California lawmakers on Saturday approved a package of bills aimed at lowering electricity prices,
The package also includes bills that would increase oil drilling, expand the state's regional networks and reduce utilities' wildfire expenses.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has championed the package since April when President Donald Trump threatened the state's climate policies, has until Oct. 13 to sign the bills into law.
The Legislature stretched its session past the Friday deadline into Saturday, because Newsom, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and Sen. President Pro Tem Mike McGuire didn't reach an agreement on the deal to extend the state's cap-and-invest greenhouse gas emissions program until Wednesday.
The measure also dedicated $1 billion of the roughly $4 billion a year
Overall, the frenetic pace and volume of bills as lawmakers headed toward the close of session was more harried than normal.
"We're building a new foundation that delivers lower energy costs and more money for California families, Rivas said in a statement. "We took the time to get it right, because real change, lowering costs and protecting homeowners is essential."
In addition to extending the state's cap-and-invest from its 2030 terminus to 2045, the package included bills to reduce electricity costs by increasing the climate credit on utility bills, a plan to expand regional power markets through agreements with other states and a bill to improve utility wildfire oversight.
Among those bills was Senate Bill 237, which was designed to prevent spikes in gasoline prices as the state transitions from gas-powered vehicles to electric cars.
SB 237 was jointly authored by Senators Tim Grayson, D-Concord, Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, Melissa Hurtado, D-Bakersfield, Laura Richardson, D-Torrance, and Assemblywoman Lori D. Wilson, D-Suisun City.
SB 237 passed 28-0 in the Senate and 59-4 in the Assembly. The legislation now goes to the governor's desk.
"Over the last few months, we have brought everyone to the table, rolled up our sleeves, and hammered out an agreement between the administration and both houses of the Legislature to get needed change for Californians who are fed up with our fuel economy," Grayson said.
"California gas prices are still too high," McNerney said. "And with the recent announcements of two planned refinery closures, it's clear that we must do more to protect California motorists from additional price hikes."
"As we transition to zero emission vehicles and ZEV sales continue to grow — with nearly a quarter of new cars sold in California being ZEV — we have the obligation to explore new policies to keep gas prices low," McNerney said.
SB 237 would allow for expanded oil drilling in Kern County in exchange for tougher restrictions on offshore oil drilling, formalize the work of the California Energy Commission to stabilize fuel supply in the near term and enable the governor to suspend the state's more costly summer fuel blend.
The summer blend, mandated by the California Air Resources Board to reduce smog and ozone during the warmer months is more expensive to produce. It's typically produced from April 1 to Oct. 31.
