBED TIME
LIMITS. THE PRELIMINARY
APPLICATION PROCESS CREATED BY
THE HOUSING CRISIS ACT OF 2019
IS NESTED WITHIN THE PERMIT
STREAMLINING ACT AND PROVIDES
DEVELOPERS WHO SUBMIT
PRELIMINARY APPLICATIONS WITH
MORE CERTAINTY ABOUT WHAT FEES
AND STANDARDS WILL APPLY TO
THEIR PROJECTS. NOTABLY, THIS IS
ALSO THE PROCESS THAT LOCKS IN
THE STATUS OF A JURISDICTION'S
HOUSING ELEMENT AT THE TIME OF
PRELIMINARY APPLICATION
SUBMITTAL. THIS MATTERS BECAUSE
THE HOUSING ACCOUNTABILITY ACT
LIMITS A JURISDICTION WITHOUT A
COMPLIANT HOUSING ELEMENT FROM
DENYING A QUALIFYING HOUSING
PROJECT FOR INCONSISTENCY WITH
OBJECTIVE, GENERAL PLAN AND
ZONING STANDARDS. THIS IS KNOWN
BY THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY AS
THE BUILDER'S REMEDY. IN SOME
THE DATA I SHARED AT THE
BEGINNING OF MY PRESENTATION
DEMONSTRATES THE SUCCESSES OF
THE LEGISLATURE AND THE
GOVERNOR'S EFFORTS TO REMOVE
BARRIERS AND BUILD MORE HOUSING
FOR CALIFORNIANS. OF EVERY
INCOME LEVEL. HCD AND THE
HOUSING ACCOUNTABILITY UNIT
REMAIN COMMITTED TO ASSISTING
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN
IMPLEMENTING STATE HOUSING LAWS
AND ASSISTING HOUSING DEVELOPERS
WHO FACE UNLAWFUL DELAYS AND
DENIALS. THE DEPARTMENT IS
EXCITED TO IMPLEMENT FURTHER
REFORMS AND WORK IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH LOCAL JURISDICTIONS TO
BUILD MORE AND SOLVE OUR HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY CRISIS. THAT
CONCLUDES MY TESTIMONY. THANK
YOU. I WANT TO FIRST OPEN IT UP
TO ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES. I HAVE
A COUPLE QUESTIONS, BUT MR.
CARILLO, THANK YOU. IT IS
ENCOURAGING TO SEE THE PROGRESS
THAT'S BEEN MADE IN HOUSING
PRODUCTION. THÀNH. AND AS YOU
NOTED, IT'S WE NEED TO IMPROVE
EVEN MORE. AND I BELIEVE YOU
SAID 130,000 UNITS HAVE BEEN
BUILT IN 2023, THE SCAG REGION,
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION
OF GOVERNMENTS WAS, ASSIGNED 1.3
MILLION UNITS. AT THIS RATE, IF
THIS 130,000 UNITS WERE BUILT IN
THIS REGION, WE WOULD BE IN GOOD
SHAPE. BUT THIS NUMBER,
130,000IN STATEWIDE, APPRECIATE
THE, INFORMATION THAT WE'VE MADE
UP PROGRESS IN INCREASING THE
NUMBER OF UNITS. BUT ALSO, AS
YOU NOTED, WE NEED TO IMPROVE
MORE, AND THAT'S WHERE THE
TRANSPARENCY ISSUE COMES IN. AS
FAR AS HOW THESE UNITS ARE
DESIGNATED, I SERVE ON THE, PCH,
A COMMITTEE. THE ALLOCATION OF
THE ARENA NUMBERS IN THIS
REGION. AND WE HAVE VERY
CONTENTIOUS MEETINGS BECAUSE THE
NUMBERS THAT WERE ASSIGNED, JUST
DIDN'T MAKE ANY SENSE BECAUSE WE
WERE NOT ABLE TO GET CLEAR
INFORMATION ON HOW THESE NUMBERS
CAME ABOUT OUT, BUT I APPRECIATE
THE, THE NUMBERS THAT YOU GAVE
US WERE MAKING IMPROVEMENTS.
IT'S STILL A LONG WAY TO GO, AND
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT, THANK
YOU FOR SHARING THOSE NUMBERS.
IT'S REFRESHING TO SEE THAT
WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS, BUT
AGAIN, WE STILL NEED TO WORK
EVEN HARDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
BUILD THOSE NUMBER OF UNITS. SO
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS
PETRIE-NORRIS. WELL, AND I THINK
BOTH OF YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE
AND, MISS WEST, I HOPE WHAT I'M
GOING TO SAY ISN'T, YOU KNOW,
ISN'T GOING TO COME AS A
COMPLETE SURPRISE, BUT I HAVE TO
SAY, I HAVE FOUND, KIND OF THE
HOUSING ELEMENT PROCESS, THE
ARENA PROCESS TO BE PRETTY
CONFOUNDING. AND I GUESS, IN MY
VIEW, SOMEWHAT JUST NONSENSICAL
ORPHALI LIKE ELABORATE,
CONFUSING LABYRINTH. AND BECAUSE
THE FUNDAMENTAL REALITY IS LIKE
CITIES DON'T BUILD HOUSES,
CITIES CAN HELP FACILITATE AN
ENVIRONMENT WHERE HOUSES CAN GET
BUILT, YOU KNOW, MORE QUICKLY OR
MORE SLOWLY. AND I WILL SAY THAT
EVEN SOME OF MY CITIES WHO ARE
VERY PRO HOUSING, WHO HAVE LIKE
PUT INITIATIVES ON THE BALLOT TO
SUPPORT MORE HOUSING, DO REPORT
BACK THAT THEY FEEL LIKE THERE'S
A COMBATIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH
HCD. AND SO I WOULD LOVE, YEAH,
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE HCD KIND OF
TAKE ON MORE OF A CONSULTATIVE
ROLE, AND MORE OF A ROLE AS A
CLEARING HOUSE BECAUSE YOU'RE
SEEING, YOU KNOW, WHAT EVERY
CITY IN THE STATE IS DOING. SO I
THINK YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
IDENTIFY BEST PRACTICES TO HELP,
LIKE, YOU KNOW, PUT TOGETHER
MODEL ORDINANCES TO REALLY BE A
RESOURCE, ALMOST LIKE A SMALL
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER
MODEL, RATHER THAN KIND OF A
GOTCHA MODEL. SO I WOULD JUST
SORT OF LEAVE YOU WITH THAT. I
THINK IT'S AND I REALLY
APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, THE WORK
THAT YOU'VE DONE AND WE
CERTAINLY WANT EVERY CITY TO DO
THEIR FAIR SHARE, BUT I WOULD
LOVE FOR IT TO FEEL LIKE THE
STATE IS PARTNERING WITH OUR
CITIES TO GET THAT DONE, RATHER
THAN, YOU KNOW, SORT OF VIEWING
IT AS COMBATIVE. SO I'D LOVE TO
HEAR ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING TO
BE A RESOURCE FOR OUR CITIES AND
WHAT SORT OF THINGS YOU'RE DOING
TO, LIKE I SAID, BE A
CLEARINGHOUSE FOR BEST PRACTICES
AND HELP MORE OF OUR CITIES WHO
WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING. DO
THE RIGHT THING. YEAH, I'M HAPPY
TO ADDRESS THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR
HOUSING ELEMENT TEAM IS FULL OF
PEOPLE, AND PEOPLE HAVE
PERSONALITIES. AND I THINK WE
SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THAT IS
PART OF THE EQUATION HERE.
RIGHT, BUT OVERALL, WE CERTAINLY
APPROACH OUR INTERACTIONS IN THE
SPIRIT OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.
THAT INCLUDES DURING HOUSING
ELEMENT PREPARATION WHILE WE'RE
REVIEWING HOUSING ELEMENT PREP
OR DRAFTS AND ADOPTED DRAFTS,
AND FURTHER INTO IMPLEMENTATION
OF PROGRAMS, I THINK SOME OF THE
CHALLENGES OF HOUSING ELEMENT
COMPLIANCE IS INDEED THE LAWS
ARE COMPLEX. THEY'VE CHANGED A
LOT JUST FOR THE SIX CYCLE, SO
IN THE BEGINNING OF THE HOUSING
ELEMENT CYCLE, THERE WAS A LOT
OF CHALLENGES ABOUT HOW TO EVEN
IMPLEMENT THESE BRAND NEW PARTS
OF STATUTE, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY,
I HOPE THAT IT'S TRUE THAT OUR
STAFF ARE GETTING BETTER AT
BEING MORE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT THE
EXPECTATIONS ARE, BECAUSE
CLARITY IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING
THAT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
PERMITTING OR WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT HOUSING ELEMENTS, IF
YOU'RE ON THE OTHER END OF
NEEDING SOMETHING TO BE
APPROVED, YOU JUST NEED TO KNOW
WHAT THE RULES ARE, HCD DOES
HAVE TOOLS AVAILABLE BOTH ON OUR
WEBSITE IN THE PEOPLE THAT YOU
CAN CONTACT, WE HAVE SOMETHING
CALLED BUILDING BLOCKS. SOME OF
IT DOES INCLUDE MODEL PROGRAMS
THAT CAN BE INCLUDED IN HOUSING
ELEMENTS. WE ALSO HAVE TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE THAT INCLUDES, I
BELIEVE, SOME MODEL ORDINANCES,
BUT CERTAINLY SOME BEST
PRACTICES, ARE THEY EASY TO FIND
ON OUR WEBSITE? MAYBE NOT IF
YOU'RE NOT AWARE OF THEM, BUT WE
DO HAVE RESOURCES LIKE THAT, AND
I'D BE GLAD TO FOLLOW UP WITH
YOU TO PROVIDE SOME OF THOSE
TOOLS. OF COURSE, MR. WOOD,
THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO YOU
BOTH. I APPRECIATE YOU BEING
HERE AND YOUR COMMENTS, THIS IS
JUST A QUESTION TO MR. CALFEE.
WHAT IS THE NATIONAL RESOURCE
AGENCY IS BROAD. IT COVERS A LOT
, ARE THERE CONCERTED EFFORTS
TOWARDS PROGRAMMATIC COMPLIANCE
WITH SOME OF THE CHALLENGES
WE'RE FACING? I'VE HEARD OVER
THE YEARS THAT, ENVIRONMENTAL
RESTORATION PROJECTS REQUIRE
CEQA ANALYZES FOR PROJECTS THAT
MAY ONLY BE SEPARATED BY, YOU
KNOW, A HUNDRED YARDS, BUT HAVE
TO GO THROUGH SEPARATE CEQA
ANALYZES. AND I KNOW THERE HAVE
BEEN EFFORTS IN THAT REGARD AS
WELL. BUT IS THERE A CONCERTED
EFFORT BY THIS ADMINISTRATION,
THÀNH, TO LOOK AT MORE
PROGRAMMATIC WAYS OF COMPLYING
WITH CEQA SO THAT WE CAN BE MORE
EFFICIENT, STILL COMPLY WITH
CEQA, YET ELIMINATE SOME OF THE
TIME THAT IT TAKES, BECAUSE THE
TIME IS MONEY AND CHALLENGE. AND
IF YOU'VE GOT AGENTS GROUPS OUT
THERE TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT
THING, ESPECIALLY ON ON HABITAT
RESTORATION PROJECTS, HAVING
THEM HAVING TO SPEND MORE MONEY
AND MORE TIME IS
COUNTERPRODUCTIVE TO THE MISSION
OF WHAT A LOT OF YOUR A LOT OF A
LOT OF THE VALUES THAT WE HOLD.
SO IS THERE A CONCERTED EFFORT
TOWARDS THAT, AGENCY WIDE AND
HOW DOES THAT TRICKLE DOWN TO
THE INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS? I
APPRECIATE THE QUESTION. AND
YES, THERE ARE THERE ARE GOOD
EXAMPLES OF THAT TYPE OF
PROGRAMMATIC THINKING, ONE THAT
I WILL SHARE IS THE CALIFORNIA
VEGETATION TREATMENT PROGRAM AND
THE BOARD OF FORESTRY HAS
DEVELOPED A PROGRAMMATIC EIR
THAT COVERS 20 MILLION ACRES IN
THE STATE OF DIFFERENT FOREST
TYPES. THE IDEA BEING TO STUDY
THE IMPACTS OF VARIOUS
VEGETATION TREATMENTS,
INCLUDING, PRESCRIBED BURNS,
MASTICATION, FOREST THINNING,
ETC. NOW THAT THAT DOCUMENT IS
IN PLACE, INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS
CAN LOOK BACK AT THAT
PROGRAMMATIC REVIEW AND GO
THROUGH A CHECKLIST TO SEE IF
THERE'S ANYTHING THAT THAT
REVIEW MISSED OR THAT SITE
SPECIFIC. AND ONLY FOCUS ON THAT
AS A RESULT, VERY BASE
VEGETATION TREATMENT PROGRAM OR
EXCUSE ME, PROJECTS HAVE GONE
THROUGH IN MONTHS INSTEAD OF
YEARS. ANOTHER INNOVATION FROM
THAT IS NOW THAT THAT
PROGRAMMATIC REVIEW IS IN PLACE,
THE BOARD OF FORESTRY HAS BEEN
ABLE TO COOPERATE WITH THE WATER
BOARDS AND WATER BOARD HAS
ADOPTED A GENERAL PERMIT THAT
COVERS WATER QUALITY, PERMITTING
FOR PROJECTS THAT ARE USING THE
LVP, EIR. SO THEY'RE NOT HAVING
TO GET INDIVIDUAL, WASTE
DISCHARGE PERMITS. WITH THAT
EXPERIENCE FRESH IN MIND, WE ARE
ALSO, WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE
COASTAL COMMISSION TO SEE WHAT
OF THEIR PROCESSES CAN BE BEST
LINKED UP TO THE WORK OF THE
YEAR. AGAIN WITH THE IDEA OF
MAKING THESE PROJECTS MOVE MUCH
MORE QUICKLY. SO I, IN MY
ESTIMATION, WE'VE LEARNED QUITE
A BIT THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND
CAN USE THAT AS A MODEL,
APPRECIATE THAT. AND I AM AWARE
OF THAT. I THINK THAT GETTING TO
THAT POINT WHERE THAT PROCESS
WAS A ALMOST A DECADE IN THE
MAKING, AND SO GREAT THAT IT'S
WORKING NOW, BUT WE'VE GOT OTHER
CHALLENGES. WE DON'T HAVE
NECESSARILY A DECADE TO COME UP
WITH POLICIES TO HELP US
STREAMLINE POLICY. YOU KNOW,
HOUSING, WE DON'T HAVE A DECADE
TO COME UP WITH POLICIES TO
STREAMLINE, ENERGY TRANSMISSION
AND BUILDING THAT OUT, SO I
APPRECIATE THAT. AND YOU ARE
RIGHT. THOSE ARE ABSOLUTELY
VALUABLE PROJECTS. WE WOULD JUST
LIKE TO I WOULD JUST LIKE FOR
ONE TO SEE THAT WE COULD FIND A
WAY TO COMPEL THE GOVERNMENT TO
MOVE FASTER BECAUSE WE DON'T
HAVE A DECADE TO ACCOMPLISH
THESE OTHERS. IT'S GREAT THAT
YOU'RE WE'RE PIGGYBACKING OFF OF
THAT. AND THERE'S A VALUE TO
THAT TREMENDOUS VALUE TO THAT.
SO I THANK THANK YOU FOR THAT.
