(April 17, 2023) The California Chamber of Commerce has added AB 9 (Muratsuchi; D-Torrance), a bill that would require statewide greenhouse gas emissions to be reduced to at least 55% below the 1990 level by December 31, 2030, to the 2023 job killer list.

The bill is similar to SB 12 (Stern; D-Canoga Park) that is already on CalChamber’s job killer list.

More than 20 organizations have signed a letter sent to members of the Assembly Natural Resources Committee today in opposition to the measure. More groups are expected to join the growing coalition before the bill is heard in committee on April 24, 2023.

“California businesses and residents suffer from an affordability crisis, created in large part by the state’s escalating energy costs,” said Brady Van Engelen, a CalChamber policy advocate. “California has some of the highest commercial and industrial electricity rates and highest gasoline and diesel prices in the country. We remain supportive of technologically neutral solutions that can help us achieve our shared objectives, but it is necessary to balance that with our ability to compete economically, and to understand how these ambitious goals impact the pocketbooks of California residents.”

According to the coalition, the proposal is the wrong approach to take.

“As we transition to a cleaner energy future, it is imperative that we fully understand the impacts that a transition will have on every sector of our economy,” said Van Engelen.  “AB 9, similar to SB 12, will lead to excessive costs and hurt California residents and businesses, and do damage to the state’s economy.”

A copy of the coalition letter can be found here.