SACRAMENTO, California — The California Senate will not take up an Assembly bill that sought to speed up a state agency’s decision on whether to allow more ethanol in California fuel.
California Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire confirmed Monday that the Senate Special Committee on Fuel Supply and Price Spikes won’t take up Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris’ A.B.X. 2-9 during the special legislative session. The bill, which the Assembly passed unanimously last week, would require the California Air Resources Board to speed up its review of a 15 percent ethanol blend, up from 10 percent today.
“While the goals of this legislation are laudable, and we’re grateful to the Assemblymember’s leadership, a more thorough analysis and additional work is needed on the proposal,” McGuire said in a statement.
McGuire said in the statement that the Senate was “ready to move quickly this week” on A.B.X. 2-1, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposal to give the state authority to require oil refiners to store more gas to try to prevent price spikes. He said the Senate would continue to look at Petrie-Norris’ proposal for consideration during regular legislative proceedings.
