How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
News
SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr., Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon on Wednesday announced an agreement on an expenditure plan for unallocated cap-and-trade proceeds that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions through programs that benefit disadvantaged communities, support clean transportation, reduce short-lived climate pollutants and protect natural ecosystems.
Under current law, 60 percent of annual auction proceeds are allocated on an ongoing basis to public transit, affordable housing, sustainable communities and high-speed rail.
This agreement invests $900 million of the remaining unallocated funds for fiscal year 2016-17, and reserves approximately $462 million for appropriation in future years.
“California’s combatting climate change on all fronts and this plan gets us the most bang for the buck,” said Gov. Brown. “It directs hundreds of millions where it’s needed most – to help disadvantaged communities, curb dangerous super pollutants and cut petroleum use – while saving some for the future.”
“This agreement is the latest example of how the legislature has been both progressive and prudent this session,” said Assembly Speaker Rendon. “With this agreement, we take an aggressive approach to investing cap-and-trade funds that provides tangible results for cleaner air and helps lower income Californians benefit from emission reduction programs. At the same time, we are also maintaining a responsible reserve to provide for the future.”
“Communities across our state are already experiencing the harmful effects of climate change and air pollution and we have met this challenge with the urgency it deserves,” said Senate President pro Tempore De León. “Whether it's the lingering effects of a historic drought on drinking water and our agricultural sector; ferocious wildfires that have left devastation in their wake; extreme heat and heightened ozone levels that are sending children and other vulnerable groups to the emergency room; there is no shortage in our need for funding to make our communities healthier and more resilient. That's why it's so imperative that we put the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to work immediately. I'm pleased that we've reached a deal to bring relief and access to clean energy to the communities that need it most, and I look forward to getting this funding out the door as soon as possible so it can begin to make a difference.”
This agreement aligns with the state’s climate strategies to reduce emissions, petroleum consumption and short-lived climate pollutants, while bolstering renewable energy and energy efficiency programs.
It also targets investment in disadvantaged communities disproportionately impacted by dirty air and carbon pollution and transportation-related programs, as transportation represents the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions.
In addition, given the uncertainty associated with recent auctions of carbon credits, the agreement prudently reserves one-third of the total amount for future allocation.
The agreement includes the following appropriations:
$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.
Cap-and-trade investments in California, including expenditures in today's agreement, total $3.2 billion.
Caltrans, working under Gov. Jerry Brown’s drought-related state of emergency, is identifying, cutting and removing dead and dying trees from alongside state highways.
These are trees primarily killed by drought or the bark beetle, and are threatening to impact state highways or provide fuel to wildfires.
Working in collaboration with Cal Fire, the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, along with county governments and utility companies, Caltrans is already cutting and removing trees on State Route 108 (SR-108) and SR-120 in Tuolumne County.
Additional tree-removal projects are scheduled for adjoining counties, as well as counties across California that are impacted.
Sierra Mountain Construction of Sonora is the contractor for the first of these projects, and it is scheduled to remove more than 4,000 at-risk trees along SR-108 in Tuolumne County.
Crews will be removing dead and dying trees within 100 feet of the center of the road. Crews will also assess trees that are capable of falling on highways, regardless of their location.
As part of the program, Caltrans will:
– Identify the dead, dying and at-risk trees along state highways;
– Contact the landowner, if the tree is outside the public right of way, and discuss removal options;
– Cut and remove identified and approved trees from state right of way.
NORTH COAST, Calif. – Thousands of customers in Humboldt, Lake and Mendocino counties could save up to 20 percent or more on their monthly energy bill by taking a simple step – enrolling in Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s (PG&E) California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) Program.
The CARE program gives income-qualified households deep discounts on their energy bills, but nearly one in ten eligible customers are not signed up for the program and are missing out on significant savings.
“Our CARE program is an important part of providing affordable service to our customers. We encourage all our customers to learn more about CARE, and the variety of other programs we offer, to help them manage their energy costs and lower their monthly bill,” said PG&E Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer Laurie Giammona.
PG&E estimates about 200,000 customers throughout its service area could save on their monthly costs by enrolling in CARE.
Currently, more than 1.4 million qualified customers throughout Northern and Central California are enrolled in CARE.
PG&E has helped customers save more than $7.8 billion on their energy bills through the program.
Customers can apply for CARE online or via paper applications that are available through numerous community agencies throughout PG&E’s service area.
Applying is easy and only takes about five minutes. If they qualify, customers will begin receiving the CARE program discount within their next billing cycle.
The Energy Savings Assistance Program can help customers already participating in the CARE Program save more energy and money with free energy-saving improvements to maximize energy efficiency in their home.
Every year, the California Public Utilities Commission adjusts the maximum qualifying income levels for CARE to reflect changes in the federal poverty guidelines. CARE is funded through a rate surcharge paid by all utility customers.
To learn more about the CARE Program, visit www.pge.com/care .
If customers have questions or need assistance filling out the CARE applications, email us at
To learn more about the Energy Savings Assistance Program, visit www.pge.com/energysavings .
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On Tuesday, the state Wildlife Conservation Board approved funding for a Lake County Land Trust property purchase meant to protect wetlands and shoreline in the Big Valley area, helping the long-term project to move one step closer to completion.
The board said it approved a $135,000 grant to the Lake County Land Trust to acquire in fee approximately 34 acres of land for the protection of shoreline freshwater wetland, riparian woodland
and wet meadow habitats that support the state's-threatened Clear Lake hitch and the western pond turtle, a state species of special concern.
The project also is meant to provide future wildlife-oriented public use opportunities in the Big Valley area, located, on the northwestern shore of Clear Lake.
