Consumer, Environmental Advocates Call for Cost-Benefit Analysis of Peripheral Canal/Tunnel Despite AB 2421 Defeat

For Immediate Release: Friday, May 25, 2012
Contact: Steve Hopcraft 916/457-5546 steve@hopcraft.com; Twitter: @shopcraft;
Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla barbara@restorethedelta.org; 209/479-2053; Twitter:
@RestoretheDelta

Consumer, Environmental Advocates Call for Cost-Benefit
Analysis of Peripheral Canal/Tunnel Despite AB 2421 Defeat
How Much Would Water Rates Rise? Who Benefits?

Sacramento, CA – Consumer and environmental advocates responded to the failure of the Assembly Appropriations Committee to pass AB 2421 today, calling for an independent cost-benefit analysis before committing the public to pay tens of billions of dollars to build a peripheral canal or tunnel to divert the Sacramento river. “Urban water users would pay billions of dollars for a massive Peripheral Canal or Tunnel. Those who’ll pay deserve to know the cost and how ratepayers would benefit,” said Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, Executive Director of Restore the Delta. “We will continue to pursue this important taxpayer and consumer safeguard.”

Adam Scow, California Campaigns Director of Food & Water Watch, said, “The Assembly Appropriations Committee’s failure to pass AB 2421 to require a basic cost-benefit analysis of the peripheral canal demonstrates the power of Corporate Agriculture over our State representatives. The peripheral canal, estimated to cost between $14 and $30 billion, will allow Westlands Water District and the Kern County Water Agency to grab more water at the expense of California taxpayers and the environment. It is incumbent upon the people of California to put an end to this wasteful and unnecessary canal, as they did 30 years ago in June of 1982.”

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