(TNS) — California energy, particularly Kern County’s central role in it, wasn’t the legislative priority this session that it was last year in Sacramento (apparently healthcare and the state budget required attention). But powering the Golden State was on lawmakers’ minds nonetheless.
This week Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law five bills aimed at easing California’s transition to clean energy, such as by speeding construction of transmission lines that could allow construction of more renewable energy projects in Kern.
While none of the five accomplished anything as locally impactful as last year’s Senate Bill 237, which gave the county environmental clearance to issue its own oil permits, each has the potential to affect local residents’ utility bills…