For Immediate Release
Contact: pubaffairs@wwd.ca.gov
(559) 241-6233
Westlands Water District Endorses Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act
Fresno, CA – Westlands Water District today announced its support for the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026, comprehensive permitting reform legislation released by Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Mike Lee (R-UT), and Martin Heinrich (D-NM). The bill would modernize federal environmental review, set firm timelines for agency decisions and Endangered Species Act consultations, streamline transmission planning, and protect lawfully issued permits from being overturned or retroactively changed.
“Westlands supports commonsense reforms that bring greater predictability to the federal permitting process,” said Allison Febbo, General Manager, Westlands Water District. “Water and energy infrastructure projects in the Central Valley too often face years of delay from overlapping reviews, open-ended consultation timelines, and litigation that can unwind a permit long after it has been issued. The Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act addresses these challenges by establishing clear deadlines for environmental review and Endangered Species Act consultation, modernizing transmission planning, and providing certainty once a permit is issued. “
Provisions of the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of particular importance to Westlands include:
- Shortened statutory timelines for Endangered Species Act Section 7 consultations, with consultations required to conclude no later than the applicable NEPA document.
- Exclusion from NEPA review for the repair, reconstruction, and replacement of existing critical infrastructure, including water projects.
- A 150-day statute of limitations for challenges to federal permits and biological opinions, and limits on courts vacating permits absent imminent and substantial danger.
- Required regional and interregional transmission planning with cost allocation tied to measurable reliability and affordability benefits, so that customers who do not benefit do not pay.
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About Westlands Water District
Westlands Water District is recognized as a world leader in agricultural water conservation and has served the farmers and rural communities on the west side of Fresno and Kings counties for more than seven decades. As stewards of one of California’s most precious natural resources, Westlands continually invests in conservation and champions farmers deploying innovative irrigation methods based on the best available technology.