• U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) issued an April 29 statement responding to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s comments to the Los Angeles Times about the possibility of delaying the closure of Diablo Canyon Power Plant, which generated 6 percent of the state’s power in 2021. PG&E plans to begin decommissioning the local nuclear plant in 2024 and completely close it by 2025. “Decisions about the future of Diablo Canyon should not be made solely in Sacramento any more than they should be made solely in Washington. And my constituents deserve better than a stop-and-go approach to the future of this facility,” Carbajal said in a statement. “I certainly appreciate the governor’s interest in continuing California’s energy transition and reducing carbon emissions, but too many Central Coast jobs and livelihoods are at stake to make this decision without community input.” According to the LA Times, Newsom said that he may attempt to delay the long-planned closure of Diablo Canyon, and the state would seek out a share of $6 billion in federal funds meant to rescue nuclear reactors facing closure. A spokesperson clarified that Newsom still wants to see the facility shut down long-term, but this decision reflects a shift in politics after decades of opposition to nuclear power. Carbajal said he hopes the governor plans to reach out to him and other “community stakeholders who have worked for years to facilitate a consensus agreement that is informed by the San Luis Obispo County families who will be most impacted by his choices.”
• Starting May 1, Medi-Cal—California’s health coverage program for low-income individuals and families—is extending full coverage eligibility to more than 185,000 individuals who are 50 and older, regardless of immigration status, according to an April 29 statement from the Newsom administration. “We’re delivering concrete results for Californians, continuing to fulfill the promise of a Healthy California for All, and I encourage all those eligible to take advantage of these essential health services,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said. “This is an investment in our people, our economy, and our future. But we’re not stopping there. California is on the path to expand Medi-Cal to all eligible Californians regardless of age or immigration status, providing the most comprehensive health coverage in the entire country.”
• U.S. Sens. Alex Padilla (D-California) and Raphael Warnock (D-Georgia) led a letter to the Senate and House Appropriations subcommittees on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies’ leadership to request millions in new funding for zero-emission school buses in the upcoming fiscal year appropriations bill, according to an April 27 statement from Padilla’s office. The letter also calls on the subcommittees to address zero-emission buses and charging infrastructure for school districts in historically underserved and rural communities. In 2021, Congress passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that included the largest down payment the United States has seen to help electrify 480,000 buses, but it only scratched the surface of the need, according to a statement. Padilla also previously introduced the Clean Commute for Kids Act, legislation that would invest $25 billion to replace diesel buses with electric buses. “As you develop the fiscal year 2023 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill, we write to request at least $300 million in new funding be provided for zero-emission school buses under the Clean School Bus Program,” the letter stated. “We also ask that you include the report language below to enhance the successful deployment of zero-emission buses and robust charging infrastructure for school districts in underserved and rural communities.”
This article appears in May 5-12, 2022.
