Proposition 45, on the California ballot this November, would expedite environmental review for many housing, transportation, water and health projects by speeding up the review process overall.
Many environmental and labor groups oppose the proposal, arguing it guts the California Environmental Quality Act.
Kat Lockwood, CEO of the nonprofit The Climate Center, said it would fast-track projects like big data centers and home development in wildfire zones.
“Prop 45 would roll back protections for public health, clean air, and clean water. Prop 45 would make it easier to build polluting projects with less public input, and Prop 45 is backed by some of the state’s biggest polluters,” Lockwood outlined.
According to the secretary of state’s website, the proposition would set deadlines to complete environmental review and resolve lawsuits challenging project approvals. Supporters said it would not apply specifically to data centers, but it would cut red tape slowing down new housing and infrastructure projects. Opponents countered it is unnecessary because many housing projects are already exempt from full environmental review thanks to Assembly Bill 130, which passed last year.
Jordan Grimes, legislative director for the nonprofit Greenbelt Alliance, said he opposes Proposition 45 because it gives developers a new right to sue local agencies if they deny a project or impose conditions to make it unfeasible.
“The big things that it does are change the standard of review. It really flips the power from communities and local agencies to developers and project applicants,” Grimes contended.
Supporters include the California Building Industry Association and the big utility companies. Opponents include The Sierra Club and unions representing people who work in the service industry, on farms and in the building trades.
