California gas price session moves to Senate, but Assembly bill on ethanol nixed
by Lynn La
On Aug. 31, when Gov. Gavin Newsom called a special session on gas prices, California motorists were paying $4.61 per gallon on average, $1.27 more than the national average. On Monday, when the state Senate finally convened, prices were $4.68 in California, or $1.51 above the national average. In between, there has been plenty of political posturing among the governor, Assembly leaders and Senate leadership, and between them and Republicans, plus a back and forth with the oil industry.
EPA to Enforce Warehouse Emission Regulations in California
by Noël Fletcher
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s recent approval of a California law forcing warehouses to reduce emissions or pay mitigation fees tied to truck deliveries now provides stronger enforcement options. Effective Oct. 11, EPA has rubber-stamped and made enforceable a Southern California air-quality mandate that forces warehouse owners and operators to make changes and invest in actions to lower greenhouse gas emissions associated with their businesses or pay fees to the state. It also includes state reporting requirements. EPA stated this new action is meant to deter air pollution from warehouse operations that include freight vehicle trips to and from warehouses.
US Treasury Awards California $10 Million to Help Small Businesses Grow, Hire
by CalChamber
On Monday, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced that the California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA) is being awarded $10 million to support small business growth through the federal State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) Investing in America Small Business Opportunity Program (SBOP). SBOP, a part of the SSBCI program reauthorized and expanded by the American Rescue Plan Act, is a $75 million nationwide program that provides funding for small business technical assistance support like accounting and legal services, and helps connect underserved and very small businesses in key sectors to private sector investment.