California Air Resources Board

Summary

Would enact the Wildfire Prevention, Safe Drinking Water, Drought Preparation, and Flood Protection Bond Act of 2022, which, if approved by voters, would have authorized the issuance of bonds for $5,595 billion to finance projects for wildfire prevention, safe drinking water, drought preparation, and flood protection. If approved by voters on the 2022 ballot, this bill would authorize the issuance of $50 million in bonds to CARB, in consultation with California Natural Resources Agency and California Department of Forestry and Fire, to incentivize new projects in California that convert forest and other vegetation waste removed for wildfire mitigation to beneficial uses that maximize reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, provide local air quality benefits, and help increase local community resilience against climate change impacts. Moved to the Senate Inactive File.

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Summary

This bill would transfer $150 million from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to fund the Innovative Renewable Energy for Buildings Act of 2021, that would, until January 1, 2031, require the California Energy Commission to establish and implement a program to provide financial incentives to producers for the production of renewable propane, renewable hydrogen, and renewable dimethyl ether meeting certain requirements and that is used as an energy source for buildings. Was not heard in the Assembly Natural Resource Committee. 

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Summary

Would have required CARB to extend its Project 800 initiative (Project 800) to provide financial incentives for the ordering of an additional 1,000 to 1,600 zero-emission drayage trucks in 2022 and the operation of zero-emission drayage trucks in 2024. The bill states the Legislature’s intent that Project 800 funding comes from, but not be limited to, the Hybrid and Zero Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP). The bill would have also required participating fleets to provide a truthful attestation to CARB that they did not have an applicable law violation, as specified, at the time of application and for a minimum of three years from the date of application for Project 800 financial incentives. Requires the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) to report and notify CARB of the determination of any reports received regarding a violation, as specified. The bill would have also required participating fleets to repay Project 800 financial incentives, including interest, as directed by CARB if a participating fleet had provided a falsified attestation or had an applicable law violation, as specified. Held on suspense in the Senate Appropriations Committee. 

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Summary

Would require the California Natural Resources Agency to develop and implement a fuels transportation program that provides grants to eligible communities to offset the cost of transporting fuels to a biomass energy facility. The bill would also make funds from Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund available to facilitate the grant program. Was not heard in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.

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Summary

Would enact the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, and Workforce Development Bond Act of 2022, which, if approved by voters, would authorize the issuance of bonds in the amount of $7.08 billion to finance projects for safe drinking water, wildfire prevention, drought preparation, flood protection, extreme heat mitigation, and workforce development programs. The bond allocates $30 million to CARB, and would require CARB to consult with the California Natural Resources Agency and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to fund projects that provide long-term capital infrastructure to convert forest and other vegetative waste removed for wildfire mitigation to uses that maximize reductions in the greenhouse gas emissions, provide local air quality benefits, and increase local community resilience against climate change impacts. Remains in the Assembly Rules Committee. 

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Summary

Would have established specified State goals for fuels treatment, vegetation management, and wildfire risk reduction. The bill would have also required the California Natural Resources Agency and the California Environmental Protection Agency to submit an annual report, beginning on or before January 1, 2023, on the progress made towards achieving these goals to the appropriate policy and budget committees of the Legislature. Held on suspense in the Senate Appropriations Committee. 

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Summary

Would create the Joint Legislative High-Speed Rail Oversight Committee consisting of three members of the Senate and three members of the Assembly to provide ongoing and independent oversight of the high-speed rail project by performing specified duties, and requires the committee to make recommendations to the appropriate standing policy and budget committees of both houses of the Legislature to guide decisions concerning the State’s programs, policies, and investments related to high-speed rail. Was not heard in the Assembly Transportation Committee.

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Summary

Would enact the Clean Economy and Clean Jobs Stimulus Act of 2021 and requires the Department of Water Resources (DWR) to procure newly developed eligible energy resources, and energy storage facilities associated with those resources, in an amount that satisfies 100 percent of the electricity procured to serve all State agencies by December 31, 2030. Additionally, the bill would allow DWR to recover the costs of any eligible energy resources it procures on behalf of State agencies from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. Was not heard in the Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee.

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Summary

Would provide a partial income tax exemption to a resident leasing a solar electric generation system if the solar electric generation system is used to comply with specified State buildings standards and the tangible personal property on a rental property is used in specified activities. This bill requires a transfer of the total dollar amount of solar tax exemptions provided by this bill from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to the General Fund. Was not heard in the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee. 

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Summary

Would authorize a public entity to use, enter into, or require contractors to enter into, a community workforce agreement for construction projects as specified in the bill, including projects related to renewable energy and installation of emission controls in refineries. Was not heard in the Senate Governmental Organization Committee.

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