2023 California Climate Investments Annual Report; Results from the California Climate Investments Survey; Upcoming Guidance on Senate Bill 27; CalSHAPE Draft Quantification Methodology; and more…
Celebrating Completion of Curtis Creek Elementary Water Project; California Ports Leading the Way Toward Hydrogen Power Adoption; Microtransit Service Debuts in Calexico; and more…
Project Profiles
Low Carbon Transit Operations Program Selects 1,000th Project
In 2022, the California Department of Transportation issued its 1,000th award through the Low Carbon Transportation Operations Program (LCTOP) to Stanislaus Regional Transit Authority (StanRTA) for their Free Fares Project. The project provides free, safe, and reliable transportation services for residents to travel to educational institutions, employment centers, medical offices, grocery stores, and shopping malls. Transit fares are often a barrier to residents in disadvantaged communities, but with the support from LCTOP, the Free Fares Project has made it possible for riders to use public transportation without any financial hardship. Read more.
Announcements and Updates
2023 California Climate Investments Annual Report Now Available
The 2023 Annual Report to the Legislature on California Climate Investments Using Cap-and-Trade Auction Proceeds is now available! Since 2015, this report has highlighted annual and cumulative achievements from the broad portfolio of California Climate Investments programs.
As of November 2022, California Climate Investments programs have implemented over $9.3 billion in addition to $4.3 billion in expenditures by the High-Speed Rail Project for a total of $13.6 billion. These investments are delivering major economic, environmental, and public health benefits for Californians, including meaningful benefits to disadvantaged communities and low‑income communities and households. Roughly half of these implemented funds address concerns faced by priority populations by providing cleaner air, enhanced mobility options, access to clean energy sources, and new employment opportunities.
Coming in May: California Climate Investments Funding Guidelines Update Workshop
California Air Resources Board (CARB) is in the process of updating the Funding Guidelines for Agencies Administering California Climate Investments in response to new legislation and lessons learned from our programs. We invite you to participate in a public workshop on May 8 at 2:00 PM to learn more about potential changes and share your input on priorities for the update.
Results from the
California Climate Investments Survey Now Available
Staff are pleased to present a factsheet summarizing takeaways from our 2022 public California Climate Investments survey. In the survey, we asked stakeholders to tell us what they would like California Climate Investments to prioritize in its forthcoming update to the Funding Guidelines for Administering Agencies.
Thank you to everyone who participated!
California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) to Establish California Carbon Sequestration and Climate Resiliency Project Registry from Senate Bill 27
Senate Bill 27 directed the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) to establish the California Carbon Sequestration and Climate Resiliency Project Registry. California Climate Investments program applicants who were not awarded funding due to lack of available funding are eligible for the registry provided those projects meet minimum program requirements.
CARB released a draft Supplement to the Funding Guidelines to specify that those minimum program requirements are for the purposes of Senate Bill 27. The draft is available on the Funding Guidelines webpage and CARB is accepting public comment through June 2. In the coming months, CNRA will also be hosting a workshop to solicit feedback on its draft regulation and a discussion document along with CARB’s supplemental guidance. More information can be found on CNRA’s nature-based solutions webpage.
Available for Public Comment: Draft Quantification Methodology for California Schools Healthy Air, Plumbing, and Efficiency Program (CalSHAPE)
The California Energy Commission’s CalSHAPE program provides funding to individual schools and school districts to upgrade heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. The CalSHAPE program also funds the replacement of noncompliant plumbing fixtures and appliances that fail to meet water efficiency standards using other funding sources.
Available Now: Low-Income Weatherization Program (LIWP) Solar and Energy-Efficiency Installation for Income-Eligible Farmworker Households
The California Department of Community Services and Development is providing income-eligible farmworker households with no-cost rooftop solar panel installation and other energy efficiency measures through the Low Income Weatherization Program (LIWP). The program is available to farmworkers residing in the counties of Imperial, Fresno, Kern, Madera, Merced, Monterey, Riverside, San Joaquin, Santa Barbara, Stanislaus, Tulare, and Ventura.
To learn more about the program, visit the program page.
LIWP Multi-family Energy Efficiency and Renewables Projects
The Low-Income Weatherization Program's (LIWP) Multi-Family Energy Efficiency and Renewables Component provides technical assistance and incentives for the installation of energy efficiency measures and solar photovoltaic systems in low-income multi-family dwellings serving priority populations.
To learn more about the program, visit the program page.
CalRecycle Organics Grants Available for Qualified Organics-Recycling
CalRecycle’s Organics Grant Program is accepting applications through May 2. This program provides local government agencies and community partners funding to help reduce the amount of organic waste sent to landfills. Grantees may use their funding to establish or expand waste facilities or divert surplus food to foodbanks.
California Air Resources Board (CARB) Community Air Grants – Deadline Extended
CARB is pleased to announce that the application period has been extended for the Community Air Grants Program (Air Grants Program). Applications are now due by April 24, 2023. Hard copy applications must be received by 5:00 PM while electronic applications are due by 11:59 PM on April 24, 2023.
Strategic Growth Council Transformative Climate Communities Application and Technical Assistance
Applications are now available for place-based, community-driven projects through the Strategic Growth Council’s (SGC) Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) program. Applications are due August 1 by 5:00 PM PST, and applicants must submit pre-proposals by May 1. Technical assistance is available to help with applications.
Learn more about the program and apply on the TCC webpage.
Curtis Creek Elementary School Celebrates Water Project
Curtis Creek Elementary School was awarded $2.2 Million from the Safe and Affordable Funding for Equity and Resilience (SAFER) Grant from the California State Water Resources Control Board. An unreliable water well had waylaid the school’s plans to resume classes after a series of planned power outages. This grant secured clean drinking water for all students and staff. The SAFER program is funded by California Climate Investments.
California Ports Leading the Way Towards Hydrogen
Power Adoption
The California Air Resources Board, through the Advanced Technology Demonstration and Pilot Project, is funding big changes at the Port of Los Angeles. Fenix Marine Services, managed by the Center for Transportation and Environment, is operating a first-of-its-kind hydrogen-powered container handler. This new vehicle will operate continuously with as little as 15 minutes of refueling to help phase out power sources at the port that rely heavily on gasoline and diesel.
The City of Calexico launched a new electric microtransit service, Calexico On Demand, to provide an affordable and convenient transportation option for residents. The service, which is part of a pilot program developed by the Imperial County Transportation Commission (ICTC) with funding from the California Air Resources Board’s Clean Mobility Options Voucher Pilot Program (CMO), offers shared rides that improve accessibility and mobility for residents in the city who do not have their own means of transportation.
Redlands Artist Brings Color to San Bernardino Bus Stops
San Bernardino’s OmniTrans, in partnership with The Artlands of Redlands and The Garcia Center of San Bernardino, commissioned artists to paint bus benches as part of a community engagement project. The initiative aimed to elevate transit stops from street infrastructure to community hubs and offer an opportunity for artists to exhibit their work. Funding for this project was provided through California Climate Investments administered by CARB’s Sustainable Transportation Equity Project (STEP) program.
