Group takes issue with Newsom’s record

CALIFORNIA

Environmentalists are attacking the governor in ads in four presidential battleground states

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Gavin Newsom visits Davis Ranches in Colusa County on Dec. 10, where he spoke about some of the state’s major water projects such as the Sites Reservoir and the Delta Conveyance tunnel project.

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By Lia Russell

The Sacramento Bee

SACRAMENTO >> An environmental group is taking aim at Gov. Gavin Newsom’s national ambitions by running a series of attack ads in four battleground presidential states to force him to speed the closure of the Aliso Canyon Natural Gas Storage Facility in Los Angeles.

Food and Water Action, the lobbyist arm of the nonprofit Food and Water Watch, said Monday it had spent over $100,000 to air ads in Nevada, South Carolina, New Hampshire and Michigan questioning Newsom’s environmental record. The group’s political action committee has donated to Democratic politicians like Vice President Kamala Harris and former U.S. Rep. Jamal Bowman, according to Federal Election Commission filings.

Shortly after taking office, the governor asked to expedite the closure of Aliso Canyon, which in 2015 was the site of the U.S.’s largest natural gas leak. The state’s public utility regulator is set to vote later this week whether to scale back or close the facility.

“Americans are looking for leadership to resist Trump’s assault on our climate,” the ad says. “Governor Newsom promised to shut down Aliso Canyon. ... But his public utilities commission is considering keeping it open indefinitely — just like the oil and gas industry wants. Climate leadership? We’re looking for it.”Newsom called a special legislative session last month to bolster California’s legal defenses against incoming president Donald Trump, who has pledged to roll back many of the state’s climate rules.

The California Public Utilities Commission, which voted to expand the facility’s capacity by two-thirds last year, is set to vote Thursday on whether to scale back capacity or close the facility altogether if demand for natural gas tapers off. Aliso Canyon’s operator’s parent company, Sempra Energy, was the top donor to California campaigns last year.

“No governor has done more to accelerate our transition to clean and renewable energy, but it would be irresponsible to close Aliso Canyon before demand for natural gas declines,” said Newsom spokesperson Daniel Villasenor. “The governor wants to see Aliso Canyon phased out, but not at the cost of enormous price increases for working families and our ability to keep the lights on.”

Newsom, who is termed out and cannot run again in 2026, is widely believed to be considering a national campaign in 2028. South Carolina, Nevada, Michigan and New Hampshire are considered key states that can influence the outcome of presidential elections.

Newsom’s environmental record has taken a hit in recent years despite championing ambitious plans to scale back California’s reliance on fossil fuels.

Earlier this year, he earned a “B-” grade from California Environmental Voters, his lowest since taking office. The scorecard is based on policy decisions. The group said he earned that lower grade partly because of the CPUC’s expansion of Aliso Canyon, and for hammering out an infrastructure deal with the Legislature that weakened environmental protections.