California Climate Investments Quantification, Benefits, and Reporting Materials
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Agencies administering California Climate Investments programs must use the Funding Guidelines together with the resources provided on this page to develop effective programs and demonstrate compliance with program requirements.1 Resources on this page include Quantification Methodologies and Calculator Tools for estimating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions and co-benefits; Benefit Criteria Tables for determining benefits to priority populations; and Reporting Templates for reporting outcomes. Select a project type and use the resources from that row as needed.2 Note: These quantification methods have been developed specifically for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund programs and are not intended for use in other programs.
An asterisk (*) and bold text indicates a document is open for comment. Contact the GGRF Program to comment, send questions, or request a copy of previous versions of the Quantification Methodologies and Calculator Tools.
Updated Jobs Reporting Template: CARB has recently undergone a process to update the jobs reporting tab of our reporting templates. Agencies will begin using the updated template for Annual Reporting in 2025.
Transportation and Sustainable Communities
Agency | Project Type | Quantification Methodology (QM) and Calculator Tool | Priority Population Benefit Criteria Table | Reporting Template |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California Air Resources Board | Advanced Technology Demonstration and Pilot Projects | Advanced Technology Demonstration and Pilot Projects QM Advanced Technology Demonstration and Pilot Projects Calculator Tool | Heavy-Duty Pilot | |
| California Air Resources Board | Agricultural Worker Vanpools | Archived Documentation | - | |
| California Air Resources Board | Clean Mobility Options | Clean Mobility Options | ||
| California Air Resources Board | Clean Mobility in Schools Pilot Project | |||
| California Air Resources Board | Clean Off-Road Equipment Voucher Incentive Project (CORE) | Clean Off-Road Equipment Voucher Incentive Project | ||
| California Air Resources Board | Community Air Protection Funds | |||
| California Air Resources Board | Funding Agricultural Replacement Measures for Emission Reductions (FARMER) | Funding Agricultural Replacement Measures for Emission Reductions (FARMER) QM | FARMER | |
| California Air Resources Board | Low Carbon Transportation Outreach, Education, and Awareness | N/A | ||
| California Air Resources Board | On-Road Consumer-Based Incentives
| |||
| California Air Resources Board | Sustainable Transportation Equity Project (STEP) | |||
| California Air Resources Board | Zero- and Near Zero-Emission Freight Facility Project | Archived Documentation | Heavy-Duty Pilot | |
| California Air Resources Board | Zero-Emission Off-Road Freight | Archived Documentation | Heavy-Duty Pilot | |
| California Department of Transportation | Low Carbon Transit Operations Projects (LCTOP), New Transit Service, Increase Ridership, Technology Conversion, Fuel/Energy Reductions3 | DRAFT Low Carbon Transit Operations Program QM Draft will be available for public comment until November 20th, 2024 | Low Carbon Transit Operations Projects | |
| California Energy Commission | IDEAL ZEV Workforce Pilot | N/A | IDEAL ZEV | |
| California High-Speed Rail Authority | High-Speed Rail (HSR)4 | See HSR 2016 Sustainability Report and Business Plan | High-Speed Rail | |
| California State Transportation Agency | Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) | Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program QM Calculator Tool *Updated 7/12/2024* | Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Projects | |
| California State Transportation Agency | Zero-Emission Transit Capital Program (ZETCP) | Sustainable Transportation | TBD | |
| California State Water Resources Control Board | Projects funded by the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund: Solar PV, Energy Efficiency, Interim Water Delivery | Job Training and Workforce Development Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Draft Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy revised update 2024* | Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund | |
| Strategic Growth Council | Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) Projects, Affordable Housing, Mixed Use Development, Transit and Commute Improvements, New Transportation Improvements, New Pedestrian Facilities, New or Expanded Bike Path or Lane, New or Expanded Bike Share, Capital Improvements | AHSC | ||
| Strategic Growth Council | Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) Projects: May include any eligible project type (see TCC guidelines)5 | Select Benefit Criteria Tables that corresponds to the project type |
Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency
Agency | Project Type | Quantification Methodology (QM) and Calculator Tool | Priority Population Benefit Criteria Table | Reporting Template |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California Air Resources Board | F-gas Reduction Incentive Program (FRIP) |
| Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Draft Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy revised update 2024* | F-gas Reduction Incentive Program |