BUT I HOPE YOU CAN SEE MY POINT
IS THAT THAT TOOK THAT TOOK THAT
WAS A KNOCK DOWN, DRAG OUT FIGHT
FOR OVER A DECADE, ALMOST A
DECADE OR OVER A DECADE. WHEN I
FIRST CAME TO THE LEGISLATURE,
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT, AND
I'M IN MY 10TH YEAR, SO. SO I
THINK THE CHALLENGE WE FIND IS
THAT THAT'S GREAT POLICY, BUT
HOW DO WE GET TO GREAT POLICY
FASTER AND MAKE IT MORE
EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE SO THAT
WE CAN MOVE FORWARD ON THESE
OTHER ISSUES? SO, SO COMPLETELY
APPRECIATE THAT POINT. AND THAT
IS ABSOLUTELY A FOCUS OF OURS,
THAT AGENCY, A THING THAT I'LL
SAY ABOUT PERHAPS A REASON THAT
IT TOOK AS LONG AS IT DID TO GET
TO THIS POINT IS, AGAIN, IN MY
REMARKS, I TALKED ABOUT THE
DIFFERENT VALUES THAT ARE AT
STAKE AND SO TO GET TO THE
DOCUMENT THAT WE HAVE NOW, IT
TOOK A LOT OF CLOSE
COLLABORATION BETWEEN CAL FIRE
BOARD OF FORESTRY, DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE, PARKS, AND
MANY, MANY OTHERS TO RESOLVE.
HOW DO WE CONDUCT THE VEGETATION
TREATMENT WORK THAT WE NEED TO
AND PROTECT SPECIES SO IT AND
THROUGH THAT PROCESS, WE HAVE
PEOPLE WORKING TOGETHER IN A WAY
THAT THEY HADN'T HISTORICALLY.
AND THAT, I WOULD SAY IS ANOTHER
INNOVATION IN THIS
ADMINISTRATION IS REALLY LOOKING
AT THESE THINGS AS WE ARE ONE
STATE TEAM TRYING TO GET TO AN
OBJECTIVE, AND WE'RE SEEING THE
RESULTS. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE
THAT. AND I WAS JUST, YOU KNOW,
WELL, I WANT TO ALIGN MY, MY
COMMENTS WITH YOURS. MR. WOOD.
YOU KNOW, WHEN THE PREVIOUS
PANELS AND I THINK YOU GUYS WERE
LISTENING TO THE PREVIOUS PANEL,
TALKED ABOUT THE CULTURE OF
REGULATION, AND I THINK, YOU
KNOW, WE ARE OPERATING UNDER A
FIERCE URGENCY OF NOW WHEN WE
SEE 180,000 HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS
ON OUR STREETS AND PEOPLE
LEAVING CALIFORNIA BECAUSE THEY
CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE HERE, WHEN
WE'RE SEEING THE CLIMATE
IMPACTS, ALL OF THE STUFF THAT
WE NEED TO DO WITH REGARD TO THE
GRID AND THE TRANSMISSION AND
THE RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS
THAT WE NEED TO PERMIT. AND WHEN
YOU TALK TO FOLKS WHO ARE IN
SOLAR AND WIND AND THESE LARGE,
LARGE SCALE UTILITY PROJECTS, IF
IT'S TAKING TEN, 15 YEARS TO
PERMIT THESE PROJECTS, WE'RE NOT
GOING TO REACH THE CLIMATE
GOALS. AND I THINK WHAT YOU SAID
EARLIER, MR. PETRIE-NORRIS,
WHERE THERE'S LIKE A GULF
BETWEEN OUR AMBITION AND REALITY
AND OUR VALUES AND OUR ACTUAL
IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT IS, I
THINK, SOME OF THE STUFF THAT
WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO FLUSH OUT
HERE. SO I APPRECIATE YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO BE HERE AND A LOT
OF THE GOOD WORK THAT YOU HAVE
DONE IN THESE AGENCIES TO TRY TO
EXPEDITE THIS STUFF, YOU KNOW, I
JUST HAVE A THREE AND A SEVEN
YEAR OLD THAT WE'RE TRYING TO,
LIKE, MAKE THE WORLD BETTER FOR
THEM, AND THEY'RE GROWING UP
QUICKLY. SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT BY THE TIME, YOU KNOW, THEY
HAVE CHILDREN, THAT THE, THE
CALIFORNIA'S, THE CALIFORNIA
THAT WE, WE ALL WANT TO SEE
HERE. SO, APPRECIATE YOU ALL
BEING HERE. ANY OTHER LAST
REMARKS FROM COLLEAGUES? OKAY.
WE WILL NOW MOVE TO OUR THIRD
PANEL. YEAH, AND I BELIEVE THEY
WILL BE JOINING VIA VIA ZOOM OR
TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS, FROM
DENMARK AND NEW YORK. THEY WON'T
BE HERE IN PERSON TODAY, SO
WHOEVER'S DOING THE TECH, PLEASE
FEEL FREE TO PIPE THEM IN IF
THEY'RE STILL HERE. WE HAVE LARS
MUELLER CHRISTIANSEN, DANISH
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY,
AND JILLIAN. JILLIAN. AND
JILLIAN BLACK, NEW YORK STATE
ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY. YES. I THINK WE'RE.
OH, THERE WE GO. OKAY MR.
CHRISTENSEN, IF YOU'D LIKE TO
BEGIN. OH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
MY NAME IS LARS MUELLER. I'M A
DEPUTY DIRECTOR AT THE DANISH
EPA, AND I'M GLAD TO BE HERE TO
BE ABLE TO SHARE SOME OF THE
DANISH EXPERIENCES. I'M GOING TO
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SPEEDING
UP THE PERMITTING PROCESSES IN
DENMARK WITH DIGITIZATION, I'LL
FOCUS ON THE MAIN POINTS. AS I
UNDERSTAND, WE HAVE MY
PRESENTATION FOR FURTHER DETAIL.
FIRST, I WILL SAY A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THE DANISH CONTEXT. THEN
I'LL SAY SOME MORE ABOUT WHAT WE
HAVE DONE AT THE STATE LEVEL,
AND THEN I'LL BE ABLE TO TAKE
SOME QUESTIONS. IF YOU HAVE SOME
. SO FIRST, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THE DANISH CONTEXT. IN DENMARK
WE HAVE A BROAD COALITION OF
PARTIES IN THE PARLIAMENT THAT
HAVE SET SOME RATHER AMBITIOUS
GOALS ON RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY.
ONE OF THE GOALS IS TO FOR
DOUBLE THE WIND FARM CAPACITY ON
LAND AND SOLAR CAPACITY ON LAND
WITHIN 2030 AND ON SEE, THE SAME
GOAL IS TO FIVE DOUBLE THE
CAPACITY FOR WIND FARMS ON THE
SEA. ALSO, THE GOVERNMENT HAS
PROPOSED TO MAKE 32 ENERGY PARKS
NATIONAL WIDE WITH SPECIAL
PERMISSION FROM THE STATE LEVEL.
SO IN THE DANISH SYSTEM, THE EPA
IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL
ASSESSMENTS OR EASE OF
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS FROM ALL
STATE AGENCIES, THIS INCLUDES
ENERGINET THAT IS RESPONSIBLE
FOR THE GAS AND ELECTRICITY
NETWORK IN DENMARK. SO WE HAVE
ACTUALLY ALL THE PERMITTING
PROCESS ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL
SIDE, FOR THE NATIONAL PROJECTS
FOR INSTANCE, FOR ELECTRICITY
LINES AND SO FORTH. AND AS
YOU'VE HEARD TODAY, THE, THE
INFRASTRUCTURE AND ELECTRICITY
AND SO FORTH IS VERY IMPORTANT
TO THE GREEN TRANSITION. SO
THERE'S A LOT OF FOCUS ON THIS
ALSO FROM THE PARLIAMENT AND SO
FORTH. ALSO, WE HAVE A SMALL
ORGANIZATION IN DENMARK CALLED
BASE ALIGNMENT SUPPORT THAT
SUPPORTS BOTH THE STATE LEVEL
AND THE LOCAL LEVELS WITH THE
DATA ON ENVIRONMENT, AND NATURE
RELATED, FOR INSTANCE, TO,
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS. SO
THAT'S JUST TO GIVE YOU A SHORT
PRESENTATION OF THE CONTEXT. SO
WHAT HAVE WE DONE AT THE STATE
LEVEL TO SPEED UP PROCESSES?
WELL FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE TAKEN
SOME, LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES,
IN ORDER TO, SPEED UP PROCESSES,
REDUCE PROCESS TIME. AND THIS
INCLUDES SIMPLIFICATIONS OF, OF
LEGISLATORS STEPS AND ALSO
BETTER GUIDANCE FOR CASEWORKERS,
BOTH ON THE STATE LEVEL AND
LOCAL LEVEL, AND ALSO IN THE
DANISH EPA. WE HAVE, DIGITIZE
THE PROCESS WITH, FOR INSTANCE,
ENERGY NET AND OTHER STATE
ACTORS IN ORDER TO SPEED UP
TIME. AND I WILL GET BACK TO
THAT IN A LITTLE IN A MOMENT.
THE THIRD INITIATIVE IS THE
DEVELOPMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
ASSESSMENT HUBS AND TOOLS FROM
THE DANISH ENVIRONMENTAL PORTAL.
AND FINALLY, WE ARE CURRENTLY
BOTH WORKING ON AND ALSO USING
AI ON THESE TOOLS THAT ARE JUST
MENTIONED TO SPEED UP, TO SPEED
UP PROCESSES. ALL THIS IS TO
MAKE FASTER AND BETTER DECISIONS
AND SHORTENING THE TIME FROM A
POLITICAL DECISION TO
REALIZATIONS OF THE EFFECTS. SO,
SO FIRSTLY, ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT WE'VE DONE WAS TO DIGITIZE
THE PROCESS, THE PERMITTING
PROCESS WITH THE ENERGINET, AND
ACTUALLY WHAT WE DID WAS
TOGETHER WITH OUR SUPPLIER TO,
TO MAKE AN ONLINE APPLICATION
FOR THE, THE ENVIRONMENTAL
ASSESSMENT, SO NOW WE GET THE,
THE APPLICATION FROM THE
BEGINNING WITH ALL THE NECESSARY
DATA AVAILABLE. AND ALSO WE HAVE
DIGITAL PROCESS OF, APPROVING
THE APPLICATION WITHIN THE THIS
MEANS WE HAVE AN EFFICIENT
INTERNAL CASH FLOW, SUPPORTING
THE FULL PROCESS IS CREATING
FULL TRANSPARENCY. OVERVIEW AND
WITH STAKEHOLDERS AUTOMATED
DOCUMENTATIONS ETC. THE, ON THE
OTHER HAND, THE ENERGINET, THEY
HAVE FULL ACCESS TO THEIR OWN
CASES IN DATA ABOUT THEIR OWN
CASES. SO WHERE THEY CAN SEE
WHERE WHERE THE CASES IN THE
PROCESS. THIS ALSO REDUCES THE
AVAILABLE, PROCESS TIME. SO, SO
WHAT ARE THE RESULTS. WELL, WE
CAN SEE ALREADY THAT WE HAVE
INCREASED THE EFFICIENCY AND
REDUCE THE PROCESS TIME. AND
ALSO WE EXPECT TO HAVE FEWER
CASES THAT ARE TO BE TURNED DOWN
IN COURTS. AND THIS LAST POINT
IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE ONE OF
THE TIME CONSUMING CONSUMER,
PROBLEMS WITH THE PERMITTING
PROCESSES IS OFTEN THAT WE MAKE
MISTAKES. SO WE ARE TURNING DOWN
IN COMPLAINT BOARDS AND WE HAVE
TO START ALL OVER LOSING
PRECIOUS TIME. AND I THINK THE
PERMITTING PROCESS IN DENMARK
ARE ALREADY SHORTER THAN THE
ONES YOU MENTIONED IN
CALIFORNIA. WITH 5 TO 10 YEARS,
I THINK WE HAVE AN AVERAGE OF,
OF 3 TO 7 YEARS ON SOME OF THESE
PROJECTS, SOMETIMES EVEN SHORTER
IN THE BEST POSSIBLE CONDITIONS.
AND WE HOPE TO REDUCE THIS
FURTHER BY DIGITIZING THESE
PROCESSES. SO ON TOP OF THE
CASEWORK AND SO FORTH, WE ALSO
WANT TO USE AI TO FURTHER, SPEED
UP THE PROCESSES. AND FOR
INSTANCE, WE THINK AI CAN HELP
US LOOK FOR PATTERNS, HELP US IN
FINDING KNOWN SHOWSTOPPERS SUCH
AS HABITATS OR ENDANGERED
SPECIES AND SO FORTH. SO, SO WE
ARE VERY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE
FURTHER REDUCING PROCESS BY
USING AI. SO WHAT I TALKED ABOUT
NOW WAS, DIGITIZATION OF THE
PERMITTING PROCESSES. NOW I'LL
TURN TO THE DATA FOUNDATIONS FOR
SOME OF THESE, SOME OF THESE
PROCESSES. SO IN DENMARK WE
HAVE, AS I SAID, THE DANISH
ENVIRONMENTAL CROSS, ALSO THIS
IS A SMALL ORGANIZATION THAT
GATHERS ALL, ENVIRONMENTAL AND
NATURE DATA IN DENMARK. AND
WITHIN THIS ORGANIZATION, WE
HAVE MADE WHAT WE CALL AN E HUB
ENVIRONMENT HUB, WHERE WE
ACTUALLY GATHERED ALL EXISTING,
ALL EXISTING ENVIRONMENTAL
ASSESSMENTS IN DENMARK. AND THIS
IS INTERESTING NOT ONLY BECAUSE
WE CAN REUSE THE DATA FOR
SPECIFIC AREAS, BUT ALSO BECAUSE
WE HAVE, TRAINING DATA FOR USE
AI ON DRONE. ACTUALLY, WE HAVE,
WE HAVE A VALUABLE SOURCE OF
TRAINING THERE. ALSO, WE CREATED
THE Tð, WITH WHICH IS ACTUALLY A
SIMPLE TOOL. SO A DEVELOPER OR A
LOCAL AUTHORITY OR THE STATE
AUTHORITY CAN, CAN A HÌ AND,
DRAW ON THE AREA WHERE YOU WANT
TO BUILD, FOR INSTANCE, A WIND
FARM OR SOLAR FARM. AND THERE
YOU CAN SEE INSTANTLY WHAT DATA
ARE ALREADY AVAILABLE, FOR
INSTANCE, FOR, FOR INSTANCE, FOR
ENDANGERED SPECIES AND SOCIAL.
SO THIS IS NOT, IT DOESN'T SOLVE
ALL PROBLEMS, BUT IT MAKES THE
ACCESS TO AVAILABLE DATA FASTER.
SO I THINK ALSO, I ON TOP OF
THESE DATA WILL FURTHER ENHANCE
THE PROCESS. SO, SO TO SUM IT
UP, THE STATE LEVEL, WE HAVE
WORKED INTENSIVELY DIGITIZING
THE PROCESSES, BUT ALSO THE DATA
MANDATES. AND WE ARE CURRENTLY
USING THE DEVELOPING FURTHER THE
USE OF AI. AND ON TOP. AND I
THINK SOME OF THESE EXPERIENCES
THAT WE HAVE HAD IN DENMARK ARE
TRANSFERABLE TO ALL SORTS OF AN
AMERICAN OR CALIFORNIAN CONTEXT
FOR INSTANCE, DIGITIZING THE,
THE, THE PERMITTING PROCESSES
AND ALSO GATHERING DATA. IT CAN
BE DONE. AND I THINK THERE ARE
SOME, IMMEDIATE GAINS WERE HAD
FROM IT. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT
SPEEDING UP PROCESSES. SO THAT
WAS A SHORT PRESENTATION. I'M
HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS IF
YOU HAVE SOME. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, NEXT WE HAVE, JILLIAN
BLACK FROM THE NEW YORK STATE
ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY. HI. THANK YOU FOR
HAVING ME. CAN YOU HEAR ME?
