The California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) and Air Resources Board (ARB) staff invite you to participate in a community meeting and webinar to discuss use of Cap-and-Trade auction proceeds to fund projects that reduce greenhouse gases in disadvantaged and low-income communities. This project development would implement Senate Bill (SB) 535 (De León, Statutes of 2012) and Assembly Bill (AB) 1550 (Gomez, Statutes of 2016).
At meetings held throughout the state, staff will share their initial thinking and seek our input on two key questions: how to identify these communities, and how to assess whether projects benefit individuals living in these communities. The Oakland meeting (others are in Fresno and Los Angeles) is listed below. A webinar is also being held the next day. For more information on these meetings, see the detailed meeting notice.
MEETING
WHEN
Monday, February 6th, 6-8 PM
WHERE
Elihu Harris Building
1515 Clay Street
Oakland 94612
WEBINAR
WHEN
Tuesday, February 7th, 2-4 PM
WHERE
Further details will be provided here.
BACKGROUND:
California Climate Investments: The State proceeds from the Cap-and-Trade Program (title 17, California Code of Regulations, section 95800 et seq.) provide an opportunity for California to invest in climate action, with an emphasis on our most disadvantaged and low-income communities. These investments are financing programs and projects that further the objectives of Assembly Bill 32, the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (Nunez, Statutes of 2006), by reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the State; delivering benefits to disadvantaged and low-income communities; and maximizing, where feasible, economic, health, and environmental co-benefits.
The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund holds the State’s portion of auction proceeds, generated by California’s Cap-and-Trade Program. The Governor and Legislature determine which State agencies and programs will receive appropriations from this Fund to invest in projects that reduce greenhouse gases. Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund programs are administered by over a dozen State agencies and each agency is responsible for administering its own program. Learn more about the agencies and their programs here.
SB 535 and AB 1550: SB 535 directs the Secretary for Environmental Protection to identify disadvantaged communities for investment of Cap-and-Trade auction proceeds. AB 1550
requires that a minimum of 25 percent of the proceeds be invested in projects that are located within and benefiting individuals living in disadvantaged communities. CalEPA plans to use the latest version of the CalEnviroScreen tool to inform the identification of disadvantaged communities. The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment recently released
CalEnviroScreen Version 3.0, which ranks communities based on numerous indicators that reflect pollution burdens and population characteristics.
Additionally, AB 1550 requires a minimum of 5 percent of funds be invested in projects that benefit low-income households or communities statewide; and another 5 percent to projects that benefit low-income households or communities that are within a ½ mile of disadvantaged communities.
ARB Funding Guidelines: State law also requires ARB to develop guidance for all State agencies that receive appropriations from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, including guidance on reporting, quantification methods, and maximizing benefits to disadvantaged communities. ARB released the most recent Funding Guidelines in December 2015. The passage of AB 1550 modifies the existing SB 535 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund investment requirements for disadvantaged communities, and provides new funding targets for low-income households and low-income communities. As a result, ARB must update the Funding Guidelines to reflect the new requirements.