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 083-2022 authorizing Air Pollution Control Officer (APCO) to:
1) Execute Funding Agricultural Replacement Measures for Emission Reductions (FARMER) Shared Allocation Pool Master Agreement with the Placer County Air Pollution Control District (PCAPCD), authorizing the continuation of El Dorado County Air Quality Management District's (EDCAQMD) participation in the shared allocation pool for the California Air Resources Board's (CARB) FARMER program for projects in El Dorado County;
2) Execute FARMER Shared Allocation Pool District CARB Fiscal Year (FY) 2021-22 Allocation Agreement with the Placer County Air Pollution Control District (PCAPCD), authorizing the EDCAQMD to receive funding from the FY 2021-22 allocation based on applications received by EDCAQMD and approved for funding by PCAPCD as the administrator of the Shared Allocation Pool;
3) Execute funding agreements with approved grantees for projects in El Dorado County, pending approval from County Counsel and Risk Management;
4) Implement and expend the funds in accordance with the FARMER Shared Allocation Pool Master Agreement and the FARMER Shared Allocation Pool District CARB FY 21-22 Allocation Agreement; and
5) Execute any future grant contracts or agreements and funding agreements and other necessary actions to receive and expend additional FARMER funding through April 30, 2026.
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.
A new round of funding is to be released soon and the PCAPCD anticipates opening the application period in August 2022. This resolution and agreements would allow agricultural operators in El Dorado County to apply for funding from the Shared Allocation Pool, and allow the APCO to execute funding agreements with the recipients of the awarded FARMER grants. To date seven replacement projects have been implemented with prior rounds of funding.
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 funding to El Dorado County agricultural businesses to help replace older high-emission equipment.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
On June 4, 2019, the Board approved Resolution 083-2019 authorizing AQMD to participate in the initial rounds of the FARMER program and authorized the APCO to execute MOUs and funding agreements thru the term of those initial rounds.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no Financial impact on AQMD's operation funds. The FARMER program is fully funded with State funds, including administrative funding. Funding for this program is included in the FY 2022-23 AQMD Budget.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Clerk to provide AQMD with a signed copy of the Resolution.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Healthy Communities
CONTACT
Dave Johnston, Air Pollution Control Officer