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Utilities, industry and environmental groups clash over CARB’s Cap and Invest draft amid concern over rates and ambition

Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies (California State Assembly and Senate) · February 23, 2026
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Summary

Public commenters and panelists at the joint hearing disagreed on CARB’s draft: utilities and POUs warned of lost allowances and rate shocks, industry urged caution on leakage risk and competitiveness, while environmental and community groups pushed for tighter near-term caps and faster transition of the climate credit to electricity.

Public comments and expert testimony at the Feb. 25 joint legislative hearing showed sharp differences over CARB’s proposed Cap and Invest amendments.

Public power representatives and municipal utilities said the draft reduces allowances for publicly owned utilities (POUs) in the near term and erodes long-term certainty that underpinned earlier decarbonization investments. Natalie Seitzman, government affairs manager for the Southern California Public Power Authority, said SCAPA members ‘‘stand to lose 9,000,000 allowances from 2027 through 2030,’’ and that shifting allowances midstream threatens infrastructure planning and could lead to higher rates for customers.

Industry trade…

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