State Legislature wants another $185 billion in taxes

According to a new report by the California Tax Foundation, in the first three months of the 2023-24 session, California lawmakers have considered introducing more than $185.6 billion in new taxes and fees, including a "wealth tax," a government-run health care system, a tax on oil company earnings, and several fee increases. 

This report includes all tax and fee legislation proposed from the start of the session until the date of publication. See the full report HERE.

It's worth noting that Governor Gavin Newsom's proposed $296.9 billion state budget, which includes a Managed Care Organization (MCO) tax and a $30 million tax increase, has not yet been introduced to the Legislature and is not included in this report. 

According to the January budget proposal, the state faces an operating deficit of approximately $22.5 billion, which could increase lawmakers' likelihood of proposing additional taxes and fees as the session continues. Source: California Tax Foundation

Off-road enthusiasts score a legal victory in Oceano

Friends of the Oceano Dunes has won a legal victory against the California Coastal Commission in a quiet title lawsuit. 

The lawsuit argues that off-road vehicle enthusiasts have the right to continue driving and camping on portions of the Oceano Dunes because they have been recreating there for more than five years without objection or permission. 

The Coastal Commission argued that other historical uses of the dunes were more prevalent, but a judge rejected all of the state's arguments and set the case for trial in October 2023. 

Grover Beach mayor resigns

Anna Miller, the Mayor Pro Tem of Grover Beach, has resigned from her seat with immediate effect due to a change in residency. 

Miller, who was elected in November 2020, was set to serve until December 2024. The city council plans to discuss options for filling the vacant seat in their upcoming meeting on March 27. 

Miller is the Chief Operating Officer for People's Self-Help Housing and has previously served on local non-profit boards.

Ventura board of supes moves to repeal campaign limit

The Ventura County Board of Supervisors in California has voted to repeal a local campaign finance ordinance that has been in place for 20 years. 

The ordinance placed a limit of $750 on contributions for candidates running for supervisor and countywide offices. With the ordinance now repealed, the county will follow state laws on contribution limits, which currently stands at $5,500 per election. 

The move has been met with opposition, with many urging the board to protect the current campaign finance rules to protect the voices of average voters instead of favoring special interests with deep pockets. 

The board will vote again on March 28 to adopt a new ordinance that repeals the current one.

Former top Ventura County official sues county

Former Ventura County Executive Officer Mike Powers has filed a lawsuit against the County of Ventura, claiming that he was forced out of his job without being given the chance to defend himself against a harassment accusation from one of his employees. 

Powers is seeking unspecified damages for invasion of privacy, wrongful termination, and other claims. He is also asking the court to force the county to defend him in the lawsuit brought by his accuser and to pay his legal costs. 

Powers had an employment contract as CEO that allowed the Board of Supervisors to remove him at any time with or without cause. Powers is denying all the allegations of harassment except one.

Camarillo eyes Days Inn for homeless housing

The City of Camarillo is considering using the Days Inn as a site for permanent and temporary housing for individuals who are homeless if the city receives Project Homekey funds. 

The proposed Homekey project involves renovating the building to create 62 units of permanent housing with wraparound services, a 20-bed navigation center for temporary housing and one unit for a resident manager. 

The city plans to submit a joint Homekey application with the County of Ventura and Jamboree Housing Corp., one of California’s largest nonprofit developers of affordable housing. The City Council will consider allocating $5.4 million of city funds toward the development and operation of the site at a future meeting. 

The state is expected to announce Homekey funding recipients in August, and city staff said the housing could open as early as December 2024.

Build-to-rent housing delayed in Santa Maria vote

The Santa Maria Planning Commission has delayed a decision on a build-to-rent, single-family home development that includes accessory dwelling units. 

Canfield Development has proposed a 105 single-family home Blosser Ranch development, including a community center and pool, with detached accessory dwelling units on 96 lots. On-street parking would be banned, but guest spaces would be included. 

After appearing to be evenly divided on whether to approve the project, the planning commissioners voted 3-1 to delay the item pending research on issues related to large rental properties and a specific plan for the broader area. 

Commissioners Esau Blanco, Robert Dickerson, and Yasameen Mohajer agreed to the delay, but chairman Tim Seifert voted against it.

Hastert chosen to lead Santa Barbara Airport

Chris Hastert, the new airport director for the City of Santa Barbara, has outlined his goals and plans for the Santa Barbara Airport in an interview with Noozhawk. 