OKAY. WE CAN HEAR YOU. WE JUST
CAN'T QUITE SEE YOU YET. BUT
GIVE US ONE SECOND HERE, OKAY?
SORRY. GIVE US A SECOND. OKAY.
YEAH. I THINK IT'S GOING TO POP
UP ONCE YOU START SPEAKING. IF
YOU COULD SPEAK UP A LITTLE BIT
MORE, THAT'D BE GREAT. SURE. IS
THAT BETTER? CAN YOU HEAR ME? IF
A LITTLE BIT LOUDER WOULD BE
IDEAL. OKAY I'M CHANGING MY
INPUTS. HOW'S THAT? VERY WELL.
OH, NOW WE SEE YOU. GREAT. OKAY
OKAY. YES. GREAT. WELL, HI.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. IT'S
BEEN A PLEASURE TO LISTEN TO ALL
THE PRESENTERS AND ALL THESE
GREAT QUESTIONS. MY NAME IS
JILLIAN BLACK. I'M THE DIRECTOR
OF THE BUILD-READY PROGRAM, PART
OF THE LARGE SCALE RENEWABLES
GROUP AT NYSERDA NEW YORK STATE
ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY. WE'RE A STATE
AUTHORITY THAT BASICALLY MANAGES
ENERGY POLICY IN THE STATE. MY
PROGRAM, THE BUILD-READY
PROGRAM, WAS ESTABLISHED IN LATE
2020 TO ADDRESS DIFFICULT SITES
THROUGHOUT THE STATE THAT THE
PRIVATE SECTOR WAS NOT
ADDRESSING, WE WERE GIVEN THE
ABILITY AND THE MANDATE TO
ORIGINATE SITES, DIFFICULT SITES
LIKE BROWNFIELDS, LANDFILLS, OLD
FOSSIL FUEL GENERATOR SITES THAT
ARE CLOSING, CLOSING PRISONS,
PARKING LOT AT CENTER MINES,
WHERE WE REALLY SHOULD HAVE
RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS
DEVELOPED. BUT THE PRIVATE
SECTOR WAS NOT DOING SO BECAUSE
THEY WERE TOO COSTLY TO
BUREAUCRATIC OR WHATEVER. SO WE
PUT OUR PROGRAM TOGETHER AND
WE'VE BEEN CHASING SITES,
BRINGING THEM TO THE MARKET, WE
ALSO TAKE NOMINATIONS FROM
TYPICALLY FROM MUNICIPALITIES OR
OTHER OTHER AGENCIES. SOME
PRIVATE SECTOR PLAYERS. AND
WE'RE A BIT OF A SKUNKWORKS
WITHIN NYSERDA IN THAT WE
DEVELOPED THIS LITTLE PRIVATE
DEVELOPMENT SHOP, AND WE'RE
RUNNING THROUGH ALL OF THE
PARALLEL PATHWAYS THAT THE
PRIVATE SECTOR WOULD, AS
DEVELOPERS IN UTILITY
INTERCONNECTION, SITE CONTROL
THROUGH LAND LEASES OR PURCHASE
OPTIONS. WE NEGOTIATE ALL OF THE
TAX PILOTS PAYMENTS IN LIEU OF
TAXES WITH THE LOCAL TAXING
JURISDICTIONS. WE DO ALL THE
ENVIRONMENTAL, REGULATORY,
PERMITTING, ETC. AND THEN AT THE
END OF THE PROCESS, ONCE WE HAVE
A PROJECT THAT'S READY TO GO,
WHICH HAS RECEIVED NOTICE TO
PROCEED ESSENTIALLY, AND PUT IT
OUT TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN A
COMPETITIVE SOLICITATION AND
RFP, WHEREBY MY PRIVATE SECTOR
INDEPENDENT POWER PRODUCERS BID
ON THE AMOUNT OF INCENTIVE
REQUIRED SUCH THAT THEY MEET
THEIR REQUIRED RATES OF RETURN.
SO WE GRANT THAT INCENTIVE IN
THE FORM OF A 20 YEAR RENEWABLE
ENERGY CERTIFICATE CONTRACT.
THIS WRECK IS AVAILABLE THROUGH
OUR STANDARD TIER ONE GROUP FOR
TERRESTRIAL WIND AND SOLAR. OF
THE LARGER SCALE, BUT IT'S A
COMPETITIVE PROCESS TYPICALLY IN
THE PRIVATE SECTOR. SO WE'RE
KIND OF THE ORPHAN DRUG
MANUFACTURER OF THE INDUSTRY
HERE, AND THAT WE FIND THESE
ORPHAN SITES AND WE BRING THEM
TO MARKET, AND WE ARE ALLOWED TO
AWARD THEM AT A HIGHER VALUE. WE
CAN AWARD A HIGHER RENT CONTRACT
TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE VALUABLE
BROWNFIELDS TURN INTO RENEWABLE
GENERATION ASSETS, SO IT'S
REALLY A PUBLIC PRIVATE
PARTNERSHIP, AND YEAH, THAT'S
THAT'S ME. THAT'S WHAT WE DO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WANT TO
BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE
TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY
QUESTIONS. WE HAVE ONE FROM MR.
ALVAREZ. THANK YOU, I, I HAVE A
QUESTION TO, OUR FIRST
PRESENTER. ON SLIDE FOUR, WHICH
WE HAVE BEFORE US. AND I, FROM
YOUR PRESENTATION, YOU PROVIDED
TO US, YOU TALKED ABOUT
SIMPLIFICATIONS AND BETTER
GUIDANCE FOR CASEWORK. THIS SORT
OF, TO ME, SOUNDS A LITTLE BIT
LIKE THE CULTURE OF, REGULATION
ISSUE THAT WE HEARD FROM A
PRESENTER EARLIER, CAN YOU CAN
YOU FURTHER CLARIFY WHAT YOU
MEAN BY THE SIMPLIFICATION AND
BETTER GUIDANCE FOR CASEWORKERS?
YES, ACTUALLY, IT'S A LOT OF
DIFFERENT INITIATIVES, SOME OF
THEM START AT THE EU LEVEL, OR A
LITTLE LIKE YOUR FEDERAL LEVEL.
SO SOME OF THE EU INITIATIVES,
ARE TAKING THEIR TO SPEED UP
PROCESSES, BUT ALSO AT THE
NATIONAL LEVEL, WE HAVE SOME
POSSIBILITIES TO REDUCE PROCESS
TIME. AND THOSE WE HAVE IN
NATIONAL LEGISLATION, FOR
INSTANCE, THE MORNING HEARING
PERIODS AND SO FORTH. AND THE
THIRD LEVEL IS THE ACTUAL
GUIDANCE THAT WE GIVE FROM THE
DANISH EPA TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES
AND TO DEVELOPERS ABOUT HOW TO
TACKLE, FOR INSTANCE, ENDANGERED
SPECIES. THAT COULD BE BAD, FOR
INSTANCE, THAT ARE AFFECTED BY
WIND FARMS AND SO FORTH. SO AT
ALL THESE LEVELS, THERE ARE SOME
SUBSTANTIVE, CASES THAT HAVE TO
BE MADE THAT WOULD SPEED UP.
WHAT EXACTLY WERE THE
LEGISLATIVE CHANGES ON THE
TIMING? YOU SAID THERE WAS STATE
LEVEL CHANGES ON TIME, SOME OF
THEM ARE HEARING PERIODS IN
DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROCESSES. AS
FOR INSTANCE, AS I MENTIONED, WE
HAVE SOME, GO, SOME STATES,
NATIONAL DEVELOPERS, STATE,
PERMITTED AREAS FOR, FOR ENERGY.
SO THESE AREAS, WE HAVE SPECIAL
RULES THAT CAN SPEED UP PRODUCT.
OKAY IS ON YOUR DIGITIZING
INITIATIVES ARE ARE YOU ON A IS
THIS A PUBLIC PORTAL OR IS THIS
AVAILABLE ONLY TO AGENCIES
WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT? NO, IT'S
A PUBLIC PORTAL. SO ALSO THESE
DATA ARE AVAILABLE FOR
DEVELOPERS, FOR ORDINARY
CITIZENS AND SO FORTH ACROSS,
THE PEOPLE WHO USE THESE MODELS
ARE OFTEN PEOPLE WITH A PURPOSE
THAT COULD BE, PUBLIC
ORGANIZATIONS, AUTHORITIES. IT
COULD BE DEVELOPERS, THE PRIVATE
CONTRACTOR, AND SO FORTH. BUT IN
GENERAL, THESE DATA ARE MADE
FREELY AVAILABLE ONCE THEY ARE
GATHERED AND THE QUALITY SECURE,
WE PUT THEM ALSO AVAILABLE. I
THINK DATA HAS HUGE UNDER
REPRESENTED THE VALUE TO BE
REUSED IN DIFFERENT SETTINGS.
AND THE ENERGY ASSIST
ASSESSMENTS THAT YOU INCLUDED TO
BE USED WIDELY. HOW LONG DID IT
TAKE FOR YOU TO DEVELOP THAT AND
HOW HOW DIFFICULT WAS IT TO
DEVELOP THAT GIVEN YOU PROBABLY
HAD A MORE, SIMILAR TO US,
PROCESS WITH INDIVIDUAL AGENCIES
DOING THEIR OWN ANALYSIS? WELL,
WELL, ACTUALLY, I DON'T THINK
THE DEVELOPMENT WAS THAT
DIFFICULT. WE USE STANDARD
SOFTWARE AS PART OF OUR GENERAL
DIGITIZATION PROCESS. WE HAD
HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT
PROCESSES IN THE DANISH EPA
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT IS ONLY
ONE OF THEM. BUT WE HAVE SOME
STANDARD SOFTWARE THAT WE USE TO
DIGITIZE THIS PROCESS AS WELL.
AND I THINK IT WAS FUN. AND, SIX
MONTHS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT,
END TO END. WE HAD THE FIRST,
VERSION. AND SINCE WE DEVELOPED
FURTHER ON THAT SOLUTIONS AND WE
ARE CURRENTLY WORKING TOGETHER
WITH OUR SUPPLIER TO, DEVELOP
THE SOLUTION. AND, ESTABLISH A
AI FUNCTIONS AND SO FORTH. SO
THIS IS A JOURNEY. AND WE
STARTED IT, I THINK TWO YEARS
AGO, AND WITHIN A HALF YEAR, WE
HAD THE FIRST, THE FIRST PROCESS
TO, TO, TO, TO RUN OUT. AND NOW
WE ARE DEVELOPING THESE THINGS.
THANK YOU, MR. BLACK. A QUESTION
ON THE, I, I FOUND IT REALLY,
ACTUALLY FASCINATING. SO YOU'RE
IDENTIFYING UNDERUTILIZED ASSETS
THAT ARE PRIMARILY, I ASSUME,
PUBLIC ASSETS, BUT NOT
NECESSARILY PUBLIC ASSETS. AND
THEN YOU ARE YOU VERY BRIEFLY.
AND SO I KIND OF REALLY DIDN'T
UNDERSTAND YOU ASSESS THEM AND
YOU SORT OF PREPARE THEM TO THEN
GO OUT FOR COMPETITIVE BID AS,
AS IS IT FOR SITES FOR LOCATION
OF LARGE SCALE, MAINLY ENERGY
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS? YES,
YES. WE FOCUS MOSTLY ON SOLAR
AND ENERGY STORAGE. WE'VE JUST
RECEIVED APPROVAL TO DEVELOP
STANDALONE STORAGE PROJECTS,
BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE, WE HAVE
A LOT OF LEEWAY TO LOOK AT OTHER
RENEWABLES, BUT WE FOCUSED ON ON
THOSE. SO YOU ARE YOU IDENTIFY
THOSE AND THEN YOU DO SOME
ASSESSMENT OF THEM AND THEN YOU
MAKE THEM BASICALLY ATTRACTIVE
TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR. THAT'S
RIGHT. WE COMPLETE TURNKEY
DEVELOPMENT DE-RISKING AND
DEVELOPMENT FROM START TO
FINISH. AND THEN THE WINNING
BIDDER OF OUR RFP FINALIZES THE
CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS, FINANCES,
BUILDS, OWNS AND OPERATES THE
SYSTEM. AND THEN NYSERDA HOLDS
THE CONTRACT AND WE PAY THEM FOR
THE ENVIRONMENTAL ATTRIBUTES
THAT ARE PRODUCED BY THAT
PROJECT. AND THEN WE RETIRE
THOSE RENEWABLE ENERGY
ATTRIBUTES THROUGH OUR NORMAL
SYSTEM. AND WHY GAS SYSTEM?
OKAY. SO YOU YOU DO ALL THE
PERMITTING, ALL OF THE STUFF
THAT IS THE NIGHTMARE SCENARIO
OF A BROWNFIELD WHEN YOU WANT TO
BUILD ANYTHING ON THERE, YOU,
YOU ADDRESS ALL THAT AND IT'S,
YOU'RE ESSENTIALLY IS IT,
ARCHITECTURE READY FOR
ARCHITECTURAL RENDERINGS AND,
AND OR IS IT READY, SHOVEL
READY, STAGE. SO THEY'RE NOT
QUITE SHOVEL READY. WE WOULD
TAKE THEM THROUGH APPROVED
PERMIT DRAWINGS, BUT THE WINNING
BIDDER WOULD ACTUALLY DEVELOP
THE CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS ISSUED
FOR CONSTRUCTION. AND THEY WOULD
PULL THE PERMITS AND PROCURE THE
EQUIPMENT, BUILD IT, MANAGE IT,
ETC. DOES THIS, DOES NEW YORK
CERTA ASSIST THEM IN THE
PERMITTING PROCESS? LIKE YOU,
YOU GO WITH THEM OR ARE THEY
THEN OFF ON THEIR OWN? THEY'RE
OFF ON THEIR OWN AT THAT POINT.
THEY JUST NEED TO SUBMIT
DRAWINGS AND PULL THE PERMITS.
BUT IT'S JUST. BUT IS IT JUST
BUILDING PERMITS? IT'S NOT LIKE
SOME OTHER MAJOR PERMITS. IT'S
JUST CONSTRUCTION PERMITS.
THAT'S THAT'S RIGHT. LIKE WITH
DRIVEWAY PERMITS OR IF WE NEED
EASEMENTS AND RIGHTS OF WAY FOR
INTERCONNECTION AND, WIRING, WE
WOULD NEGOTIATE THOSE UP UNTIL A
POINT. AND THEN THEY WOULD THEY
WOULD FINALIZE THEM. SO IT'S
REALLY YOU REALLY DO THE MAJOR
ENTITLEMENT FOR THEM. THIS IS
CORRECT. YES INTERESTING. THANK
YOU. SURE THANK YOU. ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS FROM OTHER COMMITTEE
MEMBERS? WELL, THANK YOU BOTH
FOR JOINING VIRTUALLY. WE
APPRECIATE THE PARTICIPATION.
