On May 29th, RCRC submitted comments to the Senate Budget Committee regarding proposed allocations in the reauthorization of the Cap-and-Trade program. The funding provided by the program thus far has been vital to rural communities, while at the same time new greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions mandates like the Advanced Clean Fleets rules and organics recycling mandates have posed unique challenges for rural communities- especially in the absence significant state investment. Concurrently, the ongoing day-to-day challenges rural communities face in preventing wildfires are compounded by federal funding cuts.
RCRC recommendations include the dedication of a larger ongoing appropriation to wildfire mitigation projects; continued funding of CAL FIRE’s operational costs through the General Fund rather than shifting the responsibility to the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) at the expense of other GGRF funded projects; and that Cap-and-Trade funds also be distributed to local governments to cover the costs of state mandates, such as those in new solid waste regulations or from CARB’s Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) rules. To see all of RCRC’s recommendations, read the comment letter in full here.
For more information, contact RCRC Senior Policy Advocate, Staci Heaton.