Title
Air Quality Management District recommending the Board, acting as the Air Quality Management District Board of Directors, adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 083-2019 authorizing Air Pollution Control Officer (APCO) to:
1) Execute Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Placer County Air Pollution Control District (PCAPCD), authorizing the El Dorado County Air Quality Management District's (EDCAQMD) participation in the shared allocation pool for the California Air Resources Board's (CARB) Funding Agricultural Replacement Measures for Emission Reductions (FARMER) program for projects in El Dorado County;
2) Execute a separate MOU with the PCAPCD authorizing the EDCAQMD to implement FARMER program projects awarded to PCAPCD on their behalf;
3) Execute funding agreements with approved grantees for projects in El Dorado County and Placer County, pending approval from County Counsel and Risk Management;
4) Implement and expend the funds in accordance with the EDCAQMD / PCAPCD MOUs; and
5) Execute any future grant contracts or MOUs and funding agreements and other necessary actions to receive additional FARMER funding through the statutory term of the program.
FUNDING: Funding authorized by State Assembly Bills 134 and 109.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The Funding Agricultural Replacement Measures for Emission Reductions (FARMER) Program provides funding through local air districts for agricultural harvesting equipment, heavy-duty trucks, agricultural pump engines, tractors, and other equipment used in agricultural operations. Potential projects include orchard, vineyard and logging operation equipment replacements.
In September 2017, CARB received $135 million to reduce emissions from the agricultural sector from Assembly Bill (AB) 134 (Committee on Budget, Chapter 254, Statutes of 2017) and AB 109 (Ting, Chapter 249, Statutes of 2017). The bills provide funding for agricultural harvesting equipment, heavy-duty trucks, agricultural pump engines, tractors, and other equipment used in agricultural operations. CARB staff worked with local air districts and stakeholders to develop the proposed FARMER Program Guidelines, which set the minimum requirements for the program and ensure that the projects funded will provide the intended emission reductions. In March 2018, the Board approved the FARMER Program Guidelines. The administration of the FARMER Program is handled through the local air districts and local air districts will select which projects to fund. The FARMER Program is supported in part by California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work.
The PCAPCD is administering the FARMER Shared Allocation Pool (SAP) funds set aside by CARB to go to the eighteen California air districts which did not receive FARMER program funding directly from CARB. EDCAQMD will work with PCAPCD to solicit projects in El Dorado County, review project eligibility, recommend projects for SAP funding, and coordinate required reporting associated with the FARMER program. As the administrator of the FARMER SAP, PCAPCD cannot administer it's own FARMER projects, so EDCAQMD will also administer projects that are awarded to Placer County grantees.
ALTERNATIVES
If the Board decides to not approve the District's participation in the FARMER program, the District will not be able to offer FARMER SAP funding for equipment to El Dorado County nor to Placer County agricultural businesses.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
It is recommended that the Board approve this item.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
No impact on AQMD's operation funds, FARMER program is fully funded including administrative funding.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Clerk to provide AQMD with a signed copy of the Resolution.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Good Governance
CONTACT
Dave Johnston, Air Pollution Control Officer