AND, WE WILL LOOK FORWARD TO
LESSONS LEARNED FROM OTHER
PLACES SUCH AS NEW YORK AND
DENMARK, OKAY. WE WILL BE. THANK
YOU. WE'LL BE MOVING NOW TO OUR
LAST, WE'RE CALLING THIS OUR
RAPID FIRE SPEED ROUND, WHERE WE
HAVE A HANDFUL OF FOLKS WHO ARE
GOING TO BE PROVIDING VERY BRIEF
TESTIMONY AT THE MAIN MIC UP
HERE, AND I'LL LET YOU ALL SELF
INTRODUCE AND GIVE YOUR SORT OF
TOP LINE THOUGHTS. I ALSO WANT
TO JUST, NOTE THAT WE'LL BE
HAVING MANY, INTENTIONAL ONE ON
ONE CONVERSATIONS AS WE PUT
TOGETHER THE WORK PRODUCT FOR
THIS THAT WILL INCLUDE,
LENGTHIER CONVERSATIONS FROM YOU
ALL THAT ARE TESTIFYING TODAY,
BUT WE WANTED TO GIVE AN
OPPORTUNITY OF SOME
PRACTITIONERS IN THE FIELD. AND
SO IF YOU WANT TO FEEL FREE AND
LINE UP, THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE,
WE QUEUED UP TO PROVIDE SOME
VERY BRIEF REMARKS, THAT WOULD
BE GREAT. AND THEN WE WILL GO TO
PUBLIC COMMENT AFTER THAT. HI.
GOOD AFTERNOON. I THINK IT'S
AFTERNOON. NEVADA MERRIMAN, VICE
PRESIDENT OF POLICY AND ADVOCACY
FOR MID-PEN HOUSING, SINCE WE
BEGAN 50 YEARS AGO, WE HAVE 125
COMMUNITIES, AND I'LL, I'LL JUST
MOVE ALONG A LITTLE MORE
QUICKLY. THE STATE HOUSING
LEGISLATION HAS BEEN A GAME
CHANGER. AND, ALTHOUGH WE HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO MOVE THROUGH
CERTAIN PARTS OF THE PROCESS
MUCH MORE QUICKLY, WE STILL NEED
SOME INNOVATION WHEN IT COMES TO
ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTING THESE.
AND, YOU KNOW, HAVING THEM LIVE
UP TO THEIR FULL POTENTIAL,
GETTING STUCK IN OUR PERMITTING
SYSTEM, AT ANY PLACE IS COSTLY,
BANKERS DON'T HOLD THEIR
INTEREST RATES. CONSTRUCTION
COMPANIES DON'T HOLD THEIR
PRICING FOR A YEAR OR TWO YEARS
IN ADVANCE. AND THEN THERE ARE
ALSO COSTS TO PICK UP ON WHAT
THE CHAIR WAS TALKING ABOUT AT
THE BEGINNING, DELAY TO BRINGING
THE HOMES ONLINE, AND ALSO,
BASICALLY JUST MAKING IT SO
COSTLY THAT YOU'RE GOING TO END
UP HAVING FEWER UNITS, I SHARED
EXAMPLES ABOUT THE COASTAL ZONE
WHERE WE, IN A PROJECT IN MOSS
BEACH ARE GOING ON OUR EIGHTH
YEAR OF PRE-DEVELOPMENT AND ARE
CURRENTLY TIED UP IN A
COMPLICATED, LEGAL PROCEEDINGS,
THIS IS FOR A PROJECT THAT WAS
IDENTIFIED MANY YEARS AGO WHEN
THE FOURTH CYCLE OF THE HOUSING
ELEMENT AND, HAD WE NOT BEEN
ABLE TO ACCESS A LAW FIRM,
SOMEBODY ON YOUR COMMITTEE,
SOMEBODY MEMBER ALVAREZ, IN
ORDER TO GET THE CEQA EXEMPTION
FOR 100% AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
ESSENTIALLY PULLING OUR OTHER
EIR EQUIVALENT PROCESS AND
RESUBMITTING UNDER THIS, I THINK
WE WOULD STILL NOT HAVE OUR
COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT AND A
HOST OF OTHER, APPROVALS THAT
NEEDED TO COME WITH THAT. SO THE
WAYS THAT OUR STATE, MOVING A
LITTLE BIT FURTHER ALONG THE
WAYS THAT A LOT OF OUR STATE
AGENCIES INTERFACE WITH EACH
OTHER, ALSO PROVIDE A LOT OF
DELAY, A PREVIOUS SPEAKER TALKED
ABOUT HOW THEY ARE STACKED ON
TOP OF EACH OTHER INSTEAD OF
SOMEHOW STREAMLINED. AND THESE
AGENCIES CAN'T RELY UPON THE
WORK THAT THEY THAT OTHER
AGENCIES DO. THEY CAN'T RELY
UPON THE WORK THAT THEIR LOCAL
CITIES DO AND TEAR OFF OF THAT.
SO I HAVE SOME EXAMPLES I CAN
SEND TO STEVE, MR. WERTHEIM
HERE, AROUND WHAT, DEPARTMENT OF
TOXIC TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROL,
SAN FRANCISCO BAY REGIONAL WATER
QUALITY, SAN FRANCISCO BAY
CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT
COMMISSION AND A HOST OF THESE
AGENCIES, AS I'VE COUNTED 21
THAT WE THAT I HAVE TOUCHED
DURING MY CAREER AS A DEVELOPER,
AND EACH PROJECT HAS ITS OWN
COLLECTION OF THESE. BUT AT
TIMES, WHY WE NEED TO WORK WITH
THESE AGENCIES IS, ALMOST DEFIES
COMMON SENSE. FOR INSTANCE, WITH
A PROJECT IN FOSTER CITY, WE
WERE NOT ADJACENT TO THE BAY. WE
WERE PULLED FURTHER OFF AND THE
HIGH TENSION, HIGH VOLTAGE POWER
LINES THAT RUN UP AND DOWN THE
SAN FRANCISCO PENINSULA HAD
DEPRESSED THE SOIL AND THAT
LITTLE DEPRESSION WAS CALLED A
SEASONAL, WETLAND FOR MIGRATORY
BIRDS. AND FOR THIS REASON, WE
NEEDED TO GO THROUGH ABOUT A
YEAR. WE ALMOST DIDN'T MAKE IT.
WE ALMOST LOST OUR TAX CREDIT
FINANCING. SO YOU KNOW, I'LL
LEAVE IT AT THAT, TO DRAW YOUR
CONCLUSIONS, WE WOULD DEFINITELY
LOVE YOUR, YOUR INPUT IN THE
PAPER THAT WE WANT TO PUT
TOGETHER, BECAUSE I'M SURE YOU
HAVE ENDLESS EXAMPLES OF SIMILAR
SITUATIONS OF THINGS THAT MAYBE
DON'T SEEM A LITTLE NONSENSICAL.
NONSENSICAL, BUT JUST TO MOVE TO
SOLUTIONS, SINCE I KNOW I HAVE
OTHER FOLKS THAT ARE HERE. CLEAR
EXEMPTIONS LIKE THE ONE WE WERE
ABLE TO ACCESS IN THE COASTAL
ZONE. THEY ARE POWERFUL, THE
HAVING A WAY FOR STAFF TO BE
ABLE TO RELY UPON EACH OTHER'S
WORK BECAUSE OFTENTIMES WE HAVE
HAVE STAFF MEMBERS THAT HAVE AN
INCREDIBLE, INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF
INTEGRITY. THEY ARE OUR
PARTNERS. WE ARE HAPPIER WITH
THE WORK THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO
DO, AND YET THEY DON'T HAVE A
WAY TO SIGN OFF ON SOMETHING
BETWEEN EITHER THE CITY AND THE
STATE AGENCIES. AND SO, EVEN
WITH ALL OF THIS
PROFESSIONALISM, OFTENTIMES WE
CAN'T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THINGS
LIKE THE MINISTERIAL PROCESSING
THAT'S PERMITTED UNDER SOME OF
THESE LAND USE STREAMLINING
BILLS. SO SOMETHING THAT SHOULD
TAKE THREE MONTHS, THAT'S
DELIVERING PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING FOR FOLKS WHO ARE
HOMELESS IS GOING TO TAKE A YEAR
BECAUSE THOSE THOSE THAT
ALIGNMENT IS NOT THEIR KIND OF
TOP TO BOTTOM. I WOULD LOVE TO
SEE MANDATED TIME FRAMES FOR
RESPONSE. MANDATE PG AND E, TO
CONSIDER AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PRIORITY INFRASTRUCTURE AND HELP
US REMOVE THAT BARRIER, AND THE
LAST ONE, I'LL SAY IS
POTENTIALLY THE MOST IMPORTANT
FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. BUT
CONSOLIDATING THE STATE HOUSING
FINANCE AGENCIES, HAVING SOME
KIND OF A FUNCTION WITHIN,
WHEREVER THAT WOULD LAND, THAT
WOULD ACT AS A PRODUCER OR A
RINGLEADER OF SOME OF THESE
INTERAGENCY Kò ISSUES, YOU KNOW,
IF THAT WAS SUCCESSFUL, MAYBE IT
COULD BE SCALED UP TO ALSO HELP
MARKET RATE DEVELOPMENT, BECAUSE
THE LACK OF MARKET RATE
DEVELOPMENT ALSO EXACERBATES THE
NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND
CITIES AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING
DEVELOPERS CAN'T TAKE THAT ON
ALONE. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS
KEITH DUNN HERE FOR THE SITES
RESERVOIR PROJECT AUTHORITY. I'M
TAKING A LITTLE DIFFERENT TWIST
THAN MOST OF OUR PREVIOUS
SPEAKERS, AND HAVING SOME GOOD
NEWS TO SHARE, YOU KNOW, I'D
LOVE TO SIT HERE AND TAKE ON
SEQUA AND ALL THE VARIOUS
CHALLENGES THAT COME WITH THAT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, OUR VALUES HERE
IN CALIFORNIA MAKE PROJECT
DEVELOPMENT DIFFICULT. SOMETIMES
I WILL SAY THAT THANKS TO THIS
LEGISLATURE AND THE LEADERSHIP
OF THE GOVERNOR AND SB 149 LAST
YEAR, SITES RESERVOIR IS THE
FIRST PROJECT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE
OF A STREAMLINED REVIEW JUDICIAL
REVIEW OF OUR CEQA DOCUMENT. I
WILL TELL YOU THAT THAT PROCESS
HAS MOVED FORWARD SUCCESSFULLY.
JUNE 3RD, WE HAD AN INITIAL
HEARING IN WHICH THE DOCUMENT
THAT THE RESERVOIR AUTHORITY PUT
FORWARD WAS UPHELD 100, THERE'S
A PROCESS WITHIN THE JUDICIAL
STREAMLINING FOR AN APPEAL THAT
PROCESS IS MOVING FORWARD. WE'RE
ANTICIPATING THAT THAT WILL BE
RESOLVED ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, BY
EARLY FALL, LATE SUMMER, THIS
PROCESS AT TO DATE IS PROBABLY
SHAVED OFF ABOUT 18 MONTHS,
WHICH EQUATES TO TENS OF
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, YOU KNOW,
I'M NOT HERE TO SAY THAT WE
COULDN'T USE REFORMS IN MANY
DIFFERENT AREAS, BUT I CAN TELL
YOU THAT MUCH LIKE A DRUG COURT
OR OTHER SPECIAL COURTS, THIS
PROCESS HAS REALLY, WITH THE
GUARDRAILS OF 270 DAYS OF REVIEW
AND APPROVAL SHAVED OFF
SUBSTANTIAL TIME, IT IS
SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO ALLOW
US TO MOVE FORWARD AND BUILD
SITES. RESERVOIR. I'D BE REMISS
IF I DIDN'T SAY THAT DUE TO OUR
CLIMATE WHIPLASH AND THE WARMER
SUMMERS WITH THE WINDS, WE HAVE
A FIRE BURNING IN THE SITES
VALLEY TODAY, PRETTY EXTENSIVELY
. IT'S AS OF YET, HAS NO
CONTAINMENT. WE HAVE FIRES ALL
THROUGHOUT OUR STATE. WE'RE
SEEING MORE AND MORE WITH OUR
CLIMATE CHANGE. THESE WARM WINDS
THAT COME IN, WE'VE GOT A WARMER
WINTER WITH LESS SNOWPACK AND
SITES. RESERVOIR, HAD IT BEEN
READY TO BE FILLED, WOULD THE
LAST TWO YEARS BEEN FILLED WITH
700,000 ACRE FEET OF WATER, YOU
KNOW, SO THIS IS AN IMPORTANT
PROJECT FOR THE STATE. I THINK
THERE ARE WAYS TO UPHOLD OUR
ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES, WHICH ALL
OF YOU GET TO TALK ABOUT IN
VARIOUS, POLICY HEARINGS AND PUT
YOUR THUMB ON DIFFERENT
PRIORITIES. AND THAT'S A TOUGH
DECISION FOR YOU ALL TO MAKE.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT THERE IS
A PROCESS THAT YOU'VE
ESTABLISHED WITH THE REVIEW AND
CHALLENGES. ONCE THOSE DOCUMENTS
HAVE BEEN PRODUCED THAT CAN
EXPEDITE AND MAKE A REAL
PROGRESS. AND AGAIN, YOU GOT TO
HAVE GUARDRAILS AROUND A REAL
DOCUMENT. YOU CAN'T GO LIGHT ON
YOUR CEQA DOCUMENTS OR YOUR
COMMUNITY OUTREACH, BUT IF YOU
DO IT RIGHT, YOU CAN WITH WITH
GO THROUGH THE JUDICIAL REVIEW
AND HOLD UP THE DOCUMENTS. SO
SITES IS VERY PLEASED WITH THE
PROGRESS, WITH 149. I HOPE OTHER
PROJECTS CAN QUALIFY FOR THAT
EXPEDITED REVIEW, BUT SITES
RESERVOIR HAS BEEN A BENEFICIARY
IN THIS LEGISLATURE. AND
GOVERNOR, HAD A LOT TO DO WITH
MAKING THAT AVAILABLE. SO ON
BEHALF OF SITES, THEY THANK YOU.
I THINK THAT IT'S WORTH
EXPLORING FOR OTHER LARGE
PROJECTS. IT WOULDN'T WORK FOR
SMALLER PROJECTS, BUT CERTAINLY
FOR PROJECTS THAT ARE
SUBSTANTIAL, EXPEDITED JUDICIAL
REVIEW COULD BE A COST SAVINGS
WHILE UPHOLDING THE VALUES OF
THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE BEING
IMPACTED BY THOSE DEVELOPMENTS.
SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD
MORNING. OR AT LEAST I HOPE IT'S
STILL MORNING. I'D BE AFTERNOON
BY NOW. MY NAME IS MARGO
BRADISH. I'M A PARTNER WITH THE
LAW FIRM OF COX, CASTLE AND
NICHOLSON, AND I FOCUS ON
ENTITLEMENT FOR INFILL PROJECTS,
PRIMARILY IN THE BAY AREA. THANK
YOU, CHAIR WIX AND MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE FOR INVITING ME TO
SHARE A LITTLE BIT ON THE
DEVELOPER PERSPECTIVE ON SOME OF
THE OBSTACLES TO HOUSING
PRODUCTION THROUGH THE
PERMITTING PROCESS. I THINK A
LOT OF THE EARLIER SPEAKERS
TOUCHED ON THE FACT THAT WE HAVE
A PERMITTING PROCESS THAT IS
DESIGNED TO ACHIEVE A LOT OF
REALLY IMPORTANT OBJECTIVES,
LIKE CLIMATE CHANGE AND EQUITY,
AFFORDABLE K¾T, AND THAT
OFTENTIMES IT'S WORKING AT
CROSS-PURPOSES TO THOSE GOALS
AND RESULTING IN THE EXACT
OPPOSITE OUTCOMES. SO I'D LIKE
TO FOCUS ON, TWO ISSUES. REALLY
I'LL TOUCH BRIEFLY ON THE
SURPLUS LAND ACT ALSO. BUT THE
TWO ISSUES THAT I'D REALLY LIKE
TO FOCUS ON ARE SORT OF THE
IMPACT OF DELAY AND RISK ON
DEVELOPERS, AS WELL AS AS, THIS
CONCEPT OF MEETING THE MARKET
WITH WHAT WE'RE ALLOWING
DEVELOPERS TO BUILD, IN TERMS OF
DELAY, YOU KNOW, THE ENTITLEMENT
TIMELINE IN THE BAY AREA RANGES
FROM ABOUT 12 MONTHS TO THREE
YEARS OR EVEN MORE FOR
COMPLICATED PROJECTS DURING
THAT. AND CEQA AND SEQUEL
LITIGATION ARE OBVIOUSLY A MAJOR
PART OF THAT. AND THAT'S NOT
INCLUDING LITIGATION TIMELINES,
WHICH CAN ADD THREE YEARS TO THE
PROCESS. AND DURING THAT TIME,
THE RISKS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY,
RIGHT? THE HOUSING MARKET COULD
SHIFT INTEREST RATES, COULD
CHANGE CONSTRUCTION COSTS COULD
INCREASE. AND THE RESULT IS THAT
DEVELOPERS HAVE TO PLAN FOR
THOSE POSSIBILITIES AND AS A
RESULT, THEIR THEIR PERFORMANCE
ARE VERY CONSERVATIVE BECAUSE
THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO ABSORB
THOSE KINDS OF RISKS. AND IT
MEANS THAT AT A LOT OF TIMES,
PROJECTS JUST DON'T PENCIL THAT
OTHERWISE COULD, BECAUSE OF
THOSE CONSERVATIVE PROFORMAS AND
IN ADDITION, CALIFORNIA FACES,
SUBSTANTIAL COMPETITION FOR
CAPITAL DEPLOYMENT. A LOT OF OUR
HOME BUILDERS ARE NATIONWIDE
HOME BUILDERS. THEY'RE LOOKING
AT WHERE THEY CAN DEPLOY CAPITAL
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. WE USED
TO THINK OF CALIFORNIA AND THE
HOME BUILDING SIDE AS HIGH RISK,
HIGH REWARD. AND NOW WE THINK OF
IT AS SORT OF LIKE EXTREMELY
HIGH RISK, MEDIUM REWARD. AND
ALL THESE BUILDERS CAN GO TO
OTHER STATES AND HAVE HOME RUN
AFTER HOME, RUN AFTER HOME RUN.
SO WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO
ADDRESS THAT TIME. IF YOU CAN
REDUCE TIME, YOU CAN REDUCE
RISK, YOU CAN REDUCE CARRY
COSTS, YOU CAN MAKE MORE HOUSING
FEASIBLE, AND JUST A QUICK FOR
EXAMPLE, A 300 UNIT PROJECT
INFILL PROJECT NEAR TRANSIT, 200
UNITS IN ACRE WAS DELAYED BY A
YEAR BECAUSE OF A MANDATORY
DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT
REQUIREMENT THAT THE CITY HAD IN
ORDER TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY
BENEFITS. AND DURING THAT YEAR,
THE MARKET SHIFTED AND THE
PROJECT IS NOW NOT MOVING
FORWARD. IT'S FULLY ENTITLED,
BUT IT IS NOT CURRENTLY MOVING
FORWARD, SECOND, ON THE ISSUE OF
MEETING THE MARKET AND WE TALKED
ABOUT THIS EARLIER, TOO, THAT
HOUSING IS BEING ASKED TO NEW
HOUSING IS BEING ASKED TO CARRY
THE BURDEN FOR A BROAD RANGE OF
ISSUES, FEES, COMMUNITY BENEFITS
, MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM DENSITIES,
INCLUSIONARY HOUSING, GREEN
BUILDING. ONE HOME BUILDER TOLD
ME THAT THE ENTITLEMENT AND FEE
COMPONENT OF PRODUCING A HOUSING
UNIT IS 15 TO 20% OF THE COST
THAT A HOME BUYER PAYS. IT'S A
REMARKABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT
COULD BE REDUCED AND MAKE HOME
HOMES MORE AFFORDABLE, THE
OUTCOME OF THAT FOR HOUSING IS
MORE EXPENSIVE. HOUSING AND
AGAIN, HOUSING PROJECTS NOT
PENCILING. A 2020 STUDY IN SAN
JOSE THAT THE CITY COMMISSIONED
STUDIED UNITS FROM 51 UNITS AN
ACRE, UP TO 350 UNITS AN ACRE.
THAT'S BASICALLY WHERE YOU START
PODIUM CONSTRUCTION. AND THEY
FOUND THAT IN 2022, NOT A SINGLE
PRODUCT TYPE. WHETHER RENTER OR
FOR SALE AT ANY OF THOSE
DENSITIES PENCILED IN THE CITY
OF SAN JOSE. AND CONDITIONS HAVE
ONLY GOTTEN WORSE, AGAIN, JUST A
QUICK EXAMPLE, 350 UNIT PROJECT
INFILL LOCATION NEAR TRANSIT, 75
UNITS AN ACRE. BY THE TIME THEY
GOT THROUGH THE SEQUA PROCESS,
THE MARKET HAD SHIFTED. THEY
WITHDREW THAT PROJECT IS NOT
GOING FORWARD, WE REALLY HAVE TO
REDUCE THE BURDEN ON HOUSING
PROJECTS TO MAKE HOUSING
FEASIBLE AND FIND WAYS TO NOT
MAKE NEW HOUSING, BEAR ALL OF
THE STATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR
ADDRESSING THESE REALLY
IMPORTANT ISSUES. AND LASTLY,
I'D JUST LIKE TO TOUCH BRIEFLY
ON THE SURPLUS LAND ACT AND IN
PARTICULAR IN THE CONTEXT OF
MILITARY BASES, BECAUSE THEY DO
A LOT OF MILITARY BASE REUSE
PROJECTS. THERE'S AN INCREDIBLE
POTENTIAL FOR HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT. AND FORMER MILITARY
BASES, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
UNITS THAT ARE ON LAND THAT'S
JUST WAITING TO BE DEVELOPED.
THE INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS ARE
EXTRAORDINARILY HIGH. THE
PROJECTS TAKE A LONG TIME TO
BUILD OUT. AND BECAUSE OF THE
SURPLUS LAND ACT, WE'VE INJECTED
A WHOLE NEW LAYER OF RISK
BECAUSE THE FEDERAL PROCESS
REQUIRES EVERY SINGLE ONE OF
THOSE PROPERTIES TO GO THROUGH A
STATE, A LOCAL GOVERNMENT
AGENCY, ON ITS WAY TO THE
ULTIMATE DEVELOPER, WHERE IT
LANDS IN THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT
AGENCY AS A HOLDING PLACE, AND
THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IS SUBJECT
TO THE SURPLUS LAND ACT. AND
THEY MAY HAVE FIVE, TEN
TAKEDOWNS OF LAND OVER FOR A
2030 YEAR PERIOD. AND EVERY TIME
THEY'RE AT RISK THAT SOMEONE
MIGHT COME AND SAY, OH, WELL,
WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THAT
PROPERTY TO SOMEONE ELSE. AND
THAT MAKES IT REALLY HARD TO
JUSTIFY THE INFRASTRUCTURE
INVESTMENT. THAT'S AN EASY, EASY
FIX TO EXEMPT MILITARY BASE
REUSE PROJECTS FROM THE SURPLUS
LAND ACT. A LOT OF THOSE
PROJECTS ALREADY HAVE HIGH
LEVELS OF AFFORDABILITY, HIGH
LEVELS OF LABOR PARTICIPATION.
IT'S AN EASY FIX, I HAVE A LOT
OF OTHER IDEAS TOO. BUT IN THE
INTEREST OF TIME, I'M GOING TO
LEAVE YOU WITH SORT OF THOSE
CHALLENGES. BE HAPPY TO TALK TO
YOU MORE ABOUT SOME OF THE IDEAS
I HAVE ABOUT TRYING TO SOLVE
SOME OF THEM. WE WOULD
DEFINITELY APPRECIATE THAT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JOHN
KENNEDY. I'M WITH RURAL COUNTY
REPRESENTATIVES OF CALIFORNIA.
WE'RE A 40 COUNTY, ASSOCIATION
REPRESENT COUNTIES FROM ALPINE
COUNTY WITH A POPULATION OF
1100, UP TO SONOMA, ABOUT
500,000, SO AS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
WERE OFTEN CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE
ON PERMITTING CHALLENGES AS
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, WE HAVE LAND
USE AUTHORITY FOR MOST PROJECTS.
NOT ALL PROJECTS. THERE ARE A
LOT OF UTILITY PROJECTS THAT
WERE PREEMPTED ON, BUT MOST OF
THE PROJECTS THAT WE UNDERTAKE
OURSELVES ARE SUBJECT TO
NUMEROUS STATE AND FEDERAL
PERMITTING PROCESS FEES. SO
WE'RE HEAVILY INVOLVED IN
INTERESTED IN ALL OF THE TOPICS
THAT WERE COVERED HERE TODAY. WE
NEED TO EXPAND HOUSING
SIGNIFICANTLY IN OUR AREAS. AND
I HAVE COLLEAGUES WHO WORK ON
HOUSING ISSUES WHO I'M SURE
WOULD LOVE TO TALK ABOUT A LOT
OF THE CONCEPTS THAT WERE
MENTIONED TODAY. WE NEED TO
INCREASE WATER SUPPLY, IMPROVE
ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE AND
STORAGE, AND UNDERTAKE FOREST
HEALTH AND WILDFIRE RISK
REDUCTION PROJECTS. AS AN ASIDE,
I'D BE HAPPY TO CHAT ABOUT ANY
IDEAS WITH RESPECT TO CEQA. WAYS
TO IMPROVE SEQUA WHILE RETAINING
THE UNDERLYING GOALS OF
INFORMATION DISCLOSURE AND
MITIGATION, IRONICALLY, ONE OF
THE KEY WAYS TO MITIGATE A
PROJECT'S IMPACTS IS TO REDUCE
THE NUMBER OF HOUSING UNITS THAT
ARE PROPOSED. AND SO IT'S KIND
OF A CYCLICAL PROCESS FOR US. SO
I'LL START WITH MAYBE NOT QUITE
A SUCCESS STORY YET, BUT I'M
HOPING IT TURNS INTO A SUCCESS
STORY. TALK ABOUT SOME MAJOR
CHALLENGES. WE'VE HAD WITH
PERMITTING AT THE STATE LEVEL,
AND THEN END WITH A SLIGHTLY
DEEPER DIVE BUT BRIEF ON
WILDFIRE RISK REDUCTION. SO ON
ENERGY, WE'VE RECOGNIZED THE
MASSIVE NEED TO SIGNIFICANTLY
INCREASE THE PACE AND SCALE WITH
WHICH WE CONSTRUCT
INFRASTRUCTURE, WHETHER IT'S
TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION,
GENERATION, ALL OF THESE THINGS.
WE'VE BEEN IN EXTENSIVE
DISCUSSIONS WITH SOME OF MY
SISTER AGENCIES, WITH CSAC, WITH
THE LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES,
WITH DEVELOPERS, WITH THE STATE
ADMINISTRATION, TO HOLD
WORKSHOPS, TO SHARE BEST
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AMONGST
JURISDICTIONS WITH DEVELOPERS ON
HOW WE CAN PERMIT THESE
PROJECTS. ENERGY STORAGE IS KIND
OF THE NEXT FRONTIER FOR SOME OF
THESE THINGS. SO HOW CAN WE
IMPROVE OUR OWN INTERNAL
PROCESSES TO DO BETTER TO MEET
THESE CHALLENGES? WE'RE ALSO
DEEPLY INVOLVED WITH THE PUC,
THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION,
BECAUSE THEY HAVE A VERY LENGTHY
PROCESS FOR APPROVING A LOT OF
THESE THINGS. AND, MR. WOOD, YOU
CARRIED SOME IMPORTANT
LEGISLATION ON INTERCONNECTION
TIMELINES. SO VERY DEEPLY
INVOLVED IN ALL OF THOSE.
HOPEFULLY THEY WILL PRODUCE SOME
BENEFITS. AND THEN WE'RE ALSO
INVOLVED WITH GO-BIZ, OPR AND
THE CEC JUST SUBMITTED A GRANT
APPLICATION WITH US. CSAC SOME
DEVELOPERS TO THE FEDS TRYING TO
DEVELOP A FRAMEWORK AND TOOLKIT
FOR LOCALS SO THAT WE CAN
IMPROVE OUR PERMITTING PROCESSES
FOR A LOT OF THESE RENEWABLE
ENERGY PROJECTS AND ENERGY
STORAGE PROJECTS. SO NOW, ONE OF
THE BIG CHALLENGES IS FLOOD, WE
HAD SOME MAJOR, MAJOR, MAJOR
PROBLEMS, ON BEHALF OF A LOT OF
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND DEALING
WITH DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND
WILDLIFE, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO
GET CDFW TO ISSUE PERMITS IN A
TIMELY MANNER. HORRIBLE
CONSEQUENCES. IN 2023, WHEN WE
HAD MASSIVE FLOODING, WE HAD
SOME LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT WERE
WORKING ON AGREEMENTS WITH CDFW
FOR YEARS, WERE UNABLE TO SECURE
THOSE AGREEMENTS, HAD SENT ABOUT
A DOZEN EMAILS, FRANTIC EMAILS
OVER A FOUR MONTH PERIOD, IN
LATE, I BELIEVE IT WAS 2022 WITH
ABSOLUTELY ZERO RESPONSE FROM
CDF W NO RESPONSE. THE STORMS
HIT IN JANUARY, MASSIVE FLOODING
THAT DESTROYED HOMES, FARMS,
BUSINESSES, LOTS OF OTHER
THINGS. SO WE HAVE STATE
AGENCIES AND BUREAUCRACIES THAT
ARE GOOD AT FOCUSING ON THEIR
OWN INDIVIDUAL MANDATES, BUT
THEY ARE NOT SO GREAT AT LOOKING
AT OTHER COMPETING OBJECTIVES
AND RESPONDING IN A TIMELY
MANNER SO THAT WE CAN AVOID SOME
OF THESE CATASTROPHES AND THEN
FINALLY, WILDFIRE RISK
REDUCTION, FOREST HEALTH
IMPROVEMENT. WE HAVE AN ADDED
COMPLICATING FACTOR AND A LOT OF
RURAL COMMUNITIES BECAUSE 50 TO
90% OF OUR COUNTIES ARE
SOMETIMES OWNED BY THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, THAT BRINGS A WHOLE
LOT OF OTHER PERMITTING
CHALLENGES. AND DEALING WITH
THOSE AGENCIES. THANKFULLY,
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DEVELOP SOME
PROCESSES HERE IN THE STATE OVER
THE LAST DECADE THAT FACILITATE
CLOSER INTERACTION BETWEEN THE
STATE AND FEDS AND LOCALS AND
THE FEDS, BUT THERE'S A LOT MORE
WORK THAT WE CAN DO AND A LOT OF
WORK THAT WE CAN DO HERE IN
CALIFORNIA ON OUR OWN THINGS, SO
THE BIGGEST ISSUE, THE PACE AND
SCALE WITH WHICH WE DO THESE
WILDFIRE RISK REDUCTION PROJECTS
, WE'RE IN A MUCH BETTER PLACE
THAN WE WERE 10 TO 15 YEARS AGO.
