Sacramento, California - Today, a bill by Assemblymember V. Manuel Pérez (D-Coachella) received final approval by the Legislature and now heads to the Governor’s desk. AB 1846 expedites the environmental review process for projects that involve upgrades or retrofits to bring businesses into compliance with the Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32).

“This is a win-win bill,” said Pérez. “It’s an example of a simple yet effective change that benefits business and job creation while assuring environmental integrity.”

Sponsored by the California Council for Environmental and Economic Balance, the bill empowers state water and air agencies with the discretion to use a focused environmental impact report for projects that install pollution control equipment or change their raw material formulations to a more sustainable product for the purposes of complying with AB 32.

Examples of types of eligible projects could include energy efficiency modifications, diesel heater/boiler replacements, combined heating and cooling, tank infrastructure upgrades to comply with the low carbon fuel standard, and replacing natural gas compressors with electric ones.

The bill made its way through both the Assembly and Senate with no opposition and passed on a concurrence vote on the Assembly Floor today with unanimous, bipartisan support (69-0).