Title
Chief Administrative Officer recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign a letter of support to the California Department of Conservation for the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD)-Mote Hydrogen Forest Biomass to Carbon-Negative Biofuels Pilot Program.
FUNDING: N/A
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The County's Strategic Plan identifies the priority of exploring the feasibility of biomass and cogeneration plants.
Chief Administrative Office staff have been working with the South Fork of the American River Collaborative (SOFAR) and the SOFAR Biomass Working Group to advance biomass-to-energy projects within El Dorado County. The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) participates in SOFAR and Biomass Working Group meetings. SMUD has significant assets and infrastructure located within El Dorado County.
In July 2020, the SMUD Board of Directors adopted a resolution calling for SMUD to take significant and consequential actions to become carbon neutral (net zero carbon) by 2030. SMUD’s 2030 Zero Carbon Plan provides the strategy to achieve this goal by rapidly advancing clean energy technology, including forest biomass utilization, and using a collaborative and inclusive approach to carbon reduction. To this end, SMUD has partnered with Mote Hydrogen to advance a first-of-its-kind biomass-to-carbon-negative hydrogen facility in the greater Sacramento region. It is Mote Hydrogen’s goal to play a significant role in California’s efforts to treat one million acres of forest land per year by establishing biomass-to-clean-energy facilities. Mote Hydrogen’s proposed facility will utilize both public and private forest biomass from the Sierra Nevada Mountains, including biomass originating in El Dorado County.
SMUD and Mote Hydrogen are applying for a California Department of Conservation (DOC) grant. The DOC grant will provide funding for initial phase one planning activities, including the evaluation of potential sites for Mote Hydrogen’s proposed facility. Sites in El Dorado County will be considered.
SMUD is seeking the Board of Supervisors’ support of its request for grant funding from the DOC. The proposed Mote Hydrogen facility, regardless of whether or not it is sited in El Dorado County, will help in the effort to reduce catastrophic wildfires, improve forest and watershed health, and ultimately help improve air quality. Additionally, this facility will help to create several hundred jobs across the construction, forestry, engineering and clean energy industries.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose not to approve the Chair's signing of the letter.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
N/A
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
N/A
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Return the signed letter to Chief Administrative Office for distribution.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Economic Development
CONTACT
Don Ashton
Chief Administrative Officer