Powering Up Californians Act Is Signed Into Law
The Powering Up Californians Act, proposed by State Senator Josh Becker (D-13), has been approved by Governor Gavin Newsom and removes a significant obstacle to the state of California reaching its climate, air quality, and equity goals. California has to electrify automobiles and buildings in order to achieve these goals and to comply with state and federal legislation. To do this, the state must modernize its electric distribution system in some areas and shorten the time it takes to connect to the grid. The efforts to clean up the air are being undermined by delays in powering buildings and constructing EV charging stations. Affordable housing units in San Francisco are vacant, and because of energization delays, electric big rigs like those shown below that could be replacing harmful diesel pollutants are idle. What Does The Powering Up Californians Act Do? SB 410 (Senate Bill 410): Declares it to be the policy of the state that utilities must modernize the grid “in time to accomplish the state’s decarbonization goals and implement federal, state, regional, and local air quality and decarbonization standards, plans, and laws”; Mandates utilities to report on their compliance with those timelines, explain any noncompliances and how those will…