Hastert discussed a range of issues, including commercial air traffic, noise, facilities expansion, the master plan, and historic structures. He aims to establish and improve relations with the cities of Goleta and Santa Barbara and all residents affected by airport operations. 

Hastert plans to expand the passenger terminal to the south and add new gates and jetways, based on meeting current and future demand. The airport experienced a record commercial air traffic of more than 1.2 million passengers in 2022, but he does not expect that level of growth to continue in the short run. 

Noise from airport operations is a persistent issue, and Hastert is working to analyze the most frequently used departures and the routing of flights to encourage airlines to take different routing for those early morning departures. Source: Noozhawk

DeSantis gaining support; Trump still popular in GOP

While recent public polling suggests that Republican voters in California are increasingly favoring Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as their preferred candidate for the 2024 presidential primary, attendees at the California Republican Party convention this past weekend remain firmly in support of former President Donald Trump. 

Delegates, activists, volunteers, and local officials at the convention in Sacramento made it clear that Trump is still the man to beat, with his name and slogans visible on signs and campaign paraphernalia throughout the event. 

In contrast, DeSantis, who has not yet declared that he is running for president, received much less attention. 

Courts uphold right of rgig companies to classify workers as independent contractors

In a recent ruling, a California appeals court has granted ride-sharing companies Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash the right to classify their drivers as independent contractors, rather than employees.

This decision upholds the results of Proposition 22, which was passed by California voters in 2020 and exempts ride-sharing firms from a law requiring them to classify their drivers as employees. While the ruling provides clarity on the classification of hundreds of thousands of California ride-share drivers, it is a blow to the unions who had hoped for a different outcome.

The ballot initiative saw ride-share companies pour over $224 million into the campaign, making it the most expensive ballot measure in California history at the time. Prop. 22 granted some benefits to drivers, including a partial health care subsidy under certain conditions, but they still don't have access to other workplace benefits, such as minimum wage, sick leave, unemployment benefits, and more.

OP-ED: Ventura County campaign limit change criticized

A state lawmaker and local leader of Save Open Space and Agricultural Resources urged residents to speak out against an intiative by two Ventura County Supervisors to raise political campaign limits.

Assemblyman Steve Bennett​​​​​ and Linda Parks, the Executive Director of SOAR and former Ventura County Supervisor, said in a joint op-ed that:

Ventura County has had a successful campaign reform law in place for the last two decades, which limits campaign contributions to $750 and has strict transparency and accountability requirements to prevent manipulations by big money donors. 

However, Supervisors Jeff Gorell and Janice Parvin are proposing to eliminate the county's campaign finance ordinance, which would increase contribution limits from $750 to the statewide limit of $5,500. This move would drown out the voices of average citizens and give big money donors more direct influence over supervisors.

The supervisors' argument that the local ordinance is no longer necessary because of state limits is unconvincing. In fact, 25 counties in California currently apply both state and local laws simultaneously to decrease the influence of big money in politics. Gorell and Parvin's claim that a new state law prohibiting voting on a project if a donation of more than $250 has been received in the past 12 months is also easily circumvented.

Florida governor speaks in Simi Valley

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis spoke at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California, discussing his new book, "The Courage to Be Free: Florida’s Blueprint for America’s Revival," but did not announce his candidacy for the White House.

He criticized leftist politicians and their policies, claiming that these led to a great American exodus from states governed by them. 

DeSantis also praised Florida's handling of COVID, taxes, public education, and other issues, stating that the state stood as a "refuge of sanity, a citadel of freedom." 

He criticized California's teachers unions for having a partisan agenda and discussed his opposition to critical race theory in Florida's education system. 

Around 100 protesters gathered outside the library, but the event remained peaceful, with the exception of vandalism to an entrance sign. Source: Thousand Oaks Acorn

Ventura supes approve homeless shelter support

The Board of Supervisors has approved a revenue sharing agreement with the City of Thousand Oaks to provide financial support for a permanent year-round shelter with 30 beds for homeless individuals and families. 

The agreement includes an initial capital funding of $2 million and an annual operations funding of $450,000. The shelter will be complementary to the new permanent housing project in the city, which received $26.7 million in Project Homekey Funds to convert the Quality Inn into 77 units of housing. 