STILL A LOT OF ROOM FOR
IMPROVEMENT. SEQUA IS STILL A
BIG IMPEDIMENT BECAUSE OF THE
COST, COMPLEXITY AND SAME ISSUES
WITH NEPA. CAL FIRE, YOU HEARD,
MENTIONED THE DTP PROGRAM EIR
THAT'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL, TO
HELP SOME OF THESE PROJECTS
SPEED THROUGH THE PROCESS. AT
THE SAME TIME, IT'S VERY
DIFFICULT FOR SOME OTHERS TO BE
ABLE TO USE THAT PROCESS. IT'S
VERY COMPLEX, IT'S HARD FOR LAY
PRACTITIONERS TO UNDERSTAND AND
GO THROUGH THE PROCEDURES, AND
IT DOESN'T COVER ALL AREAS OF
THE STATE. SO YOU HAVE SOME
AREAS WITH PROJECTS THAT NEED TO
BE DONE, AND VERY IMPORTANT
PROJECTS, BUT THEY CAN'T QUALIFY
BECAUSE THEY'RE OUTSIDE OF THE
SCOPE OF THE CAL DTP PROGRAM. SO
AGAIN, THAT THAT LEADS TO THE
NEED FOR CLEAR EXEMPTIONS, CLEAR
PROCESSES AND TIMEFRAMES AND
EVEN THEN WITH CAL VCTP, I'VE
HEARD ANECDOTE'S OF SOME
REACTIONARY STATE AGENCIES WHO
THEN TRIED TO INCREASE THEIR
PERMITTING REQUIREMENTS,
PREDOMINANTLY REGIONAL WATER
BOARDS, WHICH WOULD HAVE ADDED
ADDITIONAL TIME FRAMES AND
CHALLENGES FOR THESE THESE
PROJECTS. WE'RE HEARING
COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE COASTAL
COMMISSION NOW, REQUIRING
COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMITS. I
THINK IT'S MENDOCINO COUNTY, AND
IT'S DELAYING SOME OF THESE
TREATMENT PROJECTS THAT WE NEED.
SO WE APPRECIATE THE STATE'S
MADE MASSIVE INVESTMENTS OVER
THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS DUE TO A
LOT OF YOUR HARD WORK, WITH THAT
MONEY, WE WERE HOPING TO DO A
LOT OF PROJECTS AT THE SAME
TIME. WE HAD LEGISLATION LAST
YEAR THAT INCREASED THE AMOUNT
OF COMPENSATION WE HAVE TO PAY
FOR ANY, WORKERS DOING
VEGETATION MANAGEMENT ON THOSE
PROJECTS, GOING TO REDUCE THE
NUMBER OF ACRES THAT WE CAN
TREAT IN A GIVEN YEAR, AND ALSO,
WE NEED COMPLEMENTARY
INFRASTRUCTURE. WE SAW THE
CLOSURE OF A LOT OF SAWMILLS,
BIOMASS FACILITIES, WE NEED
SOMETHING TO DEAL WITH ALL OF
THIS RESIDUAL MATERIAL OUT
THERE, BECAUSE THE ALTERNATIVE
IS BURNING IN PLACE, OPEN
BURNING, WHICH HAS TREMENDOUS
CONSEQUENCES EVERYWHERE ELSE.
AND THEN FINALLY, WE HAVE A
REALLY, REALLY EFFECTIVE
POST-DISASTER, EMERGENCY PROCESS
WHERE WE CAN GO IN AND ACT
NIMBLY AND BYPASS A LOT OF THESE
OTHER CHALLENGES. BUT WE DON'T
HAVE ANYTHING ON THE FRONT END.
AND OFTENTIMES WHEN WE DO
POST-DISASTER EMERGENCY WORK,
WE'RE A LITTLE MORE DESTRUCTIVE
THAN WE OTHERWISE COULD HAVE
BEEN IF WE HAD SOME TYPE OF
PRE-DISASTER EMERGENCY,
FRAMEWORK THAT WE COULD WORK
WITH. SO THAT WE COULD NOT ONLY
AVOID THE DISASTER ALTOGETHER,
MITIGATE THE SIGNIFICANCE AND
SEVERITY OF THE DISASTER, BUT,
YOU KNOW, TAKE A LIGHTER TOUCH
WITH THE WORK WE DO. SO REALLY
LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUED
WORKING WITH YOU ON ALL OF THESE
TOPICS. WE'D BE HAPPY TO HELP
AND INFORM THE DISCUSSIONS.
THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION.
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON AND
THANK YOU TO THE COMMITTEE FOR
HAVING ME. MY NAME IS ROBIN
BRAU. I'M A LAND USE ATTORNEY
WITH HANSON BRIDGETT, BRIEFLY A
BACKGROUND, I HAVE WORN A NUMBER
OF HATS IN MY CAREER, I WAS
INVOLVED IN PLANNING FOR LARGE
INSTITUTIONS LIKE THE UC REGENTS
AND EARLIER IN MY CAREER, FOR A
BETTER PART OF A DECADE, I WAS
ON THE CITY GOVERNMENT SIDE,
SITTING ON THE DÍAS DEALING
WITH, LAND USE ISSUES FROM THE
PERSPECTIVE OF, OF LOCAL
GOVERNMENT. THE PAST FIVE YEARS
OR SO, I'VE TRANSITIONED TO, TO
THE PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT WORLD.
SO I REALLY LOOK AT AND I ALSO
SAT ON THE BOARD OF A
CONSERVATION AGENCIES. AND SO
I'VE HAD THIS VERY BROAD
PERSPECTIVE FROM WHICH I LOOK AT
HOUSING, AND RIGHT NOW, YOU
KNOW, I THINK, I'LL KEEP MY
COMMENTS SHORT. I WANT TO
PIGGYBACK ON WHAT OTHERS HAVE
BEEN MENTIONING, GOING BACK TO
THE HOUSING SPACE, YOU KNOW, FOR
DEVELOPERS, THERE'S REALLY IT'S
THE IT'S THE CERTAINTY THAT
THEY'RE LOOKING FOR AS FAR AS
WHAT ARE THE SUBSTANTIVE
REQUIREMENTS FOR A PARTICULAR
ENTITLEMENT AND HOW LONG IS IT
GOING TO TAKE. AND I WANT TO
ECHO SOME OF THE SENTIMENTS
THAT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF
PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE OVER THE
PAST DECADE, HALF DECADE, AND
REALLY HONING IN ON, ON, ON WAYS
TO ACHIEVE THAT CERTAINTY AND TO
REALLY CUT DOWN ON THE
ENTITLEMENT DELAY. I THINK THAT
THERE'S STILL SOME, SOME
IMPORTANT WHAT I'VE NOTICED IS
THAT AS, AS THE PROCESS BECOMES
MORE, CONFINED ON LOCAL
AGENCIES, THERE ARE STILL SOFT
POINTS WHERE NOW THERE'S EVEN
MORE PRESSURE PUT ON THOSE SOFT
POINTS. RIGHT? SO THERE'S YOU
LOOK AT SB 330. THERE'S A LOT OF
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPLICATION
COMPLETENESS REVIEW. RIGHT.
THERE'S A LOT OF GUARDRAILS NOW
ON HOW AN APPLICATION IS DEEMED
COMPLETE. BUT WITHIN ONCE YOU
GET INTO THE SQL WORLD THERE
STILL IS A LOT OF GRAY AREA
BETWEEN APPLICATION COMPLETENESS
AND GETTING TO A HEARING. RIGHT.
AND I CAN NAME, UNFORTUNATELY 7
OR 8 PROJECTS WHERE THEY'RE JUST
IN LIMBO RIGHT NOW. AND THERE
ARE REMEDIES. THERE ARE STATUTES
WHICH SAY YOU HAVE TO CERTIFY AN
EIR WITHIN A YEAR, BUT THEY'RE
TOOTHLESS, RIGHT NOW. RIGHT? THE
REMEDY IS YOU GO TO COURT, YOU
GET THE COURT TO ORDER THE CITY
TO PROCESS THE EIR. AND AFTER A
YEAR OF LITIGATION, YOU'RE BACK
WHERE YOU STARTED, RIGHT? SO I
LIKE THE TRENDS WHERE I'VE SEEN,
YOU KNOW, CEQA ISSUES ARE BEING
TIED TO THE HOUSING
ACCOUNTABILITY ACT. AND I THINK
THAT THAT BRIDGE NEEDS TO BE
MADE STRONGER BECAUSE IT REALLY,
THERE REALLY ARE SOME SOFT
POINTS IN THE, IN THE
ENTITLEMENT PROCESS THAT ARE
STILL DRAGGING DOWN PROJECTS AND
CREATING DELAY. AND SO, SO
THERE'S TWO THINGS, YOU KNOW,
TWO WAYS WE CAN APPROACH THE
PROBLEM. RIGHT? WE CAN WE CAN
LIST OUT ALL THE AREAS WHERE
THERE'S ISSUES, OR WE CAN ALSO
LOOK AT WHAT HAS WORKED AND HOW
DO WE AMPLIFY WHAT IS WORKING
AND HOW DO WE HOW DO WE
ACCELERATE THAT OR SUPERCHARGE,
YOU KNOW, THE ISSUES THAT ARE
WORKING, RIGHT. THE BIGGEST,
MOST IMPORTANT CHANGE IN STATE
HOUSING POLICY HAS BEEN THE
SHIFT TO OBJECTIVE DEVELOPMENT
STANDARDS. RIGHT? IT GOES BACK
TO THIS ISSUE OF CLARITY, RIGHT?
AND YOU SEE IT IN A VARIETY OF
THE FRAMEWORKS THAT HAVE EVOLVED
THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE OVER THE
PAST DECADE, AND FROM AND, BUT
THE FOCUS HAS REALLY BEEN ON, ON
LOCAL AGENCY ENTITLEMENT
PROCESSING. RIGHT AND TO ECHO
SOME OF THE SENTIMENTS OF
OTHERS, VERY FEW PROJECTS ONLY
INVOLVE THE LOCAL AGENCY, RIGHT.
THEY INVOLVE STATE AGENCIES,
SPECIAL DISTRICTS ALONG LONG
BEVY OF WHAT SHOULD BE
INTERAGENCY COLLABORATION.
RIGHT. BUT VERY OFTEN TIMES IT'S
NOT A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH.
IT'S A COMBATIVE APPROACH. AND
AND I THINK WHERE WHERE PROGRESS
CAN BE MADE IS TAKING THIS, A
LOT OF THE PROGRESS THAT HAS
BEEN MADE IN THE STATE HOUSING
LAW CONTEXT AND REALLY APPLYING
IT TO STATE AGENCIES TO, TO ALL
THE VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS THAT
ARE INVOLVED IN THE ENTITLEMENT
AND PERMITTING PROCESS, WHETHER
IT'S PROCESS THAT ARE HAVE TO
RUN THROUGH REGIONAL BOARDS OR
STATE WATER BOARDS OR CDF W TO
GET PERMITS FOR PARTICULAR
PROJECTS, YOU KNOW, HAVING, KIND
OF AMPLIFYING THE ROLE OF
OBJECTIVE STANDARDS AND HOW NOT
ONLY LOCAL AGENCIES BUT STATE
AGENCIES REVIEW AND COORDINATE
PROJECTS, I THINK WOULD HAVE AN
ENORMOUS EFFECT. AND, AND THEN
ON TOP OF THAT, REALLY GETTING
TO, YOU KNOW, THE TERM THAT'S
BEEN BROUGHT UP LIKE THIS
RATIONALIZATION APPROACH, RIGHT?
I THINK, I CAN ECHO SOME OF THE
HORROR STORIES ABOUT HOW YOU
HAVE AN AGENCY COMES IN TO AN
AREA THAT IS SLATED FOR GROWTH.
RIGHT. AND I THINK THAT THE
TAKEAWAY HERE IS WITH ALL THIS,
WITH ALL THIS DEVELOPMENT OF
OBJECTIVE STANDARDS, HAS REALLY
PROPPED UP GENERAL PLANS AND
ZONING AS IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS.
RIGHT? SO LOCAL LOCAL AGENCIES,
THE CITIES, THE COUNTIES HAVE
ALL ACKNOWLEDGED AND ACCEPTED
THAT THE GENERAL PLAN NOW IS NOT
JUST A PIECE OF PAPER. IS A VERY
IMPORTANT DOCUMENT THAT THEY
HAVE TO FOLLOW. OTHERWISE,
THERE'S ALL THESE, DOLLAR TREE
EFFECTS THAT HAPPEN IF THEY'RE
IF THEY'RE NOT FOLLOWING THEIR
OWN POLICIES. STATE AGENCIES
HAVEN'T REALLY CAUGHT UP TO
THAT. RIGHT. AND SO IF YOU HAVE
A PROJECT THAT'S IN AN AREA THAT
IS IN THE PDA OR THE AREA OF THE
TPA OR THE AREA THAT'S REALLY
PRIMED FOR GROWTH, THEN YOU HAVE
AN AGENCY THAT COMES IN AND
SAYS, WELL, THAT LOOKS LIKE A
STATE WETLAND, RIGHT. AND WE'RE
GOING TO MAKE YOU MITIGATE THAT
ON SITE. AND AND, YOU KNOW, AND
ON TOP OF THAT, WE THINK THAT
YOU MIGHT HAVE DONE SOME ILLEGAL
FILLING HERE. SO NOW YOU HAVE TO
MITIGATE 8 TO 1. AND SO YOU KNOW
THERE'S THE, THE ISSUE OF
WETLANDS PRESERVATION IS
IMPORTANT FOR EXAMPLE. BUT
LOOKING AT IT HOLISTICALLY
RIGHT. IF A IF A AREA THAT COULD
BE CONSTRUED AS A STATE WETLAND
IS IN THE MIDDLE OF A HIGH
TRAFFIC CORRIDOR OR A BUSINESS
PARK, OR AN AREA WHERE THE CITY
AND A HUGE MULTI PARTY
STAKEHOLDERS HAVE SAID THIS IS
WHERE WE WANT THE GROWTH TO
HAPPEN. THERE HAS TO BE A
RATIONAL CONVERSATION ABOUT IS
THIS REALLY THE BEST PLACE TO
PRESERVE AN ON SITE WETLAND OR,
YOU KNOW, SHOULD WE SHOULD THE
DEVELOPER OR THE LANDOWNER BE
PAYING INTO A BANK AND PAYING
INTO EDEN LANDING OR THE AREAS
OF THE NUMEROUS AREAS AROUND THE
BAY WHERE AREAS ARE REALLY
BEING, REDEVELOPED TO FOSTER
WETLAND HABITAT. RIGHT AND SO I
THINK THAT THE AGENCIES GET
CAUGHT UP IN THEIR, THEIR ROLE
AND RESPONSIBILITY, WHICH IS NOT
ONLY PERMITTING BUT REGULATORY
ENFORCEMENT, BUT THERE ISN'T A
COORDINATED EFFORT TO KIND OF
TAKE THE BIGGER THE BIGGER VIEW
HERE. OKAY. THIS IS YEAH, THERE
MAY BE A WETLAND HERE, BUT THIS
IS AN AREA THAT'S IN THE GENERAL
PLAN THAT'S SLATED FOR GROWTH.
AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE
ON SITE MITIGATION ON A 20 ACRE
PARCEL OR A TEN ACRE PARCEL?
