Another Key Climate Bill Lost in California

On the heels of losing an oil reduction mandate due to lobbying by Big Oil, another key climate bill failed to pass—setting greenhouse gas reduction targets beyond 2020. An oil pipeline safety bill resulting from Santa Barbara spill passed.

2 minute read

September 14, 2015, 10:00 AM PDT

By Irvin Dawid


As posted here in March, SB 32, which goes by the same name as the landmark AB 32, "The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006," would have required greenhouse gases to be cut to 80 percent below the 1990 levels by 2050.

The bill by Sen. Fran Pavley, D-Agoura Hills, who also was an author of AB 32 in 2006, "failed to win enough support from lawmakers and faced objections from the governor's office," write Patrick McGreevy and Melanie Mason for the Los Angeles Times. She "vowed to revive it next year."

The regular 2015 legislative season ended on Friday, September 11, although an interim session continues where they will take up transportation funding. "The defeat came a day after Gov. Jerry Brown and legislative leaders withdrew a key portion of another proposal to combat climate change [SB 350], one calling for California to cut its use of gasoline in half," write McGreevy and Mason.

Pavley tried to overcome opposition to her measure by changing it to provide more legislative oversight of the state's powerful Air Resources Board, which has become a sticking point in climate-related negotiations with lawmakers.

However, the amendments she added were opposed by Brown, who indicated that they "could have weakened the state's existing ability to fight climate change," said Gareth Lacy, the governor's deputy press secretary. "We can't trade what is already being done to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to get a new bill."

In other action, "legislators voted for (annual) inspections of thousands of miles of oil pipelines crisscrossing the state, a response to the massive crude oil spill in May that fouled the Santa Barbara County coastline and dumped 20,000 gallons of crude into the Pacific Ocean," write McGreevy and Mason on the passage of SB 295, authored by Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara).

The total spill from the 11-mile-long underground pipe owned by Houston-based Plains All American Pipeline was 101,000 gallons. We initially reported it was 21,000 gallons. "It was being inspected every other year," notes The Times. "Federal regulators later discovered that corrosion had eaten away half of the pipeline's metal wall."

The pipeline also was "the only large transmission line in Santa Barbara County not fitted with an automatic shutdown valve, according to federal officials," write McCreevy and Mason. "AB-864: Oil spill response: environmentally and ecologically sensitive areas," would require the shutoff valves.

While it did not pass, it "goes back to the Assembly, where it originated, for action on amendment," to be heard in January 2016 unless it is considered in the interim session. Gov. Brown has until October 11 to sign or veto bills that passed, including SB 295 and SB 350, without the oil reduction mandate, or they become law without his signature.

Hat TipDarrell Clark, Beyond Oil Advocate.

Thursday, September 10, 2015 in Los Angeles Times

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 11, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Metrorail train pulling into newly opened subterranean station in Washington, D.C. with crowd on platform taking photos.

Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”

The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).

June 2, 2025 - The Hill

Large crowd on street in San Francisco, California during Oktoberfest festival.

The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns

In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.

June 2, 2025 - Robbie Silver

Color-coded map of labor & delivery departments and losses in United States.

The States Losing Rural Delivery Rooms at an Alarming Pace

In some states, as few as 9% of rural hospitals still deliver babies. As a result, rising pre-term births, no adequate pre-term care and harrowing close calls are a growing reality.

5 hours ago - Maine Morning Star

Street scene in Kathmandu, Nepal with yellow minibuses and other traffic.

The Small South Asian Republic Going all in on EVs

Thanks to one simple policy change less than five years ago, 65% of new cars in this Himalayan country are now electric.

7 hours ago - Fast Company

Bike lane in Washington D.C. protected by low concrete barriers.

DC Backpedals on Bike Lane Protection, Swaps Barriers for Paint

Citing aesthetic concerns, the city is removing the concrete barriers and flexposts that once separated Arizona Avenue cyclists from motor vehicles.

June 15 - The Washington Post