Ballots will be landing in Humboldt County mailboxes soon, ahead of the November election. This fall’s ballot is particularly long and involved, with fourteen statewide measures up for consideration. Prop. 45 will be buried at the end of that list, but voters shouldn’t ignore it. This measure could do tremendous damage to our region and our state if it passes.The California Environmental Quality Act is fundamental to protecting California’s environment by providing opportunities for citizens to engage with projects impacting their communities. Prop. 45 would fast-track the approval of a long list of polluting projects, putting our local air, water quality, and even our electricity rates at risk. Just as we are seeing the rapid and aggressive rollback of federal protections for clean air, clean water, and public health under the Trump administration, Prop. 45 invites Californians to hand even more power to corporate polluters.This 41-page ballot measure would reduce public oversight over everything from forest clearcutting and dam building to the development of warehouses, CO2 and methane gas pipelines, landfill gas facilities, data centers, and more. If Prop. 45 passes, it will be harder to secure critical protections for communities and natural resources through the environmental review process.Data centers are front of mind for many voters. Efforts in recent years to expand broadband throughout this region have been essential to supporting local economic prosperity. But the success of these efforts also means Humboldt County is increasingly likely to see data center developers knocking on our door. The recent move by the Eureka and Arcata City Councils to enact a temporary moratorium on data center development makes it clear our local leaders understand this area is fair game for deep-pocketed developers looking to expand their reach. Legal experts agree that fast-tracked approval of data centers is more likely if Prop. 45 passes.Prop. 45 would place a new strain on local governments to approve projects according to artificial tight timelines, or else they would risk new litigation from developers. Unlike large urban jurisdictions, rural counties like ours rely on the California Environmental Quality Act to ensure that projects are well designed to minimize and mitigate effects to the environment. New, tight deadlines come at the expense of meaningful public engagement and risks rushed judgments and sloppy work. And the cost: Legislative Analyst’s Office estimates that just implementing Prop. 45 would likely cost state and local public agencies $100 million or more annually.Who stands to benefit? Let’s look at the money. The campaign to pass Prop. 45 is being funded by the likes of PG&E and other for-profit utilities, data center and warehouse developers, and the oil and gas industry. Big corporations are investing tens of millions of dollars to pass this measure because they know Prop. 45 will make it easier for them to build polluting projects. Voters should understand that nothing in this ballot measure requires developers to lower housing prices, lower utility bills, or bring down costs for consumers.Keep Reading
