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AD HOC COMMITTEE ON SUSTAINABILITY
Meeting Date: 03/23/2015  
Subject:    County Opportunities for Greenhouse Gas Reduction Funds
Submitted For: Supervisors John Gioia and Federal D. Glover
Department: County Administrator  
Referral No.: 2015-01  
Referral Name: County Opportunities for Greenhouse Gas Reduction Funds
Presenter: Kara Douglas Contact: Kara Douglas, (925) 674-7880

Information
Referral History:
This item is brought to the first meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee by staff of the Department of Conservation and Development, in consideration of the subject matter purview of the committee.
Referral Update:
The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) was established in 2012 by AB 1532 (J. Pérez), SB 535 (de León), and SB 1018 (Budget and Fiscal Review Committee). The GGRF receives Cap-and-Trade auction proceeds and defines how the auction proceeds are administered.

The FY 2015 State budget projects $872 million in Cap-and-Trade revenues. Once transportation fuels come under the cap in 2015, the GGRF is projected to administer $2.5 billion to $5 billion annually from Cap-and-Trade auction revenue.

Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Programs

There are three broad investment categories for the GGRF: Sustainable Communities and Clean Transportation; Energy Efficiency and Clean Energy; and Natural Resources and Waste Diversion. Within those categories, there are 12 different initiatives, which are being implemented by 12 different State agencies. (See Attachment A and http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/capandtrade/auctionproceeds/ggrfprogrampage.htm for more information.)

A portion of the funds must be used to benefit disadvantages communities. The percentage for each program ranges from 0 to 100 percent.

Potential Contra Costa Benefits

Several programs may benefit Contra Costa County through investments in transportation improvements, housing, energy efficiency, resource preservation, and waste diversion.
These programs include:
  • Low Carbon Transit Operations Programs – Fund administer by Caltrans and allocated to local agencies with 50 percent for disadvantaged communities

  • Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities – Fund administered by Strategic Growth Council and member agencies. Applicants may be developers or local agencies. Fifty percent of the funds are to benefit disadvantages communities.

  • Weatherization Upgrades/Renewable Energy – Fund administered by Community Services Department and granted to localities with 100 percent of the funds for disadvantaged communities.

  • Energy Efficiency in Public Buildings – Fund administered by the Energy Commission. The most likely use of this fund will be energy efficiency improvements in the University of California, California State University and courts.

  • Water Action Plan – Wetlands and Watershed Restoration– Fund administered by Fish and Game. This program will focus on the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Coastal Wetlands, and mountain meadows ecosystems.

  • Waste Diversion – Fund administered by CalRecycle. Funds will be allocated to waste management companies.

Two of the above programs have a statutory requirement to benefit disadvantaged communities: Low Carbon Transit Operations; and Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities.

The Contra Costa disadvantaged communities include portions of the following cities and communities: Richmond, North Richmond, Rodeo, Martinez, Pittsburg, Antioch, and Oakley. (See Attachment B.)
Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):
REVIEW the programs identified in the report and DIRECT staff to provide additional information at a future meeting.
Attachments
Attachment A
Attachment B

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