THERE'S RIPPLE EFFECTS RIGHT NOW
. YOU HAVE A BIG HOLE IN THE IN
THE BUSINESS PARK OR SOMETHING
WHERE THAT DEVELOPMENT CAN'T
HAPPEN, OR IT HAS TO BE SCALED
DOWN IN A WAY THAT REALLY IS NOT
GOING TO BE FEASIBLE FOR A WHILE
. AND SO IT'S ONE PROPERTY THAT
CAN HAVE A HUGE RIPPLE EFFECT IN
THE ENTIRE REGION. AND THAT'S
WHERE IF YOU COULD WRAP UP TOO.
YEAH. SO, SO I THINK A LOT OF
PROGRESS CAN BE MADE TO, TO TIE
IN OBJECTIVE STANDARDS INTO A,
INTO A MORE COLLABORATIVE
APPROACH WITH STATE AGENCIES.
THANK YOU. WE'D LOVE TO
DEFINITELY INCORPORATE THOSE
INTO THE WHITE PAPER THAT WE'RE
WORKING ON. THANK YOU. HI.
MARISSA MITCHELL, HEAD OF
ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITTING FOR
INTERSECT POWER. THANKS SO MUCH
TO THE CHAIR TO FOR ORGANIZING
THIS TODAY AND FOR THE COMMITTEE
FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK. AND
I'LL TRY TO KEEP THIS REALLY
BRIEF. MEETING OUR SB 100 GOALS
IS LITERALLY A MOONSHOT. IT
REQUIRES A TOTAL OF 70GW OF
UTILITY SCALE SOLAR, 48GW OF
UTILITY SCALE BATTERY STORAGE BY
2045, BY THE STATE'S OWN
PROJECTIONS. AND TO SUCCEED, WE
HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BUILD,
ON AVERAGE, THREE TIMES MORE
THAN THE FASTEST YEAR WE'VE EVER
BUILT BEFORE TO ENSURE SOCIAL
ACCEPTANCE AND MINIMIZE THE
CONFLICTS OF THE CLEAN ENERGY
TRANSITION. WE'VE GOT TO ALSO
SITE THESE PROJECTS ON LEAVES
CONFLICT AREAS, AND IT'S GOING
TO TAKE AT LEAST A HALF A
MILLION ACRES OF LAND TO GET
THERE. FARMERS ARE PREDICTING AT
LEAST A MILLION ACRES OF
CURRENTLY IRRIGATED AGRICULTURAL
COME OUT OF PRODUCTION IN THE
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY, SOUTH OF THE
DELTA, BECAUSE OF CONTINUED
SURFACE WATER CURTAILMENTS,
COMBINED WITH PUMPING
RESTRICTIONS UNDER SIGMA. AND
THIS REPRESENTS A HUGE
OPPORTUNITY TO SITE NEW SOLAR
RESOURCES ON FLAT, SUNNY LAND
THAT DOESN'T COMPETE WITH OTHER
BENEFICIAL USES LIKE
CONSERVATION, COMMUNITY GREEN
BELTS AND PRODUCTIVE AGRICULTURE
. STATE AGENCIES AGREE THAT
ENERGY COMMISSION AND THE CPUC
HAVE IDENTIFIED THAT WATER
CONSTRAINED AGRICULTURAL LANDS
IN THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY ARE
THE MAJORITY OF THE LEAST
CONFLICT SOLAR POTENTIAL LANDS
IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, AND
THEY'RE MODELING. THE AGENCIES
HAVE RIGHTLY THROWN OUT THE
ANALYTICAL BARRIERS THAT WOULD
RESULT IN CONSTRAINED BUILD OUT
OF THESE LANDS IN THE SAN
JOAQUIN VALLEY, BUT OF COURSE,
THEY HAVEN'T ACTUALLY THROWN OUT
THE LAND USE AND PERMITTING
POLICY BARRIERS THAT CONTINUE TO
EXIST. THOSE ARE STILL THERE.
AND THAT'S THE TOUGH JOB OF THE
LEGISLATURE HAS IN FRONT OF IT.
NOW, I'M A BIG FAN OF THE SPIRIT
OF SEQUA. IT'S DONE A GREAT JOB
OF ENSURING PUBLIC AGENCIES MAKE
BETTER ENVIRONMENTAL DECISIONS.
BUT LOOKING AT IT IN LIGHT OF
SIGMA AND AGRICULTURAL LAND
REQUIREMENTS, IT TAKES A PRETTY
INCONSISTENT AND WEIRD VIEW OF
AGRICULTURAL VALUES AND IMPACTS.
BECAUSE CEQA WASN'T ENVISIONED
TO MITIGATE CONVERSION OF WATER
CONSTRAINED FORMER CROP LANDS
DUE TO STATE WATER POLICY. BUT
UNDER CURRENT RULES, CEQA AND
PSYCHOANALYSIS FOR A NEW SOLAR
PROJECT WOULD FIND THAT A WATER
STARVED PARCEL OF LAND THAT HAS
AN AGRICULTURAL LAND USE
CONTRACT ON IT IS INCOMPATIBLE
WITH CONVERSION TO SOLAR,
RESULTING IN A SIGNIFICANT
IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT THAT
MUST BE MITIGATED OR POTENTIALLY
ISN'T POSSIBLE. BUT THESE ARE
ALSO THE LEAST CONFLICT LANDS
IDENTIFIED BY THE STATE
AGENCIES. THEY'VE ALREADY
IDENTIFIED THAT THIS IF THE
STATE'S LOSING IRRIGATED
AGRICULTURE, IT'S NOT BECAUSE OF
SOLAR. SOLAR CAN ACTUALLY HELP
MAKE THE MOST OF A CHALLENGING
SITUATION. SO IT'S HIGH TIME FOR
SEQUOIA'S ANALYTICAL METHODS AND
THRESHOLDS OF SIGNIFICANCE TO BE
UPDATED TO MEET THE OTHER POLICY
MANDATES IN THE STATE. THE FACT
IS THAT LARGE SCALE SOLAR HAS
ACTUALLY VERY ENVIRONMENTALLY
BENEFICIAL IMPACTS WHEN SITED ON
WATER CONSTRAINED AGRICULTURAL
LAND, AND CAN HELP FARMERS
WEATHER THE STORM OR ACTUALLY
WEATHER THE DROUGHT. SOLAR
PROJECTS CAN BE RECONVERTED BACK
TO AGRICULTURE AT THEIR END OF
THEIR USEFUL LIFE. THEY HAVE
VERY STRONG SOIL PRESERVATION
QUALITIES. AND, THEY ARE ALSO AN
OPPORTUNITY THAT CAN PROTECT
LOCAL SPECIES AND PROTECT AND
PRESERVE AND ACTUALLY RESTORE
HABITAT THAT HAS BEEN LOST IN
THE PAST DUE TO AGRICULTURE AT
RISK SPECIES ARE BEING LISTED
ALL THE TIME, NOT BECAUSE OF NEW
LAND USE DECISIONS, BUT BECAUSE
OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE
CALIFORNIA ENDANGERED SPECIES
ACT WORKS VERY WELL TO
DISCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM DOING
SPECIFICALLY BAD THINGS AND
SPECIFIC PLACES. BUT IT DOESN'T
DO A GREAT JOB OF ENCOURAGING
PEOPLE TO DO GOOD THINGS LIKE
RESTORE AND CREATE HABITAT. IT
ACTUALLY PENALIZES THIS. SO WHEN
SOLAR TAKES THE PLACE OF
FORMERLY IRRIGATED AGRICULTURAL
LANDS, THERE'S A HUGE
OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE HABITAT
FOR THESE THREATENED AND
ENDANGERED AND CANDIDATE
SPECIES, WE NEED TO DO THIS. BUT
RIGHT NOW WE'RE PENALIZING THIS
BEHAVIOR. WE NEED TO CREATE A
SOLAR SAFE HARBOR AGREEMENT TO
ENCOURAGE 500,000 ACRES OF LAND
IN THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY TO BE
CONVERTED BACK TO HABITAT. AND
IF YOU COULD WRAP UP. THANK YOU.
YEP. I JUST WANTED TO SAY REALLY
QUICKLY THAT IT'S GETTING
RISKIER AND RISKIER, ESPECIALLY
OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS, TO SITE
LARGE SCALE SOLAR PROJECTS.
WE'RE NEEDING TO TIE UP OUR
SUPPLY CHAINS. EARLIER AND
EARLIER, THE CAISO IS ASKING US
TO TIE UP 90% OF OUR SITE
CONTROL, EVEN TO GO INTO THE
STUDY PROCESS NOW. SO WE NEED TO
MINIMIZE THE INVESTMENT RISK. SO
SOLAR SOLAR DEVELOPERS DON'T
FLEET OTHER STATES. AND THERE'S
A LOT OF WORK TO DO HERE. BUT
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH YOU ALL ON SOLUTIONS.
THANKS VERY MUCH, VERY MUCH.
APPRECIATE YOUR TESTIMONY. THANK
YOU. HI, MADAM CHAIR, COMMITTEE
MEMBERS, I THANK YOU FOR HAVING
ME AND FOR HOLDING THIS HEARING,
MY NAME IS RICK ZUMOFF. I AM
DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS,
GOVERNMENT REGULATORY AFFAIRS
FOR VINEYARD OFFSHORE, WE'RE A
LEADING OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPER,
AND WE HOLD A LEASE AREA OFF THE
COAST OF HUMBOLDT, THAT HAS A
CAPACITY OF ROUGHLY TWO
GIGAWATTS, TO PROVIDE CLEAN,
RELIABLE POWER TO CALIFORNIA AS
WE TRY TO MEET OUR SB 100
TARGETS. WE ARE ALSO
CONSTRUCTING AND OPERATING THE
FIRST UTILITY SCALE WIND
OFFSHORE WIND FARM IN THE UNITED
STATES. VINEYARD WIND ONE, WHICH
IS 800MW AND SERVES 400,000
HOMES AND HAS CREATED OVER 1000
JOBS, I HAVE A FEW, SUGGESTIONS
HERE OR ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION
FOR THE COMMITTEE, AND ALSO LOOK
FORWARD TO FURTHER DIGGING INTO
THESE ISSUES, GOING FORWARD,
FIRST, AB 525 RECOMMENDS THE
CREATION OF OR IMPLEMENTATION OF
A RENEWABLE ENERGY ACTION TEAM
OR RENEWABLE RENEWABLE ENERGY
POLICY GROUP, TO FACILITATE
STREAMLINING AND PERMITTING OF
OFFSHORE WIND, WE WOULD
RECOMMEND THAT ANY ADVANCEMENTS
OF THESE GROUPS INCORPORATE
TIMELINES TO ALLOW OFFSHORE WIND
PROJECTS TO ALIGN WITH THE LONG
LEAD TIME OF SUPPLY CHAIN
RELATED INVESTMENTS AND PROJECT
DELIVERIES, SO THAT WE CAN RELY
ON REAL SCHEDULES TO ENSURE
THESE PROJECTS ARE MOVING
FORWARD AND BEING PERMITTED IN A
REALISTIC MANNER, AND TO THE
EXTENT THAT THAT ROADMAPS AND
CLEAR MILESTONES CAN BE
PROVIDED, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL,
ADDITIONALLY, WE FULLY SUPPORT
FUNDING STATE PERMITTING
AGENCIES AT A LEVEL THAT'S
NECESSARY TO ALLOW THE STAFFING
AND EXPERTISE TO SMOOTHLY MOVE
PROJECTS THROUGH THE PERMITTING
PROCESS. AND CLEARLY SCOPING
OUT, THE AGENCY'S JURISDICTIONS
AS THEY WORK TOGETHER ON ON
PERMITTING OFFSHORE WIND
PROJECTS, WE WOULD ENCOURAGE,
THE STATE TO ENSURE THAT, THE
TIMING OF STATE AND FEDERAL
PROCESSES ARE ALIGNED SUCH THAT,
ONE PROCESS DOESN'T HOLD UP. THE
OTHER PROCESS, FEDERAL
PROCESSES, HAS HAVE VERY CLEAR
TIMELINES, AND ENCOURAGE
ATTENTION TO THAT MATTER.
ADDITIONALLY, A KEY LESSON FROM
THE EAST COAST HAS BEEN THAT,
WHILE COORDINATION IS IMPORTANT,
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO HAVE SOME
FLEXIBILITY SO THAT STATE AND
FEDERAL PROCESSES AREN'T ARE
ALIGNED IN AN OVERLY RIGID,
RIGID WAY, AND THEN FINALLY,
THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
CONTINUED SCIENCE, AND
EVALUATION OF SCIENCE,
SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION AND
QUESTIONS, IN THE LEASE AREAS
IN, AROUND THE LEASE AREAS. AND
WE WOULD ENCOURAGE, TAKING
ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY AS
THE PROJECTS ARE DEVELOPED TO DO
ADDITIONAL SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
IN THESE AREAS. AND THEN LASTLY,
I WANT TO FLAG THERE IS VERY
KEY, ENABLING INFRASTRUCTURE FOR
THESE PROJECTS LIKE PORTS AND
TRANSMISSION. AND WE SHOULD NOT
LOSE SIGHT OF THOSE IN FOR THE
SITING AND PERMITTING AS WELL.
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. I'M REALLY
APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. AND OUR LAST RAPID FIRE
SPEAKER. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR
AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS, JOHN
BOURGEOIS. I'M A DEPUTY OFFICER
AT VALLEY WATER, AND I REALLY
APPRECIATE THE EVERYTHING I'VE
BEEN HEARING TODAY. AND I
APPRECIATE YOU STICKING AROUND
TO HEAR ME AT THE END HERE,
BEFORE I JOINED SANTA CLARA
VALLEY WATER DISTRICT, I WAS
ACTUALLY THE EXECUTIVE PROJECT
MANAGER ON THE SOUTH BAY SALT
POND RESTORATION PROJECT. SO FOR
A DECADE, I RAN THE LARGEST
WETLAND RESTORATION PROJECT ON
THE WEST COAST. AND I'M HAPPY TO
CONTINUE THAT WORK AT VALLEY
WATER. WE HAVE A UNIQUE MISSION
AT VALLEY WATER. WE NOT ONLY DO
FLOOD, FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT AND
WATER SUPPLY, WE ALSO DO
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. AND
SO CLIMATE ACTUALLY AFFECTS ALL
THREE OF OUR MISSIONS. SO WE ARE
TRYING TO ACT WITH A SENSE OF
URGENCY. AND THE REGULATORY
RESTRAINTS ARE SOMETIMES AN
IMPEDIMENT TO MOVING QUICKLY,
I'LL GIVE YOU TWO QUICK
EXAMPLES. I HAVE A LAUNDRY LIST
OF CONCRETE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM
BOOTS ON THE GROUND THAT WE'RE
HAPPY TO SHARE WITH YOU
SEPARATELY, FIRST PROJECT, THE
SAN FRANCISCO SHORELINE PROJECT.
IT IS A THREE MILE LEVEE OF
COASTAL FLOOD PROTECTION FOR THE
NORTHERN END OF SAN JOSE, AND
THE DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY OF
ALVISO ALSO PROTECTS THE
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT THAT
SERVES SILICON VALLEY. IN
ADDITION, IT HAS ALMOST 3000
ACRES OF RESTORATION. YOU WOULD
THINK A PROJECT LIKE THIS WOULD
BREEZE THROUGH, RIGHT? WELL, OUR
POLICIES HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED IN
SAN FRANCISCO BAY TO PREVENT US
FROM FILLING THE BAY. AND THAT
HAPPENED AT A TIME WHEN THAT'S
WHAT NEEDED TO HAPPEN. PEOPLE
WERE FILLING THE BAY, PUTTING
GARBAGE IN THE BAY, EXPANDING
COMMUNITIES. BUT NOW WE NEED TO
FILL THE BAY TO SAVE THE BAY.
