OPPORTUNITIES FOR RCDS IN NEW GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION FUND PROGRAMS Annual Resource Conservation...
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OPPORTUNITIES FOR RCDS IN NEW GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION FUND PROGRAMS Annual Resource Conservation District Conference San Diego November 14, 2014 Amrith
OPPORTUNITIES FOR RCDS IN NEW GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION FUND
PROGRAMS Annual Resource Conservation District Conference San Diego
November 14, 2014 Amrith (Ami) Gunasekara, PhD Science Advisor to
the Secretary Carolyn Cook, MSc Climate Change Specialist
Slide 2
2 THE GGRF The Legislature and Governor appropriate proceeds
from the sale of State-owned allowances for projects that support
the goals of AB 32. Strategic investment of these proceeds furthers
the goals of AB 32 by reducing GHG emissions, providing net GHG
sequestration, and supporting the long- term, transformative
efforts needed to improve public and environmental health and
develop a clean energy economy.
Slide 3
THE DROUGHT AND SB 103 Emergency drought legislation bill (SB
103) signed by Governor Brown on March 1, 2014 3
http://gov.ca.gov/news.php?id=18432 $10 million from the Greenhouse
Gas Reduction Fund for the California Department of Food and
Agriculture to invest in irrigation and water pumping systems that
reduce water use, energy use and greenhouse gas emissions
Slide 4
CDFA as the lead agency states; MORE ON SB 103 $10,000,000
shall be available for encumbrance until June 30, 2015, for
consultation and coordination with the Department of Water
Resources (DWR) and the State Water Resources Control Board
(SWRCB), to establish and implement a program, on or before July 1,
2014." "to provide financial incentives to agricultural operations
to invest in water irrigation treatment and distribution systems
that reduce water and energy use, augment supply and increase water
and energy efficiency in agricultural applications." "Incentives
shall be ranked and distributed based on financial need, immediacy
of water supply increased and efficiency gained to address water
shortages, and reduction in water pumping or treatment that uses
energy causing greenhouse gas emissions.
Slide 5
Fits well under the Environmental Farming Act of 1995. Division
1, Part 1, Chapter 3, Article 8.5, Sections 560-568 Section 566.
(a) The department shall establish and oversee an environmental
farming program. The program shall provide incentives to farmers
whose practices promote the well- being of ecosystems, air quality,
and wildlife and their habitat. Act posted online at;
http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/EnvironmentalStewardship/pdfs/CannellaEnvironment
alFarmingAct.pdf CDFA AUTHORITY
Slide 6
6 SWEEP First round Must reduce water OR GHG; $50,000 max
Funded 93 applications at $3.6 million Total applications received
= 130 (71% funded) Second round Must reduce water AND GHG; $150,000
max Application deadline Nov. 10, 2014; 321 applications
submitted
Slide 7
7 SWEEP IMPORTANT PARTS Online application Quantifiable water
savings and GHG reductions Budget and matching funds Documentation
required for data provided Schematic and project design Six month
implementation period Use of NRCS Conservation Practices Review
component (Universities) Verification component
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12 OTHER OPPERTUNITES Online application (RCDs) Quantifiable
water savings and GHG reductions (RCDs) Budget and matching funds
(RCDs) Documentation required for data provided Schematic and
project design (RCDs) Six month implementation period Use of NRCS
Conservation Practices(RCDs) Review component (Universities)
Verification component (RCDs) Assisting growers with project
implementation
Slide 13
13 OTHER OPPERTUNITES CDFA is working with NRCS to develop GHG
reduction estimates for its conservation practices. GGRF $ can be
used to incentivize the implementation of conservation practices on
working lands including rangelands Conservation practices focused
on carbon sequestration and soil health (building recalcitrant
organic matter pools and GHG reductions) Requires long term
verification where RCDs might be able to play a role in Discussion
topic in SGC and in DOC
Slide 14
Amrith (Ami) Gunasekara, PhD Science Advisor to the Secretary
[email protected]
http://ericjacobsononmanagement.blogspot.com Thanks!