Governor Signs Plan To Spend Cap-and-Trade Revenues

Fresno, CA — Funding to help turn dead and dying trees along the Sierra Nevada into biomass energy is a small part of the plan to spend California’s cap-and-trade revenue.

The Governor used Fresno as a symbolic place to sign the legislation on Wednesday, as the Central Valley community is known for having some of the higher temperatures and more polluted air in the state. As part of the cap-and-trade program that came from the 2006 AB 32 global warming legislation, high polluting companies can purchase carbon credits, which are used for projects to help improve the environment. The plan is to spend $900-million this year and put $462-million in a reserve for future years. Related to biomass, $25-million will go to the California Department of Forestry for a Healthy Forest Program. You see the entire spending plan below:

–$368 million to the Air Resources Board, including:
-$133 million to the Clean Vehicle Rebate Program.
-$80 million to the Enhanced Fleet Modernization Program, Plus-Up Pilot Project and up to $20 million of this amount may be used for other light-duty equity pilot projects.
-$150 million for heavy-duty vehicles and off-road equipment investments.
-$5 million for black carbon wood smoke programs.

–$140 million to the Office of Planning and Research for the Strategic Growth Council to provide transformative climate communities grants.

–$135 million to the Transportation Agency for the Transit and Intercity Rail Program.

–$80 million to the Natural Resources Agency for the Urban Greening program.

–$65 million to the Department of Food and Agriculture, including:
-$50 million for the early and extra methane emissions reductions from dairy and livestock operations.
-$7.5 million for the Healthy Soils Program.
-$7.5 for the State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP).

–$40 million to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, including:
-$25 million for the Healthy Forest Program.
-$15 million for urban forestry programs.

–$40 million to the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery for waste diversion and greenhouse gas reduction financial assistance.

–$20 million to the Department of Community Services and Development for weatherization and renewable energy projects.

–$10 million to the Department of Transportation for the Active Transportation Program.

–$2 million to the Office of Planning and Research for the Strategic Growth Council to provide technical assistance to disadvantaged communities.