RIGHT? WE NEED TO BUILD LEVEES
SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY DO
COASTAL RESTORATION. AND WE WANT
RESTORATION OF THE WETLANDS DONE
IN A WAY THAT IS SUSTAINABLE IN
THE LONG RUN, WHICH MEANS NOT
HAVING AN ABRUPT TRANSITION FROM
A FLOOD WALL TO A MARSH. WE NEED
GRADUAL TRANSITION ZONES SO THAT
THEY CAN ATTENUATE WAVES, BUT
ALSO SO THEY CAN MIGRATE UPSLOPE
WITH SEA LEVEL RISE. WE NEED TO
THINK TO THE FUTURE ABOUT SEA
LEVEL RISE AND MAKE THESE
WETLANDS IN A WAY THAT IS
ACCOMMODATING OF THAT AND SO BUT
THE BUT THAT'S PHIL RIGHT. THAT
IS FILL IN THE BAY AND THERE ARE
POLICIES AGAINST THAT. AND SO
YOU WOULD THINK WITH 3000 ACRES
OF RESTORATION SHOULD BE A SELF
MITIGATING PROJECT. NOT SO
BECAUSE WE'RE RESTORING FORMER
SALT EVAPORATION PONDS WHICH ARE
ALREADY WATERS OF THE STATE AND
WATERS OF THE US. WE'RE JUST
CONVERTING THE TYPE. SO WE HAVE
A NO NET LOSS ISSUE WITH
PROJECTS SUCH AS THIS. WE ARE IN
A RENAISSANCE OF RESTORATION
HAPPENING ALL AROUND CALIFORNIA,
AND OUR POLICIES HAVE NOT KEPT
PACE. WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT
FURTHER UP IN THE WATERSHED. WE
HAVE OUR ANDERSON DAM PROJECT.
IT IS OUR LARGEST, SURFACE WATER
STORAGE FACILITY. WE HAVE TO DO
AN EMERGENCY SEISMIC RETROFIT,
THIS THIS DAM IS GOING TO BE
DOWN EVERY YEAR THAT IT'S DOWN,
WE ARE MORE RELIANT ON WATER,
IMPORTED WATER FROM THE DELTA,
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TIRELESSLY
WITH THE AGENCIES FOR SIX YEARS
NOW. PRE-AP EDUCATION, SIX YEARS
TO GET TO A POINT WHERE WE CAN
FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THEY CAN
ISSUE THE PERMITS IN A YEAR,
PERMITS ARE GOING IN THIS MONTH
AND EVERY YEAR THAT'S DELAYED.
IF WE MISS THOSE PERMIT
DEADLINES, IT COSTS THE
TAXPAYERS OUR WATER RATEPAYERS,
$100 MILLION A YEAR. SO WE HAVE
A LOT AT RISK. IT IS A IT IS OUR
KEY WATER SUPPLY INFRASTRUCTURE.
IT ALSO PROVIDES INCIDENTAL
FLOOD BENEFIT TO DOWNTOWN SAN
JOSE. AND WE HAVE ENDANGERED
FISH SPECIES IN THAT CREEK. SO
WE'VE GOT ALL THREE OF OUR
MISSIONS RIGHT IN THAT ONE
PROJECT, VERY CRITICAL PROJECT,
VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO GET
PERMITS IN A TIMELY MANNER. WE
HAVE. I'M WRAPPING UP. I KNOW
YOUR TIME, WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE
SOME PERFORMANCE CRITERIA SET
ASIDE FOR THE AGENCIES. WE HAVE
PERFORMANCE CRITERIA SET ON US.
WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM HELD
TO THAT TOO. AND THEY WILL TELL
YOU THAT, YES, WE YOU KNOW, WE
HAVE SO MUCH TIME TO ISSUE A
PERMIT. THERE'S A LOOPHOLE THERE
THOUGH, BECAUSE THEIR CLOCK
DOESN'T START UNTIL THEY DEEM
THE APPLICATION COMPLETE. AND SO
WHAT HAPPENS IS WE CONSTANTLY
GET REQUESTS FOR MORE
INFORMATION, AND SOMETIMES IT
JUST FEELS LIKE, YEAH, BRING ME
ANOTHER ROCK. RIGHT. AND THAT
DELAYS THE TIMELINE. WE WOULD
LIKE THEM TO ONLY HAVE SO MANY
BITES AT THE APPLE BEFORE THEY
CLEARLY, IF THEY'RE GETTING
INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS FROM
PEOPLE, THEY CLEARLY NEED TO
REQUEST MORE INFORMATION. BUT
FOR OUR AGENCIES, PUBLIC
AGENCIES WITH PROJECTS OF THIS
LEVEL OF IMPORTANCE, WE'D LIKE
TO SEE ONLY SO MANY BITES AT THE
APPLE. ALSO, SOMEONE ADDRESSED
STAFFING. OUR AGENCY PAYS FOR
STAFF MEMBERS AT CDF, THE
REGIONAL WATER BOARD AND
NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES JUST
TO HANDLE OUR WORKLOAD ALONE. SO
WE REALLY DO NEED TO THINK ABOUT
ADDRESSING THE STAFFING AT THESE
AGENCIES. AND THE TURNOVER IS
GREAT. SO WE HAVE A WHOLE
LAUNDRY LIST OF OTHER
RECOMMENDATIONS. I'M HAPPY TO
PROVIDE THOSE LATER. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. THANK
YOU, WE'LL MOVE QUICKLY. JUST
THE LAST THING IS PUBLIC
COMMENT. IF YOU WANT TO WEIGH IN
ON ANYTHING, PLEASE JUST NAME
ORGANIZATION AND ONE SENTENCE ON
TOP LINES. AND AGAIN, WE'LL HAVE
AMPLE OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS TO
WEIGH IN THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS
OF THE YEAR. THANKS, CATHERINE
FREEMAN WITH THE CALIFORNIA
STATE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES,
ECHOING WHAT OUR CRC SAID. BUT I
WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH TWO
THINGS. ONE IS WE ARE WORKING ON
CUTTING THE GREEN TAPE WITH OUR
LAND STEWARDSHIP NETWORKS. AND
ALSO WE'RE WORKING ON SEA LEVEL
RISE WITH A LOCAL GOVERNMENT
WORKING GROUP. AND I'D BE HAPPY
TO PROVIDE SOME INFORMATION
ABOUT HOW THOSE ARE WORKING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD
AFTERNOON. LILLIAN MERVIS. WITH
THE LARGE SCALE SOLAR
ASSOCIATION OR LSA, WE SUPPORT
THE COMMENTS OF MARISSA MITCHELL
OF INTERSEX POWER, AND WE ALSO
HAVE SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS
ABOUT STREAMLINED PERMITTING ON
AG LANDS THAT ARE LOSING WATER
AND BROADER RECOMMENDATIONS OF
THE PERMITTING PROCESS. WE LOOK
FORWARD TO TALKING ABOUT THIS
FURTHER WITH YOU. THANK YOU,
THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR, AND
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, SUSAN
MATTINAT HERE ON BEHALF OF
CALIFORNIA YIMBY, WE JUST WANTED
TO THANK YOU FOR PUTTING
TOGETHER THIS SELECT COMMITTEE.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE
DISCUSSION TODAY. PERMITTING,
PERMITTING, DELAYS ARE OBVIOUSLY
A MAJOR HURDLE TO BUILDING
HOUSING, BUT ALSO KEY
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S NECESSARY
TO ENSURE THAT HOUSING GETS
BUILT AND SERVES THE COMMUNITY.
SO WE APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION
AND LOOK FORWARD TO DIVING
DEEPER AS THE, COMMITTEE
HEARINGS MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU
. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR.
MEMBERS LUIS MORANTE WITH BARRY
COUNCIL HERE, JUST TO THANK YOU
FOR DOING THIS IMPORTANT WORK.
CALIFORNIANS REALLY DEPEND ON
YOUR SUCCESS HERE, AND WE'RE
COMMITTED TO HELPING YOU
SUCCEED. SO WE'RE HONORED TO BE
FACILITATING SOME OF THE WORK
HERE. I ALSO HAVE A COMMENT ON
BEHALF OF THE CASITA COALITION,
WHO HOPE TO REMIND YOU THAT THE
IMPORTANT WORK THE LEGISLATURE
HAS DONE ON ADUS, IN PARTICULAR
EXEMPTING THEM FROM FEES, MAKING
THE ZONING REALLY CLEAR AND
STREAMLINING THE DECISION
PROCESS ARE THE RECIPE FOR
SUCCESS FOR OTHER SMALL
BUILDINGS THAT THE STATE ALSO
DEPENDS ON FOR MEETING ITS
HOUSING GOALS. THANKS AGAIN FOR
DOING THIS WORK AND WE'RE HERE
TO HELP. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, COREY SMITH ON BEHALF
OF THE HOUSING ACTION COALITION.
ALSO EXTEND OUR APPRECIATION FOR
MAKING THIS HAPPEN. THE
LEGISLATURE HAS TAKEN STEPS ON
THIS AS WELL. THERE'S BEEN A
NUMBER OF BILLS, AB 2234 BY
ASSEMBLY MEMBER AT THE TIME. NOW
SPEAKER ROBERT RIVAS AB 1114 AND
AB 281. THAT SET SOME OF THESE
GUIDELINES IN PLACE, WHICH ARE
FANTASTIC, THE COORDINATION
BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT
JURISDICTIONS IS REALLY KEY.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO
GOING TO HAVE TO GET FIGURED
OUT. WE DO NEED TO STATE
BACKDROP AND TO PUT A PIN ON IT.
THE IOUS ARE THE BIGGEST PROBLEM
IN ALL OF THIS. AS AN INDIVIDUAL
AGENCY. AND PGA SPECIFICALLY
PUSHES BACK ON ANY SORT OF
PERMITTING REFORM. SO WE GOT TO
GET THE IOUS TO THE TABLE. IF WE
WANT THIS TO WORK. WELL, THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. HELLO, TYLER.
EARL, ON BEHALF OF COMMUNITIES
FOR A BETTER ENVIRONMENT AND
PART OF THE CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ALLIANCE,
JERRY BROWN ONCE DESCRIBED
SCHOOL REFORM AS DOING GOD'S
WORK, AND SO I IMAGINE THAT YOU
VIEW ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
ADVOCATES LIKE US AS THE DEVIL
FOR MERELY WANTING TO PROTECT
THESE TYPES OF ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTIONS THAT ARE MEANT TO
ARE OUR MAIN AND PRIMARY TOOL
FOR, LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR TO ACTUALLY HAVE A SAY ON
SO MANY PROJECTS, BECAUSE IT IS
THE ONLY PROCESS THAT IS THERE
OTHER OTHERWISE IT IS AGENCIES
AND PRIVATE DEVELOPERS, JUST
RUNNING WILD AS THEY WISH
WITHOUT ANY INPUT FROM THE
PUBLIC, WITHOUT. AND SO I HOPE
THAT THAT IS CONSIDERED AS
STREAMLINING SEEMS TO BE THE
WORD OF THE DAY, AND IT'S THE
REASON WHY WE'RE IN SACRAMENTO.
WE JUST HAPPENED TO FIND OUT
ABOUT THIS SELECT COMMITTEE
BECAUSE WE'RE HERE TO TALK.
PROTECT THE, THE SETBACKS FROM
STREAMLINING THAT WE HAD
NEGOTIATED FOR IN AB 2011 THAT
HAVE NOW BEEN PULLED, IN THE
BILL TOMORROW OR LATER TODAY, SO
THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT.
DEFINITELY DON'T DON'T VIEW YOU
ALL AS THE DEVIL AND APPRECIATE
THAT YOU'RE HERE AND APPRECIATE
YOUR INPUT. SO THANK YOU FOR
COMING, GOOD AFTERNOON, MARK
FROM STREETS FOR ALL I WANTED TO
EXPRESS A SINCERE GRATITUDE FOR
HAVING THIS COMMITTEE AND HAVING
THIS DISCUSSION. NOT JUST
PERSONALLY. WHILE I CARE ABOUT
THE INFILL HOUSING ISSUE AND
HOUSING ISSUES. PROFESSIONALLY,
STREETS FOR ALL TAKES MANY
POSITIONS ON INFILL HOUSING. I
DO JUST WANT TO NOTE WHAT I FEEL
IS, LACKING IN THIS, IN THIS
CONVERSATION, BUT ALSO IN WHAT I
UNDERSTAND IS THE SCOPE OF THE
COMMITTEE IS A FOCUS ON ANY SORT
OF TRANSPORTATION PERMITTING
REFORM, WE HAVE THERE'S A
SERIOUS, YEAH, DEARTH IN THE
CONVERSATION IN THE LEGISLATURE
AS A WHOLE ABOUT THAT ISSUE. WE
WILL BE DISCUSSING. WE HEAR YOU
LOUD AND CLEAR, AND WE WILL BE
DISCUSSING TRANSPORTATION. SO I
YES, WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU AS
PART OF THAT. THANK YOU. CHAIR
APPRECIATE IT. I'M SORRY TO, YOU
KNOW, PROCEED, BUT I JUST WANT
TO BRING TO THE ATTENTION THE
CARSON CASTLE. MY NAME IS
MAUREEN GONZALEZ. I'M WITH
COMMUNITIES FOR A BETTER
ENVIRONMENT AND SAY HI AS WELL,
IT WAS AN INSTANCE WHERE THERE
WASN'T AN ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT.
THERE WASN'T REALLY COMMUNITY
OVERSIGHT AT ALL. AND THERE WERE
SEVERE HEALTH IMPACTS AND
COMMUNITY CONTINUED REMEDIATION
TO THIS DAY. JUST KEEPING IN
MIND THAT, OF COURSE, THE
HOUSING ISSUE IS INCREASING
IMPORTANT. AND BUILDINGS DO HAVE
TO GO UP. BUT THAT THERE ARE
HEALTH IMPACTS TO THE PEOPLE
THAT DO END UP MOVING INTO THESE
LANDS. AND, YOU KNOW, IF WE
PRIORITIZE BUSINESS OVER AND,
YOU KNOW, EASE OF USE OVER
COMMUNITY HEALTH, THEN
ULTIMATELY THERE'S SICK KIDS,
THERE'S COMMUNITY, THERE'S
PEOPLE THAT HAVE TO BEAR THE
HEALTH IMPACTS OF THESE
REALITIES. AND I'D, YOU KNOW, ME
PERSONALLY, HAVING GROWN UP WITH
SEVERE CHILDHOOD ASTHMA, A LOT
OF PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY
WILMINGTON AND CD15, YOU HATE TO
JUST SEE HOUSES BUILDING UP
FAMILIES MOVING IN, NOT
UNDERSTANDING OR NOT EVEN
KNOWING WHAT WAS ON THE LAND
PRIOR TO THEIR INHABITED. SO
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR THOSE COMMENTS, WITH THAT,
IF THERE'S NO MORE PUBLIC
COMMENT, MR. CARILLO, YOU GET
THE GOLDEN STAR OF THE DAY, FOR
STAYING HERE. AND I JUST DEEPLY
APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S PUBLIC
COMMENT AS WELL. WE'LL HAVE MORE
HEARINGS IN THE FALL. AND WITH
THAT, THIS FIRST SELECT
COMMITTEE HEARING ON PERMITTING
REFORM IS ADJOURNED.