Testimony: Stand up for clean air

My name is Laura Deehan, State Director for Environment California, part of the Charge Ahead California initiative and the Invest in Clean Air coalition. We’re also standing here on behalf of dozens of organizations who couldn’t attend today’s hearings in person. 

We must stand up for clean air. Our top concern is that the Governor’s January budget proposal slashes critical funding for essential clean air programs.

California has the worst air pollution in the nation, and these proposed cuts and delays mean worse air pollution for California. More toxic air will cost the state far more in the long run from a budget perspective, leading to spiking health care costs and costly climate disasters. This hurts the quality of life for all Californians.

We understand that there is a serious budget deficit, however, we urge you to stand up and find new ways to defend clean air funding. One easy strategy is to stop wasting taxpayer funds on subsidies for oil and gas companies. We should also stop funding polluting freeway expansions. 

Instead, please work to restore proven pollution solutions like $600 million in clean transportation funding including Clean Cars 4 All and clean trucks.

We’re also deeply concerned with cuts to clean energy programs. Rooftop solar and storage installations are in free fall and now is not the time to cut the promised residential solar and storage incentives. We urge you to find a way to restore the hundreds of millions of dollars in promised funding for clean solar battery incentives and restore funding for offshore wind so that together we can create a cleaner, brighter and more reliable and resilient future for everyone.