Senator Tony Strickland (R-Huntington Beach) today criticized two upcoming climate bills, Senate Bill 840 and Assembly Bill 1207, scheduled for floor votes on Saturday, September 13. Senator Strickland warned that these bills would prioritize unrealistic environmental ambitions over the financial wellbeing of hardworking California families.
SB 840 would funnel a staggering $1 billion into the struggling high-speed rail project, while allocating $3 million to establish a new unaccountable Climate Bureau Agency within the office of Legislative Counsel that could end up being another expensive bureaucratic expansion with little guarantee of real progress. AB 1207 would extend the Cap & Trade program to 2045, which could drive up gas and electricity prices, placing an unbearable burden on working and disadvantaged families already struggling with California’s affordability crisis.
Senator Strickland releases the following statement, urging lawmakers to reconsider these measures and focus on solutions that balance environmental responsibility with economic reality.
“We cannot sacrifice economic stability and affordability for false climate promises that will only raise costs for those who can least afford it.
“These bills may sound noble, but they will deliver higher gas prices, which are predicted to be at $8 per gallon next year, soaring energy bills, and force refineries to shutter or flee California due to crushing compliance costs. This agenda will only deepen our state’s affordability crisis, costing jobs and threatening the livelihoods of hardworking families.”
According to a PPIC survey on "Californians and the Energy Transition," 59% of respondents indicated that they are unwilling to pay more for electricity generated from renewable energy sources. Additionally, a report from the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office released in May warned that drivers could face higher gas prices due to the extension of the Cap & Trade program, potentially increasing prices by up to 74 cents per gallon. A typical California household consumes about 600 gallons of gasoline annually and may end up having to pay an extra $444 per year. When considering diesel and other fuels, the total additional cost could be around $700.