News Briefs | 05.08.17

Governor Signs Controversial Road Repair and Accountability Act

On April 28, Gov. Jerry Brown signed SB 1, the highly debated transportation funding bill that raises $52.4 billion through increased taxes and new fees to pay for road maintenance and repairs, public transit, and other projects. A last-minute surprise amendment prevents the state from requiring truck owners to upgrade to lower-emission vehicles. Adopted as a concession to the trucking industry, the amendment angered environmentalists, who argued that it would perpetuate health problems in disadvantaged, highly polluted neighborhoods.

As the largest road funding bill in the state in more than 25 years, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 includes a 12-cent gas tax increase that begins in November, a new fee based on vehicle value that ranges from $25 to $75 and begins in 2018, and a new $100 annual registration fee for zero-emission vehicles that begins in 2020.

Brown Calls Global Warming a “Looming Catastrophe” at Navigating the American Carbon World Conference

The 15th annual Navigating the American Carbon World Conference, co-sponsored by the Coalition, was more relevant than ever this year, attracting additional influential speakers such as Kevin de León, California Senate president pro tem; CARB Chair Mary Nichols; Matt Rodriquez, secretary for environmental protection at the California EPA; and Catherine McKenna, Canada’s minister of environment and climate change.

Coalition President Thomas Lawson participated in a panel discussion that explored how the various organizations promoting alternative fuels can best collaborate. “I’m glad to have conversations with other clean transportation advocates about how we can work together toward the common goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants, and eventually get to zero emissions, while providing the cleanest options available right now,” he said.

Gov. Brown opened the conference with a rousing keynote speech in which he called global warming a “looming catastrophe for California, the nation, and the world.” He urged conference attendees to work to reduce carbon pollution as much as possible despite what the federal government may—or may not—do to address global warming.

“Stopping carbon will be like stopping a heroin addiction,” said Brown. “We are addicted to carbon in the sense that we are repeatedly using it. We have to stop using carbon for our prosperity.” He also called on Californians to continue to be pioneers in the fight against carbon pollution.

CARB Approves Revisions to Carl Moyer Program

During the April 27 CARB meeting, the board approved revisions to the Carl Moyer Program, and staff supported the Coalition’s suggestion that the agency develop an easy-to-use grant calculator. The staff also agreed to work on developing a simpler way to determine how to combine funding from multiple programs. The Coalition has offered to field-test the new tools when CARB releases them.

However, CARB rejected the Coalition’s request that it make funding from the program available for new vehicle purchases. According to CARB staff, the EPA has decided that purchasing new vehicles results in increased emissions, even if the intent is to replace an older, dirtier truck. Because of that interpretation, funding new trucks through the Moyer Program could affect California’s ability to meet its federally required State Implementation Plan commitments.

Coalition Supports Transformative Climate Communities Reporting Bill

The Coalition is supporting AB 1683, which aims to provide greater accountability and oversight to climate investments made through the Transformative Climate Communities Program, created last year by AB 2722. Through AB 1683, the Strategic Growth Council, established by AB 2722 and consisting of the heads of various state agencies, will report to the Legislature on investments made through AB 2722 using cap-and-trade auction revenues from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. The aim of AB 1683 is to provide examples of successful projects and encourage greater participation in the Transformative Climate Communities Program.

CEC Announces Proposed Grants for Biofuels Production Facilities

The CEC has announced several proposed recipients of GFO-15-606 grants for community-scale and commercial-scale advanced biofuel production facilities, including three natural gas projects. Pending formal approval, California Bioenergy will receive more than $3 million for the Kern Dairy Biogas Cluster RNG project in Kern County. The sanitation districts of Los Angeles County will receive $2.5 million for their biogas conditioning system for producing RNG from anaerobic digestion of food waste recycled at a wastewater treatment plant. Finally, the city of Manteca will receive $3 million for its waste-to-fuels program.

Quantum Plans Expansion of Back-of-Cab CNG Fuel Modules

Quantum Fuel Systems, a natural gas storage system manufacturer in Lake Forest, is developing a new CNG fuel module for heavy-duty trucks, the Q-CAB60, that will hold 60 dges of CNG in a single tank. Designed for back-of-cab installation, the module will not obstruct visibility.