After delivering a blockbuster package of measures to protect the environment last year, Sacramento managed only a lackluster effort in the 2007 legislative session, in the view of the state's major conservation groups.

"Last year was one of the best years that we've ever had," said Dan Jacobson, legislative director of Environment California, a statewide environmental group with offices in Sacramento.

But after giving lawmakers an "A" for their effort last year, Jacobson and the Sierra Club's Bill Allayaud on Wednesday graded them no higher than "B-minus" for 2007.

"There were no blockbuster bills," Allayaud said in a telephone interview from Sacramento.

The year's meager collection of passed environmental bills was a sharp contrast to that of 2006, when the Legislature delivered a landmark law requiring power plants, oil refineries and factories to take steps to curb climate change.

But there were positive developments this year, conservationists said.

They praised lawmakers for working to curb carbon emissions from gasoline and diesel fuel, pump money into research on alternative fuels and trim the power consumed by indoor lights. Lawmakers also worked to subsidize the installation of solar-powered hot-water heaters, ban use of certain toxic chemicals in the manufacture of children's toys and require plastic-makers to keep pellets - the building blocks of plastic products - out of waterways.

Rico Mastrodonato, Northern California director of the California League of Conservation Voters, said the solar hot-water bill "addresses one of the biggest natural gas-consuming appliances in people's homes." The initiative would provide $250 million for builders and homeowners looking to install hot-water heaters that harness the sun.

The fate of that and other measures adopted by the Legislature depends on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has until Oct. 14 to sign them.

"The question for the governor is, when it comes to environmental issues, is he going to be remembered as a guy who had a couple of good seasons or a guy who goes into the hall of fame?" Jacobson said.

Many bills shelved

What conservationists do know is that several bills they lobbied for were killed or put off until 2008. Environmental groups were particularly disappointed about lack of progress on bills that sought to stem the tide of trash rolling into the ocean, slow global warming and reduce the amount of toxic chemicals in products.

Jacobson said the ocean trash initiative took a significant hit.

"There were five bills that were introduced, and there is only one bill that has reached his desk," Jacobson said.

And yet, he said, "Protecting our ocean is an incredibly popular issue with all Californians and people are tired of seeing fast-food containers washing up on our beaches."

Perhaps the biggest disappointment was a decision to shelve legislation by Sen. Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, that aimed to curb climate change through planning.

Senate Bill 375 would have required counties such as San Diego and Riverside to craft regional transportation plans that encourage less driving. Plans would have had to build homes near job centers and boost dependence on public transit in order for regions to qualify for state highway funds. In the face of stiff opposition from cities and counties, action was put off until 2008.

Victoria Rome, a lobbyist for the Natural Resources Defense Council, called the Steinberg bill "the biggest missing piece of the global warming puzzle."

But Temecula Mayor Chuck Washington, chairman of the Western Riverside Council of Governments, said it would have handed some local land-use authority over to the state.

"We kind of bristle at that," Washington said, adding that Riverside County already is working to lure jobs for its sprawling bedroom communities.

Poway Mayor Mickey Cafagna, past chairman of the San Diego Association of Governments, agreed.

"Why do we need to have the state stick its nose into something that we are already doing in San Diego County," he asked.

Cities say smart growth is answer

Cafagna said his agency is encouraging builders to place homes near businesses through a "smart growth" strategy. And he said the agency is pumping billions into public transit, against the wishes of many who would prefer that the money be spent on freeways.

Conservationists dismissed the criticism.

"San Diego needs to get with the program and realize that this isn't a total usurpation of their land-use authority," Jacobson said.

Conservationists lamented the holding up of bills that would bar the use of certain fire retardants in furniture and beds and require water agencies to take climate change into account when writing long-term supply strategies.

Conservationists said it is time to use safer fire retardants that don't have the potential to cause cancer.

However, Mike Zimmerman, chief of staff for Assemblyman Martin Garrick, R-Carlsbad, said Garrick voted against the furniture bill because alternative chemicals may not be as effective in halting the spread of fire.

"We're putting people's lives at risk," Zimmerman said.

Garrick voted against the water planning bill because, Zimmerman said, it is too much of a burden for agencies at a time when the effects of climate change are unclear.

- Contact staff writer Dave Downey at (760) 745-6611, Ext. 2623, or ddowney@nctimes.com.