The County is committed to funding operations on a 50/50 cost share with local communities committed to developing emergency shelters within their communities, subject to the constraints of the County's budget. The development cost per bed for the Thousand Oaks shelter is slightly higher than the other two projects, but the ongoing operations are lower. 

The County's share of development costs for the project is estimated at $2 million for development and ongoing operations of about $453,000 per year. The Board will receive annual status reports on the shelter's occupancy and success in placing people into permanent housing. 

The revenue sharing agreement passed unanimously.

Paso Robles congressman speaks out on closure of Silicon Valley Bank

Silicon Valley Bank, a financial institution with approximately $209.0 billion in total assets and $175.4 billion in total deposits, was closed down by the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. 

The FDIC was appointed as the receiver and created the Deposit Insurance National Bank of Santa Clara (DINB) to safeguard insured depositors. The closure marks the second-largest bank failure in US history, following the 2008 collapse of Washington Mutual Bank.

Customers with accounts in excess of $250,000 should contact the FDIC toll-free at 1-866-799-0959. As of closing time, the amount of uninsured deposits was undetermined, but the FDIC will provide an advance dividend to uninsured depositors within the next week, and a receivership certificate for the remaining amount of their uninsured funds.

Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D), who represents Paso Robles and Monterey areas, expressed concern about the bank's failure and urged the FDIC to provide clear updates to customers, both insured and uninsured. Panetta also hopes that a sale can be arranged to keep all depositors whole. The cause of the bank's failure is still unknown.

San Luis Obispo groups get state grant for climate messaging

The Diversity Coalition of SLO County, R.A.C.E. Matters, the Central Coast Coalition for Undocumented Student Success, and Brooklyn-based tech company BlocPower have received $340,000 from TECH Clean California, a state program funded by California gas ratepayers, to improve the equity of messaging around climate action. 

The goal is to develop "targeted and inclusive marketing and educational materials for equitable electrification." 

The grant partners plan to go directly into underserved communities of SLO County to test out different types of messaging about climate action that can cut through industry-specific jargon and connect with the people. 

The outreach events will focus on climate topics that range from simple tips to lower utility bills to why heat pumps and inductive stoves are more economical and environmentally friendly.

State Senator John Laird announces re-election campaign

State Senator John Laird, representing the 17th District, which includes Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz counties, and much of San Luis Obispo County, has announced the launch of his re-election campaign for 2024. 

Laird has secured tens of millions of dollars for important priorities and investments throughout the Central Coast, as well as making progress on climate change, education, and housing, among other legislative highlights. 

In his first term in the State Senate, he sent 29 bills to Governor Newsom's desk that were signed into law. 

Laird, a long-time resident of Santa Cruz, will be running as a Democrat in the primary election on March 5, 2024.

Central Coast highway projects reach $1 billion

Caltrans has achieved a historic milestone with over $1 billion worth of active construction in 83 projects in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz counties. 

These projects aim to improve the infrastructure for all travelers, including those on foot, bicycle, bus, or automobile on the Central Coast. Many are complete or in-progress.

Notable projects include a $116 million plan to widen Highway 46 East to the Shandon Roadside Rest Area, a $96 million project to construct the first-ever carpool lanes in Santa Barbara County on Highway 101, and a $78 million project to rehabilitate pavement on six miles of Highway 101 and retrofit and widen the Salinas River Bridge near King City. 

Other projects include the construction of a roundabout in San Benito County and a wildlife undercrossing in Santa Cruz County.

Here are more details:

Valenzuela leads Oxnard special election results

Arthur Valenzuela Jr. is currently in the lead for the District 6 seat on the Oxnard City Council with 364 votes, followed by Michaela Perez with 351 votes and Francine Castanon with 22%. 

The initial results released on Tuesday night were based on 952 counted ballots, out of more than 12,000 registered voters in the district. 

There are about 400 unprocessed drop-box and mail-in ballots that the Ventura County Elections Division is waiting for. More results will be released on Thursday at noon and every Thursday until the outcome is certified on March 22. 

The winner will replace Ventura County Supervisor Vianey Lopez on the panel, with a four-year term ending in 2024.

Oxnard teacher named National Bilingual Teacher of the Year

Sonia Aguila, an Oxnard resident and second-grade teacher at Canalino Elementary School in Carpinteria, has been named the 2023 National Bilingual Teacher of the Year at the National Association for Bilingual Educators' annual conference. 

