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SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters) passed AB 920 off of the Assembly Floor last week despite intense utility opposition.
AB 920 will maintain a place in the energy market for renewable resources such as geothermal, biomass and biogas.
These resources provide high-paying jobs across California – particularly in Colusa, Lake, Yolo and Sonoma counties, which are located in her Fourth Assembly District – as well as improve air quality and help ensure our electricity supply is reliable.
Statewide goals to increase California’s reliance on renewable energy have been very successful in reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions, but have not successfully ensured that all renewable resources are properly valued for their climate change, air quality, and economic benefits.
“Geothermal and biomass energy facilities provide hundreds of vital jobs in the communities I represent where devastating levels of unemployment continue in the wake of the Great Recession,” said Aguiar-Curry. “Geothermal resources must be used or the facilities die. And, biomass facilities are critical to ensuring our forestry and agricultural waste is used for energy rather than emitting poisonous methane or fueling wildfires.”
Biomass and geothermal facilities contribute property taxes and royalties to local economies, in addition to being job creators.
Tax credits and tax exemptions for renewables like wind and solar, coupled with low labor costs, undercut the market. As a result, more than 75 percent of the renewable energy in California comes from wind and solar.
AB 920 will help level the playing field so renewable resources that are economic drivers have a fair chance to complete for contracts.
“Wind and solar are important renewable resources, but they can’t be the only resources we rely on,” said Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry. “Energy coming from wind and solar varies with the weather and needs to be balanced with reliable renewable energy. We can do that with geothermal and biomass, or let utilities move to a permanent reliance on fossil fuels like coal and natural gas.”
AB 920 passed 75-0 on the Assembly Floor with Democrat coauthor Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella) and Republican coauthor Brian Dahle (R-Bieber) voting Yes.
AB 920 will move to the Senate where Aguiar-Curry will continue to advocate for reliable renewable energy market in California.
Aguiar-Curry represents the Fourth Assembly District, which includes all of Lake and Napa counties, parts of Colusa County, all of Yolo County except West Sacramento, Dixon in Solano County and Rohnert Park in Sonoma County. Visit her online at www.asm.ca.gov/aguiar-curry .
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SACRAMENTO – State Controller Betty T. Yee has launched a daily tracker allowing users to follow personal income tax receipts through April.
This is a crucial period for the state’s fiscal outlook as Californians file tax returns.
Last fiscal year, personal income taxes accounted for 66.7 percent of all state general fund revenues.
A disproportionate share of personal income taxes, 18.1 percent, arrived in April.
The daily tally – at http://www.sco.ca.gov/2016_personal_income_tax_tracker.html – is accompanied by a chart showing how the running total compares to the $14.6 billion estimate of April personal income tax receipts in the budget proposed by Gov. Jerry Brown in January. The total consists of personal income taxes minus refunds.
As of the end of March, personal income tax receipts for the 2015-16 fiscal year totaled $51.9 billion, 0.1 percent higher than anticipated in the governor’s budget proposal.
State and federal returns for the 2015 tax year must be filed by April 18.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services has released the list of eligible counties given disaster designation resulting from the drought.
This designation is a result of the final rule announcement for the USDA Designation Process which includes nearly automatic approval for those counties that meet established drought intensity levels for at least eight weeks as reported on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
According to UC Cooperative Extension Director Greg Giusti, both Lake and Mendocino counties have been designated as eligible to receive disaster relief.
“Ag families, dependent on water supplies, have been critically impacted over the past years. This will provide some hope to those who want to take advantage of this opportunity,” Giusti said.
Giusti said the programs are available to farmers and ranchers who conduct family-sized farming operations.
He added, “The program will provide up to $500,000 for emergency loans for those who have suffered both physical or crop production losses as a direct result of the disaster.”
The program is being administered through the Farm Services Agency. The office that services Lake and Mendocino Counties is located in Ukiah, telephone 707-468-9223.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s Target Center at 202-720-2600.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – The city of Lakeport announced Monday that it has made a Community Development Block Grant Business Loan Program loan available to O’Meara Bros. Brewing Co. for the expansion of brewing and kitchen operations.
The new loan will help the business create two new jobs and expand its brewing capacity and increase sales.
O’Meara Bros. has exceeded the projections and expectations of the company.
Owners Alex and Tim O'Meara are thrilled to have the support of the city of Lakeport, which is committed to helping local business grow and thrive, and it shows in the case of O’Meara Bros. Brewing Co.
Due to increased volume and demand which has exceeded all projections and expectations, the O'Mearas will use additional funds to expand both beer production and upgrade kitchen facilities, both of which will accommodate their increased volume and help them better serve the community.
Furthermore, the larger capacity will allow for the O’Mearas to move toward an eventual goal of beer distribution to our local bars and restaurants.
O’Meara Bros. Brewing Co. believes that community development funds like these are key for the healthy growth of the local economy.
If you are interested in learning more about the city of Lakeport’s Business Loan Program, please contact Jeff or Andy Lucas with Community Development Services at 707-279-1540, or