A group of Silicon Valley billionaires is lobbying California officials to fast-track approvals for a massive new city project, known as California Forever, by reducing environmental reviews and potentially sidestepping local voter restrictions. The development group is seeking legislative changes that would allow it to use an 18-year-old environmental impact report for a proposed shipyard and manufacturing hub, limit legal challenges to 270 days, and enable neighboring Suisun City to annex the land if local governments do not act quickly.
Supporters of the legislative push argue these changes are crucial to securing a deal with defense company Saronic Technologies, which is considering a manufacturing facility in California or Texas. In a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers, proponents warned that without legislative action, California could lose billions in investment and tens of thousands of jobs this summer to other states, particularly Texas.
The group has enlisted former Democratic lawmakers Darrell Steinberg and Bob Hertzberg, who were involved in crafting California's environmental laws, to advocate for the proposed legislation in Sacramento. Supporters contend that the project could eventually generate an estimated 500,000 jobs across the state.
California Forever has been attempting for nearly a decade to develop farmland in Solano County into a new city. Initially conceived as a walkable community with amenities like a water park, the vision has evolved to include a significant shipyard and manufacturing center. However, the project has faced considerable local opposition.
Critics argue that the current strategy is an attempt to circumvent years of organized resistance rather than a genuine effort at economic development. State Sen. Christopher Cabaldon, whose district includes the project, has stated that a development of this magnitude warrants a full environmental review process, raising concerns about the potential consequences for surrounding communities and ecosystems if thousands of acres of farmland are converted into industrial sites.
Since 2018, the development group's subsidiary, Flannery Associates, discreetly acquired approximately 62,000 acres of farmland, with some farmers later alleging they felt pressured to sell. The investors behind the project, including founders of LinkedIn and Netscape and led by former Goldman Sachs trader Jan Sramek, were revealed in 2023. Marc Andreessen, co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz, also holds investments in both California Forever and Saronic Technologies.
California Forever had previously planned to seek voter approval in Solano County for its East Solano Plan, which proposed rezoning 17,500 acres for a city of 400,000 residents. The company withdrew this proposal in 2024, citing strong grassroots opposition, unfavorable polling, and identified shortcomings in the plan during a county review. Sramek acknowledged at the time that the company might have moved too quickly and indicated the proposal would be revisited in 2026.