Sen. McNerney Questions Newsom Administration on Delta Tunnel Fast-Tracking

State Sen. Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, on May 21 questioned Newsom administration officials during a Senate hearing on the viability of their proposal to fast-track the costly and destructive Delta Tunnel Project via the state budget. 

The 45-mile-long water tunnel is estimated to cost at least $20 billion and take 15 years to construct and would destroy thousands of acres of prime farmland in the fragile Delta, along with historic Delta resources. The project also would be extremely costly to California ratepayers who are already overburdened by skyrocketing utility costs.