Sweeping climate and energy legislation goes to Newsom's desk

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Set us as preferred After a tumultuous year, California lawmakers sent several important energy and environment bills to the governor’s desk in the final hours of the legislative session.Bills advanced by the Senate and Assembly aim to rework California’s climate spending, close an environmental review loophole and rein in electricity rates, among other efforts.All await signatures from Gov.

Gavin Newsom this month.One major item is Senate Bill 193, a last-minute effort to settle how California spends its Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund under the state’s recently renewed cap-and-invest program.

The fund is a primary source of money for climate projects in California, but a new three-tier payout system left some crucial programs last in line to receive money.The bill passed Monday would instead guarantee about $921 million for those programs, including $230 million for transit projects, $70 million for forest health, $70 million for clean drinking water and $50 million for sustainable agriculture, along with other programs geared toward air quality, affordable housing and more.

Some senators hoped to phase out a controversial incentive that allows major polluters to apply for additional pollution credits if they invest in decarbonization projects — an incentive that is expected to reduce overall revenue to the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.The California Air Resources Board approved that incentive earlier this year.

Experts said the Legislature is likely to pick that issue back up next year.But overall, this bill is “a win,” said Mary Creasman, chief executive of the nonprofit California Environmental Voters.

“It’s really a signal of where the Legislature is — that they’re still committed to these programs, and that they’re committed to the GGRF being invested in these ways directly in communities.” C...