| California Air Resources Board | Wood Stove/Wood Insert Change-out | 2021-2022 Woodsmoke Reduction Program QM
| Woodsmoke | Woodsmoke Reduction |
| California Conservation Corps | Energy Corps Energy Efficiency and Solar Photovoltaics | Job Training and Workforce Development | Conservation Corps | |
| California Department of Community Services and Development | Weatherization/Energy Efficiency, Solar Water Heating, Solar Photovoltaics | Low-Income Weatherization Program QM Note: The CSD LIWP benefits calculator tool was updated on 12/04/24 to include updated GHG emission factors and energy pricing estimates. No changes to the QM were made. | Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Draft Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy revised update 2024* | |
| California Department of Water Resources | Water and Energy Use Efficiency for Residential, Commercial, and Institutional Projects | Archived Documentation | Water-Energy Grant | |
| California Energy Commission | California Schools Healthy Air, Plumbing and Efficiency Program (CalSHAPE) | California Schools Healthy Air, Plumbing and Efficiency Program QM | Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Draft Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy revised update 2024* | TBD |
| California Energy Commission | Industrial Decarbonization and Improvement of Grid Operations (INDIGO) | Industrial Decarbonization and Improvement of Grid Operations QM Calculator Tool (Version 2) Note: The INDIGO calculator tool was updated on July 17, 2024 to correct a formula for estimating benefits from multiple variable frequency or speed drive motors. No changes were made to the QM or user guide documents. | Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Draft Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy revised update 2024* | TBD |
| California Energy Commission | Industrial Energy Efficiency, Food Production Advanced Technology (FPIP) | Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Draft Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy revised update 2024* | Food Production Energy Efficiency | |
| California Energy Commission | Low Carbon Fuel Production | Archived Documentation | Low Carbon Fuel Production | |
| California Energy Commission | Renewable Energy for Agriculture Program | Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Draft Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy revised update 2024* | Agricultural Renewables and Energy Efficiency |
Natural Resources and Waste Diversion
Agency | Project Type | Quantification Methodology (QM) and Calculator Tool | Priority Population Benefit Criteria Table | Reporting Template |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| – | Riparian Conservation and Restoration 2024 | Draft Riparian Conservation and Restoration QM 2024* The Draft Riparian Conservation and Restoration QM and Tool open for public comment until January 6, 2025. | – | – |
| California Air Resources Board | Smoke Monitoring | – | – | Smoke Monitoring |
| California Conservation Corps | Riparian Restoration Projects | Job Training and Workforce Development | Conservation Corps | |
| California Department of Fish and Wildlife | Wetland Restoration | Land Restoration and Forest Health Draft Land Restoration and Forest Health Revised Update 2024* | Wetland and Watershed Restoration Projects | |
| California Department of Food and Agriculture | Alternative Manure Management Practices | Alternative Manure Management Program | ||
| California Department of Food and Agriculture | Dairy Digesters | Dairy Digesters Research and Development | ||
| California Department of Food and Agriculture | Healthy Soils | Note: The CDFA HSP Co-Benefits Calculator Tool has been created for public review and will be used by CDFA staff to calculate co-benefits of HSP proposed projects. Applicants are not required to use the CDFA HSP Co-Benefits Calculator Tool. | Healthy Soils | |
| California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection | Reforestation, Pest Management, Fuels Reduction, Forest Conservation, Biomass Utilization, Planning, Education | Land Restoration and Forest Health Draft Land Restoration and Forest Health Revised Update 2024* | ||
| California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection | Tree Planting Carbon Sequestration, Tree Planting Energy Savings from Shade, Biomass Utilization | Urban and Community Forestry Program QM Note: The Urban and Community Forestry Benefits Calculator User Guide was updated on April 17, 2020 to clarify instructions for tree growth period calculator tool inputs. No changes to the QM document were made. | Urban Forestry and Urban Greening Draft Urban Forestry and Urban Greening Revised Update 2024* | Urban and Community Forestry Projects |
| California Natural Resources Agency | Tree Planting Carbon Sequestration, Tree Planting Energy Savings from Shade, New Bike Paths or Lanes, New Pedestrian Facilities | Urban Greening Grant Program QM Calculator Tool (Version 3) Note: Version 3 July 8, 2020, corrects an autofill field that was not populating correctly and a formula error ascribing the incorrect anticipated lifespan to Class II bike lanes.. No changes to the QM document/User guide were made. | Urban Forestry and Urban Greening Draft Urban Forestry and Urban Greening Revised Update 2024* | Urban Greening Projects |
