July 8, 2025
For Immediate Release: July 8, 2025
Contact: Melissa Figueroa, melissa@syaslpartners.com
Coalition Emphasized Cap & Trade Reauthorization Must Focus on Infrastructure
(Sacramento, CA) – Leaders from a coalition of California business, labor, local government and transit agencies joined forces at the State Capitol Tuesday morning to urge the State Legislature and the Newsom Administration to prioritize climate-safe infrastructure improvements during the upcoming Cap & Trade reauthorization negotiations this summer.
Leaders of the Climate Safe Infrastructure Coalition were joined by dozens of construction workers to emphasize the importance of directing Cap & Trade funding toward proven investments in both physical and natural infrastructure. These investments will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance safety and climate change resiliency; and support middle-class jobs statewide.
“Our coalition is rallying behind diverse investments in climate infrastructure that will make us safer, reduce pollution and emissions and support tens of thousands of family supporting middle class jobs,” said California Alliance for Jobs Executive Director Michael Quigley.
“Investments in public transit made to date under the Cap & Trade program have helped deliver more than 245 transformative transit programs statewide, this is the equivalent of taking 5.3 million gas powered cars off the road annually,” said California Transit Association Executive Director Michael Pimentel. “We must hold the line on this level of investment – or expand it – if we want to make true progress on climate change.”
“Cap & Trade funding powers our communities,” said League of California Cities Executive Director and CEO Carolyn Coleman. “It helps our cities meet the state’s climate goals, strengthens our economy, and accelerates the production of affordable housing.”
“California continues to face extreme challenges when it comes to housing,” said California Building Industry Association CEO Dan Dunmoyer. “Between the climate crisis fueling costly, destructive wildfires, to a severe housing shortage, too many Californians still struggle to achieve the promise of the California and American dream. Through Cap & Trade investments, we have an opportunity to address these problems by advancing more attainable housing and the transportation infrastructure needed to support it. Together, we can make it happen.”
“This monumental investment is putting people to work, improving the transportation infrastructure that we rely on every day. Every person, family and community – including disadvantaged communities – benefits from climate safe infrastructure. We urge the Governor and the Legislature to prioritize this investment,” said United Contractors Director of Government Relations, Gus Flores.
Following the rally, members of the coalition spent time in the State Capitol meeting with legislative leaders, members and their staff to further discuss the priorities of the coalition in hopes of working collaboratively to get a comprehensive reauthorization plan done this year.
View the press conference recording on YouTube.
The Climate Safe Infrastructure Coalition is comprised of over 20 organizations statewide. For more information, visit ClimateSafeInfrastructureCA.com.