The funding for the Land Trust project was part of $15 million in grants the Wildlife Conservation Board approved at its Tuesday meeting for 21 projects that are meant to help restore and protect fish and wildlife habitat throughout California.
The state funds for all these projects come from initiatives approved by voters to help preserve and protect California’s natural resources, the board reported.
“We're really excited about it,” Lake County Land Trust President Roberta Lyons told Lake County News on Tuesday after returning from the meeting in Sacramento, which she and several other Land Trust members attended.
Lyons said the Land Trust has been working on the project for about six years, beginning with developing a conceptual area protection plan for the Big Valley Wetlands Protection Area that was needed to apply to the state for the funding.
The keystone property for the project is the 34-acre property owned by George Melo, who entered into an agreement four years ago to sell the property to the Land Trust, Lyons said.
“George Melo has been extremely patient and fabulous in working with us on this project,” Lyons said.
The agreed-upon purchase price was $225,000, and since then the Land Trust has raised more than half that amount, separate from the grant.
She said the wetlands protection area can conceivably include other projects, but Lyons emphasized it has nothing to do with eminent domain.
“It's a cooperative venture” with landowners, she said, noting that it will open up the possibility of conservation easements that could qualify for future state funding.
Lyons said the Land Trust is now looking forward to getting through escrow and seeing the project completed.
The Land Trust project is the second in Lake County to receive a major funding grant from the Wildlife Conservation Board in the last three months.
In June, the board gave a $440,000 grant to Tuleyome to acquire the 1,280-acre Silver Spur Ranch near Clearlake Oaks, as Lake County News has reported: http://bit.ly/1tbHeZH .
In addition to the Land Trust's grant, other funding awards for projects approved Tuesday include the following:
– A $1.2 million grant to the Feather River Land Trust for a cooperative project with the Natural Resources Agency to acquire a conservation easement over approximately 5,530 acres of land to provide protection for deer, mountain lion and oak habitats near the town of Doyle in Lassen County.
– A $1.7 million acquisition in fee of approximately 1,066 acres of land by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to expand the Crocker Meadows Wildlife Area, protect riparian and oak woodland habitat, and for future wildlife oriented public use opportunities near Beckwourth in Plumas County.
– A $3 million grant to Sonoma County Agriculture Preservation and Open Space District for a cooperative project with the State Coastal Conservancy to acquire a conservation easement over approximately 871 acres of forest lands, including large areas of old and new growth redwood located near Stewarts Point.
– A $2.5 million grant to the San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust for a cooperative project with the Inland Empire Resource Conservation District to acquire in fee approximately 240 acres of land as an expansion of the Sawmill Pebble Plain Ecological Preserve – rare pebble plain habitat supporting a wide variety of endemic plant species – south of Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains, in San Bernardino County.
– An $850,000 grant to the San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy for a cooperative project to implement a comprehensive habitat restoration program, remove target nonnative invasive weed species and restore native habitat on 65 acres of coastal wetlands on several sites located at Agua Hedionda, Batiquitos Lagoon and San Elijo Lagoon. These are located from approximately nine miles north to five miles south of Encinitas on privately owned properties and on properties owned by California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the state Department of Parks and Recreation.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Although the summer season will soon be coming to a close, many Californians will continue to take advantage of the warm weather into the Labor Day weekend.
As the celebrations commence, the California Highway Patrol wants everyone to enjoy their holiday and to remain safe on California’s roadways.
All available CHP officers will be on duty during the Labor Day Maximum Enforcement Period, or MEP, from 6:01 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2, to 11:59 p.m. Monday, Sept. 5.
Drug recognition experts and CHP officers will be on patrol watching for impaired drivers as well as assisting motorists in need throughout the holiday weekend.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched its annual “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign on Aug. 19, and it will run through Sept. 5.
This law enforcement crackdown is intended to zero in on drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs and help reduce injury and fatal collisions.
Research from NHTSA shows that high-visibility enforcement, such as an MEP, can reduce impaired driving fatalities by as much as 20 percent.
“Too many lives are lost on our roadways every year as a result of impaired driving. Let’s end the summer safely and remember to designate a sober driver, wear your seat belt, and obey all traffic laws,” CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow said.
During last year’s Labor Day weekend, CHP officers made more than 1,200 arrests for driving under the influence.
Unfortunately, 32 people were killed in collisions in California during the same weekend, and at least seven of those people killed were not wearing seat belts.
If you see a suspected impaired driver, call 9-1-1. Be prepared to provide the dispatcher a description of the vehicle, the license plate number, location, and direction of travel. Your phone call may save someone’s life.
The mission of the California Highway Patrol is to provide the highest level of safety, service and security to the people of California.
Don't miss the last chance to fish for free this year.
Free Fishing Day in California is being offered by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Saturday, Sept. 3, during Labor Day weekend.
"One of the greatest things about Free Fishing Day is that it provides an opportunity to open a door for someone who's never tried it," said CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham. "If you're already an experienced angler, bring a friend or family member out with you and show them the excitement of landing a fish. It's a great way to make memories."
A basic annual resident sport fishing license in California currently costs $47.01, but CDFW offers two Free Fishing Days each year – usually around the Fourth of July and Labor Day weekend – when it's legal to fish without one.
If you would like to fish the rest of the year, go to CDFW's Web site for information about purchasing a license.
All fishing regulations, such as bag and size limits, gear restrictions, report card requirements, fishing hours and stream closures remain in effect on Free Fishing Day.
Every angler must also have an appropriate report card if they are fishing for abalone, steelhead or sturgeon anywhere in the state, or salmon in the Smith and Klamath-Trinity river systems.
Before you head out to your favorite lake or stream, please review the fishing rules and regulations at www.wildlife.ca.gov/regulations .