The Budget Act of 2014 appropriated $832 million in cap-and-trade auction proceeds to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen communities, and improve quality-of-life. On June 30, 2015, the California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) approved $121.9 million of the FY 2014-15 funds in competitive grants and loans to 28 housing and transit-friendly infrastructure projects as part of the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program, which is being implemented by the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) in coordination with the SGC and the Air Resources Board (ARB).
In addition, $4.6 million in Climate Investments was approved for 12 projects supporting the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program, which is being implemented by the Natural Resources Agency and the Department of Conservation (DOC). California Climate Investments are programs funded by the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund using proceeds from the state’s cap-and-trade auctions.
The Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program (AHSCP) will fund projects by supporting more compact, infill development patterns along transit corridors, and encouraging active transportation and transit usage. By law, at least 50 percent of funding must be dedicated to affordable housing and benefit disadvantaged communities. Fifty-two percent of the recommended projects include transit-oriented developments, which include both housing (more than 2,000 affordable housing units) and transportation capital improvements and at least one transit station or stop served by high-quality transit. Approximately 25 percent supports bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, transit station area improvements, transit service, and other connectivity between housing and communities. Seventy-seven percent of this year’s recommended grants benefit disadvantaged communities.
Two RCRC member counties, Nevada and Yolo, received awards totaling $14.7 million, or 12 percent of the funds. The SGC, in conjunction with the California Natural Resources Agency, also awarded $4.6 million to the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program (SALCP), approving seven projects that placed more than 14,000 acres under permanent protection and five agricultural strategy grants. The RCRC counties of Butte, Tehama, Lassen, Mono, and Napa received nearly $3 million, or 71 percent of the award funds, for conservation easements. Butte, Mendocino, and Mono received nearly $300,000, or 60 percent, of the funds for SALCP Strategy Grants. A complete list of selected projects can be accessed here.