Aguila, who was also named the 2022 California Bilingual Teacher of the Year, believes that being bilingual is a superpower. 

She struggled initially to adapt to life in the US after moving to Mexico with her family at the age of 5, but her native Spanish now helps her to connect well with her students in a dual-language immersion class. 

Aguila is also an education columnist and children's radio show host. Source: Ventura County Star

City of Ventura lowers pension debt with $10.5 million payment

The City of Ventura has allocated $10.5 million from its general fund for a one-time payment to lower its pension debt. 

This payment will save $2.2 million in fiscal year 2024 and will be used to fund City Council initiatives and priorities. The unfunded liability for Ventura's 1,722 employees and retirees, managed by the California Public Employees’ Retirement System, is $190.2 million. 

Ventura's two plans with CalPERS, the safety plan, and the miscellaneous plan, have unfunded liabilities of $137.4 million and $52.8 million, respectively. 

The one-time payment was approved by the City Council in October 2022, and David Grau, president of the Ventura County Taxpayers Association, approves of the decision.

Santa Barbara City Council starts budget talks

The Santa Barbara City Council will convene a special meeting today for a budget work session to discuss the fiscal years 2024 and 2025. 

The council will receive a presentation from staff and provide guidance on how to proceed. The meeting is part of the Fiscal Sustainability Initiative, which aims to address major fiscal and budgetary challenges and ensure the city meets the needs of its community. 

City Administrator Rebecca Bjork will present her recommended budget for the next two fiscal years in late April. 

The budget work session is intended to provide an overview of the city's finances, recent initiatives, revenue trends, projected costs, and a long-term forecast.

Governor's budget proposal cuts funds protecting coast

California Governor Gavin Newsom's proposed climate budget would cut $561 million from local coastal resilience projects, a reduction of 43% compared to 2021 and 2022, potentially leaving vulnerable beaches, homes, and infrastructure unprotected against rising sea levels and climate change. 

The cuts form part of Newsom's proposed $6 billion reduction in the state's climate change programs due to a projected $22.5 billion statewide deficit. However, critics, including lawmakers and environmentalists, argue that the proposed cuts could have far-reaching implications and jeopardize efforts to address climate change. 

California revenue lower than expected

California's revenues are lower than expected, with February's personal and corporate income taxes falling $1.2 billion below the administration's January budget projection. 

This is due to factors such as large corporate tax refunds costing $796 million more than projected and layoffs in the tech and finance sectors. Policymakers may need to consider dipping into reserves or raising revenues, including trimming corporate tax breaks, to balance the budget. 

However, working with uncertain numbers due to tax filing deadline extensions could complicate the budgeting process. Scott Graves, director of research at the California Budget Center, warns of potential corrections down the road. Source CalMatters

Solvang rejects pride banners

The Solvang City Council voted 3-2 to reject an application to install Pride banners marking Pride Month in June and temporary rainbow-themed crosswalks. Mayor Mark Infanti and Councilmen David Brown and Robert Clarke voted to deny the request, citing concerns that it would favor one business and may not promote acceptance. 

Councilwomen Elizabeth Orona and Claudia Orona voted against the denial. The proposed banners and crosswalks were submitted by local business owner Kiel Cavalli, who owns a toy and bookstore with his husband and founded The Rainbow House, a nonprofit organization for the LGBTQIA community. 

Opponents of the proposal argued that it would dilute the city's Danish brand and potentially confuse visitors. Some supporters noted Denmark's leadership in LGBTQ rights and encouraged the council to keep up with that heritage. 

The city's policy on banners prohibits those for political or religious purposes or for private financial gain that doesn't promote tourism, while staff said that rainbow-themed crosswalks could be considered public art and would need to still function as crosswalks.

SLO County ranks as the 19th most expensive county in California

A recent report by bill management service Doxo reveals that household bills in San Luis Obispo County are 33.1% higher than the national average. 

The average SLO County household pays $2,724 per month in bills, with rent, mortgages, auto loans, utilities, auto insurance, cable and satellite, health insurance, mobile phones, life insurance, alarm and security included in the data set. SLO County ranks as the 19th most expensive county in California, with bills accounting for 42 percent of an average annual household income of $77,850. 

