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By Adam Beam and Tran Nguyen

The Associated Press

SACRAMENTO, Calif. 鈥� California Gov. Gavin Newsom has pledged to fast-track hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of construction projects throughout the state, including two large water-related ones that have languished for years amid permitting delays and opposition from environmental groups.

For the past decade, California officials have pursued the water projects in the drought-prone state. One calls for construction of聽a giant tunnel聽to carry large amounts of water beneath the natural channels of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to drier and more populous Southern California.

The other project would be construction of a聽massive new reservoir聽near the tiny community of Sites in Northern California. The facility could store more water during deluges 鈥� like the series of atmospheric rivers that hit the state earlier this year 鈥� for delivery to farmers.

But neither project has been built, despite promises from multiple governors and legislative leaders. Environmental groups have sued to block the tunnel project, arguing it would decimate threatened species of fish, including salmon and the Delta smelt. The Sites reservoir project team is still trying to acquire necessary permits to begin construction.

Newsom is seeking a slew of changes to make it much faster for these projects to gain required permits and approvals. Other projects that could be eligible include solar, wind and battery power storage; transit and regional rail; road maintenance and bridges; semiconductor plants; and wildlife crossings along Interstate 15, Newsom’s office said. His efforts to accelerate projects would not apply to housing.

One key proposal would limit the amount of time it takes to resolve environmental lawsuits to about nine months. Newsom said his administration is 鈥渘ot looking to roll over anybody,鈥� including what he called the 鈥渇ierce champions鈥� of environmental stewardship.

鈥淚 mean, nine months, you can have a kid, OK? I mean, that’s a long time,鈥� Newsom said May 19 while visiting the site of a future solar farm in Stanislaus County.

But some environmental groups were furious. Newsom 鈥渨ants to do away with standard environmental protections to build the Delta tunnel,鈥� said Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, executive director of advocacy group Restore the Delta.

鈥淲e have never been more disappointed in a California governor than we are with Governor Newsom,鈥� she said. 鈥淗ow is perpetuating environmental injustice, which harms public and environmental health, really any different than red state governors perpetuating social injustice in their states, which Governor Newsom likes to criticize vigorously?鈥�

California has hundreds of billions of dollars to spend on infrastructure projects over the next decade, Newsom says, from voter-approved bonds, bountiful budget surpluses during the pandemic and an influx of cash from聽the federal infrastructure bill.

But the state is often too slow to approve those projects and federal money is 鈥済oing to other states that are moving more aggressively,鈥� he said. His proposals could shorten projects’ duration by more than three years, he added.

The legislation would allow various state agencies, including the transportation department, to approve projects and issue permits more quickly, according to Newsom’s office. Earlier this month he signed an executive order creating what he called an 鈥渋nfrastructure strike team鈥� to identify fast-track projects.

Jerry Brown, executive director of the Sites Project Authority that is overseeing the new reservoir, said he thinks Newsom’s proposals could allow construction to start a year early and reduce costs by about $100 million.

鈥淭hat saves a lot of money and gets a lot of jobs in the pipeline,鈥� he said.

Newsom wants the legislation to be part of the state’s budget, which must be passed by June 30. That means, if approved, it could take effect sooner and would require only a majority vote of the Democrat-controlled Legislature.

Toni Atkins, a Democrat from San Diego and the leader of the state Senate, said 鈥渢he climate crisis requires that we move faster to build and strengthen critical infrastructure,鈥� and that lawmakers will 鈥渆nsure we can do so responsibly, and in line with California’s commitment to high-road jobs and environmental protection.鈥�

Some Republicans cheered Newsom’s proposal, with Republican Senate Leader Brian Jones saying the governor 鈥渋s finally taking action.鈥� Others were more skeptical, with Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher saying Democrats in the Legislature are the biggest obstacle to Newsom’s proposals.

鈥淕avin Newsom loves to brag that he can 鈥榡am’ Democratic lawmakers; let’s see it,鈥� Gallagher said. 鈥淩epublicans are ready to work with him towards real reforms.鈥