Under the governor’s May Revise, food production facilities—85% of which are in low-income communities—would get $125 million for reducing energy use to lower emissions. During a Senate subcommittee hearing on the proposal this week, Democratic lawmakers asked why there was a carveout for one industry. Sen. Bob Wieckowski of Fremont said this should at least coincide with an increase in cap-and-trade pricing for these companies.
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Republican Sen. Brian Dahle of Lassen County saw it instead as a carrot to keep the companies in the state.
“Anybody that manufactures in California that could leave has already left,” said Dahle. “The people that process food aren't leaving, because we actually still farm in California.”