OP-ED: Dan Dow gets an extra 2 years in office

OP-ED ~ California's Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 759 last fall, which extends the terms of elected sheriffs and district attorneys by two years, thereby delaying elections for two years until 2028 for San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow and Sheriff Ian Parkinson. 

The law aims to increase voter participation in countywide elections and was co-authored by Assemblymember Kevin McCarty. Many California sheriffs are unhappy with the law, as it could lead to progressive sheriffs and DAs being elected due to higher Democratic turnout in presidential elections. 

SLO County voters are divided over Dow's re-election, with some believing he has provided sufficient reasons for a challenge, while others think that recruiting a qualified and reform-minded candidate to run against him in 2028 could be a challenge. 

Ventura County neighborhood gets tough on crime

Morrison Ranch Estates residents in Agoura Hills are taking action to combat a recent crime wave that has affected the community. 

A cul-de-sac summit on Meadowmist Way was organized by resident Shelley MacEwen to address safety concerns, such as protecting people and property, Los Angeles County Sheriff response procedures, and the use of license plate readers to thwart crime. 

Morrison Ranch has seen a dozen burglaries over the past few months, prompting the community to launch a more aggressive neighborhood patrol system. The homeowners' association has been criticized for a tepid response to residents' safety concerns, such as the installation of automatic license plate readers. 

Paso Robles mayor absent for health issue

Paso Robles Mayor Steve Martin is taking time off from community matters to focus on his health and treatment, according to city officials. 

Martin has missed two council meetings recently due to a serious health concern that has not been disclosed. The mayor has received a favorable prognosis and hopes to only continue to miss council meetings through early spring. 

The city has asked for compassion, dignity, and respect for Martin's privacy while he is away. Mayor Pro-tempore John Hamon will fill in for Martin during his absence. Source: CalCoast News

Santa Barbara Realtors offers financial assistance to affected households

The Santa Barbara Association of REALTORS® has partnered with the REALTORS® Relief Foundation to provide financial assistance up to $3,000 to Santa Barbara County residents who were impacted by the January 2023 storms. 

The relief program is available to residents who faced displacement or whose homes were damaged or destroyed. 

The assistance is provided to cover the monthly mortgage expense for the primary residence that was damaged, rental cost due to displacement resulting from the disaster, or hotel reimbursement due to displacement resulting from the disaster. 

Kenneth Enney runs for Paso Robles school board

Kenneth Enney, a candidate for the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District trustee, launched his campaign with a drive-through barbecue chicken fundraiser on February 25th. 

Despite cold and rainy weather, the event saw a large turnout, and the fundraiser sold out in an hour. Enney's campaign manager, Michael Rivera, said that Enney's platform of standards, accountability, and leadership has appealed to a wide range of voters, and Enney will ensure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely. 

Enney is running against Angela Hollander in a special election scheduled for April 18th. Vote-by-mail ballots will be sent out on March 19th. Source: Paso Robles Daily News

Atascadero city manager retires

Rachelle Rickard, City Manager of Atascadero, has announced her retirement after serving for 26 years, with the last ten years as City Manager. 

Rickard's retirement will take place in July of this year. During her tenure, Rickard led various projects and initiatives, including rehabilitating the Atascadero Historic City Hall, introducing a Comprehensive Financial Plan, securing voter-approved funding for critical City service needs, and obtaining over $32 million of federal and state grants for the City. 

The City will begin recruitment for Rickard's replacement in the coming weeks. Mayor Heather Moreno praised Rickard's leadership, work ethic, and professionalism. Rickard plans to spend time with her family and travel during her retirement.

Californians facing single-source electric dependency

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is pushing for a ban on the sale of gasoline and hybrid vehicles effective in 2035, as well as a ban on new purchases of natural gas-powered water heaters and space heaters effective in 2030. 

However, David Henderson argues in an article that CARB's push towards electricity is gradually reducing diversity in energy usage, making Californians more vulnerable to power outages. 

Henderson shares his own experiences with power outages, which occurred 6 times between December 10 and the present day, and a friend's experience of being trapped in his apartment due to the lack of power. 

He argues that the state government's plan will lead to "electricity hell" for millions of Californians. Source: Econlib

New District Attorney gets $500,000 to study charges against people of color

Santa Barbara County's new District Attorney, John Savrnoch, has been granted $500,000 to hire a data analytics consultant to determine whether county prosecutors were filing stiffer charges and securing tougher sentences against people of color. 

