SACRAMENTO, CA — Today, the Senate Committee on Environmental Quality advanced SB 318, a bill aimed at improving air quality in California. SB 318 modernizes the state’s air permitting processes to ensure industrial facilities adopt the cleanest and most advanced technologies available to reduce air pollution and toxic air contaminants, which hurt public health.
By streamlining regulatory processes and updating outdated policies, SB 318 will cut air pollution, improve public health, and accelerate the deployment of cleaner technologies—particularly in communities suffering from the worst air quality.
“California has long been a leader in environmental protection, but our air permitting system is stuck in the past, assuming that burning fossil fuels is the only way to power our economy,” said Senator Josh Becker (D-Menlo Park). “With SB 318, we are replacing outdated policies with a modern framework that prioritizes clean technology, reduces air pollution, and delivers real health benefits to communities that need them most.”
"We are excited that SB 318 will continue to progress in the legislative process, said Asha Sharma, State Policy Manager for Leadership Council Action. "We look forward to working with the author and other stakeholders to address cumulative impacts in the most polluted communities in the state”
Under current law, major industrial facilities in California must obtain air permits that require the use of the best available technology to control pollution. However, these permitting processes are built on decades-old assumptions—mainly that facilities will always burn fossil fuels. As a result, many clean technologies are ignored or automatically rejected, preventing industries from adopting zero-emission solutions that could eliminate pollution entirely.
SB 318 removes these roadblocks by:
- Ensuring clean technologies are fully considered in the air permitting process, rather than being excluded due to outdated definitions;
- Updating the Air Resources Board’s (ARB) technology programs to assess and identify the best available pollution-cutting solutions;
- Streamlining the permitting process by fast-tracking approvals for facilities that adopt pre-certified clean technologies; and
- Enhancing transparency and public oversight of major polluting facilities, ensuring that communities can challenge projects that increase emissions in disadvantaged areas.
SB 318 will improve air quality across the state—especially in communities suffering from high pollution levels. It is supported by a large and diverse coalition of environmental organizations. It will be heard next in the Senate Committee on Appropriations in the coming weeks.