Select Committee on Permitting Reform Puts Spotlight On Climate Resilience at Bay Tour and Hearing

SAN FRANCISCO – The Select Committee on Permitting Reform, chaired by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (AD-14), convened a hearing Wednesday on ‘Permitting Reform to Facilitate Climate Resiliency’ in San Francisco. Committee members conducted a tour of sea-level rise projects that exemplify the progress and challenges California faces in deploying infrastructure projects that mitigate climate impacts.

"Permitting can take decades in California, and as a parent, this is what keeps me up at night," said Assemblymember Wicks. "The testimony at the hearing underscored the critical and urgent need to modernize our permitting processes. We simply are not adequately adjusting to climate realities. We need to get better at building infrastructure, and make it easy to get to ‘yes’."

Stakeholders representing a range of viewpoints weighed in at the hearing to discuss how permitting bottlenecks impact the state’s ability to execute essential climate projects. The first panel, which addressed sea-level rise and flood preparedness, highlighted the risks to California's coastal infrastructure and the urgent need to expedite permitting for flood barriers, seawalls and wetland restoration projects.

"Sea level rise will increase the frequency and severity of flooding events,” said Liz Whiteman, Executive Director of California Ocean Science Trust. “The current hundred-year high tide will be the annual high tide by 2050, and the daily high tide by 2100.”

Added Len Materman, Chief Executive Officer of OneShoreline, “Climate change is not waiting for a permit. Permits should recognize the value of projects that promote resiliency and rebuild habitat. Regulatory clocks should not be paused or reset."

The second panel examined drought preparedness, with experts noting the growing challenges faced by the state in securing water resources. Panelists called for streamlined permitting to accelerate water infrastructure projects that address drought resilience.

"Permitting fees have increased 1800%... Streambed alteration permits take years and are required every year. This is something that should be changed legislatively,” said Sarah Woolf, President of Water Wise, a water management company for farmers in the central San Joaquin Valley.

The final panel focused on decarbonization efforts, showcasing innovative technologies like carbon capture and storage.

"We need tens of these [carbon capture] projects, which will take years, said Caspar Donnison, Energy Systems Postdoctoral Researcher at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. “The challenge is getting permits through. There is a sense of urgency for agencies to review applications more quickly."

The ferry tour featured stops at key sites vulnerable to sea-level rise, including Heron’s Head Park, Pier 70 and Potrero Park, where attendees viewed ongoing seawall projects and other mitigation efforts.

The hearing on climate resilience is part of the Select Committee’s broader effort to explore permitting reform across key sectors, including housing, clean energy and transportation. In collaboration with the Bay Area Council Economic Institute, the Committee is conducting a comprehensive study on the cost of inaction and impact of permitting delays on critical projects.

"Climate change will not wait for government processes to catch up," added Wicks. "We need to move faster and smarter, ensuring that our permitting system is not an obstacle but a benefit in building a resilient future for all Californians."

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About Assemblymember Buffy Wicks:

Assemblymember Buffy Wicks represents California’s 14th Assembly District, which includes all or portions of the cities of Oakland, Richmond, Berkeley, Albany, El Cerrito, San Pablo, Pinole, El Sobrante, Hercules, Rodeo, Kensington, and Piedmont. You can learn more about Assemblymember Wicks athttp://a14.asmdc.org.

About the Select Committee on Permitting Reform:
The Select Committee on Permitting Reform is dedicated to addressing and resolving California’s systemic permitting issues. By fostering bipartisan collaboration and engaging diverse stakeholders, the Committee aims to streamline regulatory frameworks to support the state's goals in housing, clean energy and climate resilience. Through these efforts, the Committee seeks to create a more efficient and equitable system that facilitates the development of critical projects while preserving the health of our environment and the wellbeing of California's residents.