The money was approved by county supervisors, who praised Savrnoch's "refreshingly open and collaborative approach." Public Defender Tracy Macuga, who had previously led the fight against the funding, expressed misgivings about the chosen consultant, George D'Angelo of Sicuro Data Analytics. 

REPORT: Randy Rowse defends response to tourist murder, says he'll run again for mayor

Santa Barbara Mayor Randy Rowse has defended the city's response to the murder of a tourist in an alleged gang shoot-out at the Wharf, stating that the police investigation leading to arrests was "careful, precise, and sensitive to the victim's family". 

Responding to criticism that he and the police department were not transparent enough after the fatal shooting of Rob Gutierrez, Rowse shrugged off the suggestion that he should have taken a high-profile public stance in the case. Rowse also praised the city and the police department for doing a "good job of being vigilant and staying on top of" gang activity, although some have criticized the department's statement that "we do not have a gang problem" in Santa Barbara. 

Rowse also addressed key issues facing the city, including the interim plan for State Street, the redevelopment of Paseo Nuevo, housing at La Cumbre Plaza, homelessness, and the future of De La Guerra Plaza, while confirming that he intends to run for re-election as mayor.

Additional: 

• He offered a hint of a possible breakthrough in the stalled process of revamping Paseo Nuevo.
• Rowse also chided Supervisor Das Williams for allegedly blocking the city from obtaining a $1.2 million grant to design and adopt a comprehensive plan for housing at La Cumbre Plaza.

Source: Edhat Santa Barbara

Rep. Adam Schiff makes Senate campaign stop in Santa Barbara

Congressmember Adam Schiff, campaigning for the US Senate in Santa Barbara, discussed his three focal issues, which included “dangers to our democracy,” the US economy, and the environment. 

He also addressed the January 6 Capitol riot, Trump’s presidency, and his time on the January 6 committee. Schiff criticized Fox News for being a big propagator of the Big Lie and spoke of his conversation with someone who served on a board with Rupert Murdoch about Tucker Carlson’s support of Russia, and said that attacking Fox required boycotting them. 

Schiff also criticized House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s decision to authorize Tucker Carlson’s staff to view the January 6 Capitol surveillance footage, expressing concern about Capitol Police and member safety.

Additional points: 

• County Supervisor Das Williams urged Schiff to fight climate change, and called out other regional representatives in attendance at the event.

Source: Santa Barbara Independent

Santa Barbara rents rose 9% in 2022

Rents in Santa Barbara, California increased by 9% in 2022, according to the annual report by Hayes Commercial Group, as apartment vacancies fell to 1.7%. 

Tenant rights activists addressed the Santa Barbara City Council to protest "renovictions," whereby landlords evict tenants to make property improvements. These "mass evictions" frequently occur under the guise of renovations, de-regulate rent and resell, said Stanley Tzankov, co-founder of the Santa Barbara Tenants Union. 

He argued that "renovictions" are the only legal method to evict tenants in large multifamily apartments. Furthermore, apartment sales in the South Coast area are flourishing, with $141m spent in 2022, the largest total since 2015.

Navy veteran appointed general services director in Santa Barbara County

Kirk Lagerquist, a retired US Navy Civil Engineer Corps veteran, has been appointed as the new general services director for Santa Barbara County, replacing Janette Pell. 

Lagerquist has 27 years of experience in executive leadership, public project, and program management. During his career, he served as the military equivalent of a public works director at large and small Navy installations, including Naval Station Pearl Harbor, where he led 41 military personnel and 575 civilians in the execution of facilities maintenance, repair, and construction. 

Native Americans tell Biden to halt offshore wind

The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) has adopted a resolution calling on the Biden Administration to halt all permitting and scoping for offshore wind projects until a comprehensive procedure is in place to protect tribal interests. 

The resolution demands that Tribal Nations be included in the management, permitting, and development of power purchase agreements and consulted in determining the terms and conditions of the agreements. The NCAI also demands that fair compensation is negotiated for the use of their lands and resources and that the development does not harm their environment or cultural heritage. 

The Biden Administration has set a goal for the US to reach 100 percent carbon pollution-free electricity by 2035, with offshore wind being one of the key pillars of this plan. 

However, this call by Native Americans may impact the progress of offshore wind development until a comprehensive procedure to protect tribal interests is established.