| Ocean Protection Council | Sea-Level Rise Adaptation Planning, Nature-based and Green-Grey Hybrid Adaptation Projects and/or Design, Technical Assistance | -
| Draft Land Conservation Revised Update 2024* Land Restoration and Forest Health Draft Land Restoration and Forest Health Revised Update 2024* | Climate Ready Program |
| California State Coastal Conservancy | Climate Ready Program, Tree Planting Carbon Sequestration, Carbon Farming, Climate Adaptation Planning | Draft Healthy Soils Revised Update 2024* Urban Forestry and Urban Greening Draft Urban Forestry and Urban Greening Revised Update 2024* | Climate Ready Program | |
| California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery | Climate Positive Landscaping, Community Composting, Lawn Management, and Tree Planting | Community Compost | ||
| California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery | Food Waste Prevention and Rescue Program | Waste Diversion and Utilization | ||
| California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery | Recycled Fiber, Plastic, and Glass Grant Program | Waste Diversion and Utilization | ||
| California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery | Reuse Grant Program | Waste Diversion and Utilization | ||
| California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery | Waste Diversion, Organics Composting, Community Composting, Anaerobic Digestion/Co-Digestion, Food Waste Prevention and Rescue |
| ||
| Governor's Office of Emergency Services | Wildfire Response and Readiness, Fire Engine Procurement and Maintenance | – | – | Wildfire Response and Readiness |
| Strategic Growth Council | Agricultural Conservation Easements, Agricultural Land Conservation, Biomass Utilization | Sustainable Agriculture Land Conservation | ||
| Wildlife Conservation Board | Climate Adaptation and Resilience Program (CARP) | – | Land Restoration and Forest Health Draft Land Restoration and Forest Health Revised Update 2024* | Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Template |
Cross-Sectoral Projects
Agency | Project Type | Quantification Methodology (QM) and Calculator Tool | Priority Population Benefit Criteria Table | Reporting Template |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California Air Resources Board | Statewide Mobile Monitoring Initiative | – | Planning | |
| All Agencies, California Workforce Development Board | Job Training and Workforce Development, Low Carbon Economy Program | – | Job Training and Workforce Development | |
| California Coastal Commission and S.F. Bay Conservation and Development Commission | Climate Adaptation Planning Projects | – | ||
| California Environmental Protection Agency | Carbon Neutrality Studies | – | Not Applicable | Climate Research |
| California Natural Resources Agency, Strategic Growth Council | Technical Assistance | – | Technical Assistance | |
| Strategic Growth Council | Climate Research | – | Not Applicable | Climate Research |
Emission Factor Database
In an effort to increase transparency and continue to use the most up to date emission factors when estimating California Climate Investments project benefits, CARB released a single repository for GHG and co-benefit emission factors used in quantification methodologies. The California Climate Investments Quantification Methodology Emission Factor Database and Documentation below include emission factors used in CARB quantification methodologies released after August 30, 2017. CARB will add emission factors and documentation applicable to California Climate Investments programs as new methodologies become available.
- California Climate Investments Quantification Methodology Emission Factor Database
- California Climate Investments Quantification Methodology Emission Factor Database Documentation
To request a copy of previous versions of the Emission Factor Database, contact us at GGRFProgram@arb.ca.gov.
Co-benefit Assessment Methodologies
In addition to GHG emission reductions, quantification methodologies are being developed to also estimate other benefits and key variables. CARB continues to develop methods to assess additional social, economic, and environmental co-benefits achieved by California Climate Investments projects. For more information on co-benefits, including draft assessment methods, visit co-benefits.
- 1CARB is required to develop guidance to agencies administering California Climate Investments. The resources on this page were developed in consultation with administering agencies through a public process. More information on co-benefits can be found at: www.arb.ca.gov/cci-cobenefits.
- 2The materials in the table are grouped in sectors: Transportation and Sustainable Communities, Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency, Natural Resources and Waste Diversion, and Cross-Sectoral projects. A single California Climate Investments program may fund one or more project type. Please contact CARB for assistance in identifying the correct materials.
- 3SB 1119 deems specific project types to have met all applicable requirements for benefiting priority populations per AB 1550. See SB 1119 for more information.
- 4Benefits for priority populations are based on the HSR current Business Plan and Sustainability Report.
- 5The TCC program may fund multiple project types. Each funded project should be evaluated and reported using the materials (quantification methodology, benefit criteria, and reporting requirements) applicable to that project type.