Title
El Dorado County Air Quality Management District (District) recommending the Board, acting as the Air Quality Management Board of Directors, adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 220-2019 authorizing the Air Pollution Control Officer to:
1) Execute grant agreement with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) accepting initial funding in the amount of $363,109.24 for the implementation of the 2018-19 appropriation of the Woodsmoke Reduction Program (Program), pending approval from County Counsel and Risk Management;
2) Execute Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and/or MOU amendments with Placer County Air Pollution Control District to administer the Program in Placer County, pending approval from County Counsel and Risk Management;
3) Execute Memorandum of Understanding and/or MOU amendments with Amador County Air Pollution Control District to administer to Program in Amador County, pending approval from County Counsel and Risk Management;
4) Execute agreements and/or amendments to existing agreements with participating contractors to install woodstoves to ensure old woodstoves are rendered inoperable and to instruct residents on proper operation of new woodstove, pending approval from County Counsel and Risk Management;
5) Implement and expend the funds in accordance with the grant agreement with CARB; and
6) Execute any future grant or funding agreements with CARB and other necessary actions to receive additional funding to support the implementation of the Woodsmoke Reduction Program through the statutory term of the Program.
FUNDING: AQMD - State Grant Funding.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On July 17, 2007, the Board approved an incentive program to reduce winter time particulate matter emissions by removing old wood burning fireplaces and stoves or replacing them with new clean burning EPA certified wood or pellet stoves. To date over 1118 old stoves have been replaced in the County reducing annual criteria pollutant emissions by 268 tons and greenhouse gas emissions by 5,080 tons. It is estimated that 4,882 old stoves remain in the County. In addition District staff have replaced over 36 old stoves in Placer and Amador Counties.
Senate Bill 563 establishes the Program to be administered by CARB to promote the voluntary replacement of old wood-burning stoves with cleaner and more efficient alternatives. The bill also authorizes money from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) to be allocated for incentives offered as part of the Program. The State Legislature committed $3,000,000 in fiscal year 2018-2019 to CARB to incentivize replacement of old, uncertified devices.
CARB has developed Program Guidelines that have been incorporated into the grant agreement. The Guidelines state the program will maximize benefits to households in low income communities and to low income households. Low-income households and households located in low income communities are to be eligible to replace their old stove for little or no cost. These households will qualify for an enhanced incentive. The maximum allowable enhanced incentive amount per replacement will be $2,500.
Households that are not low income or located in low income communities will qualify for state funding at the incentive amounts in the District's current subvention funded program ($500 -$900). Households simply removing an old stove will not be eligible under this State program, but they will continue to be eligible for the District's current subvention funded program. Long-term rental households that were ineligible for the District's current program will qualify for this new State program.
Of the $3 million appropriated by the State Legislature, $150,252.10 has been allocated to El Dorado AQMD, $125,210.08 has been allocated to Placer County Air Pollution Control District (PCAPCD) and $87,647.06 has been allocated to Amador County Air Pollution Control District (ACAPCD). Due to the success of our local program, as well as the our administration of their state funded Woodsmoke Reduction Program pilot, PCAPCD and ACAPCD again requested our assistance with implementing the program in Placer and Amador Counties. As compensation for assisting the Placer and Amador APCDs, El Dorado AQMD will receive funding to offset its administration costs (up to approx $20,000) and additional funding for replacements at households in EDC (up to approx $96,000).
ALTERNATIVES
If the Board chooses not to adopt the Resolution, the District will not receive the state funding for this program, and approximately 140 non-EPA compliant woodstoves and inserts will not be replaced and the emission reductions will not be realized in the County and the regional air basin.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
On May 8, 2018, the Board of Directors approved the District's participation in the Woodsmoke Reduction Pilot Program, the "first round" of funding of a state-funded woodsmoke program, as well as approved the District to administer Placer County Air Pollution Control District's woodsmoke program. On September 25, 2018, the Board of Directors approved the District's administration of the state-funded woodstove program for the Amador County Air Pollution Control District.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Resolution has been approved by County Counsel and Risk Management.
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
This item is recommended for approval.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The acceptance of this funding will allow the District to enhance the current AQMD subvention funded woodsmoke program with little to no fiscal impact to existing District funding.
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