California Air Resources Board

Summary

Would have required a person who extracts or uses water from a groundwater basin within 20 miles of Joshua Tree National Park, for purposes of construction and operation of a closed-loop pumped hydroelectric energy storage system, to submit to the State Water Resources Control Board, any plans, technical reports, or monitoring data reports required under any license for hydroelectric generation issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.  Held on suspense in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Would have enacted the Economic Recovery, Wildfire Prevention, Safe Drinking Water, Drought Preparation, and Flood Protection Bond Act of 2020, which if approved by voters, would have authorized the issuance of bonds for $6.98 billion to finance projects for wildfire prevention, safe drinking water, drought preparation, and flood protection.  As part of the bill, the bond would have provided $50 million to CARB to fund projects that convert forest and vegetation waste to beneficial uses that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, provide local air quality benefits, and help to increase local community resilience against climate change impacts.  Remains in the Assembly Rules Committee.

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Summary

Would have required State agencies administering competitive Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) grant programs to ensure preferential points for specified populations and provide an application period of at least three months.  The bill also would have required State agencies that administer competitive grant programs involving housing, forestry, urban greening, or planning to develop application scoring categories to account for differences among urban, suburban, and rural communities during the application review process.  In addition, the bill would have added eight additional co-benefits for GGRF-funded projects and required the California Department of Finance to report on additional elements of GGRF grants in the California Climate Investments Annual Report, including information on applications that did not receive funding.  Was not heard in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.

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