Cap-and-trade grants available to array of local groups–slush find spending

We were told AB 32 was about saving the earth, by killing the California economy. Because of this law, we now have cap and trade, a tax on businesses and manufacturers—which is why firms are leaving the State. Now we know communities are asking for millions from this slush fund for affordable housing programs and to back fill budgets so they can afford the 50% increase in mandated pension contributions. Now our confused Guv Brown is opening up the floodgates of corruption and abuse of this slush fund. He is already giving $250 million a year to the fraudulent choo choo train.

Indeed the effort is now clear. It is a backfill operation for deficit budgets of government agencies and non-profits—cap and trade is actually a financial bailout of incompetent organizations and sleazy operations.

“Incoming grants from cap-and-trade — a state program that fines polluting companies — will be wrapped up within numerous state and local agencies. But the nonprofit consultancy firm Valley Vision has stepped in to help businesses and nonprofits navigate the bureaucracy.

“We’re trying to step into that confusing mix and create some quality information that is clear to everybody,” said Bill Mueller, Valley Vision’s CEO.”

Cap-and-trade grants available to array of local groups

Businesses have scorned California’s cap-and-trade program for its wholesale set of new fees and regulations for emissions. But local private and public firms engaged in housing, transit and other sectors related to cutting pollution are now organizing to get a bite of some $832 million in proceeds from the program.

Allen Young, Sacramento Business Journal, 11/7/14

Businesses big and small have scorned California’s cap-and-trade program for its wholesale set of new fees and regulations. But local private and public firms engaged in housing, transit and other sectors related to cutting pollution are now organizing to get a bite of some $832 million in proceeds from the program.

Incoming grants from cap-and-trade — a state program that fines polluting companies — will be wrapped up within numerous state and local agencies. But the nonprofit consultancy firm Valley Vision has stepped in to help businesses and nonprofits navigate the bureaucracy.

“We’re trying to step into that confusing mix and create some quality information that is clear to everybody,” said Bill Mueller, Valley Vision’s CEO.

The nonprofit has begun hosting workshops organized around different available grants. The meetings are now occurring once or twice a week through the end of the year. Getting rapidly organized is crucial, said Mueller, because other regions across California are competing for the limited dollars.

Local hospitals are grant contenders because hospitals can apply for cash to retrofit shuttles with cleaner engines, Mueller said. Sacramento Regional Transit District wants to access the money for the same reason. As previously reported, census tracks in the region are eligible for more than $200 million in cap-and-trade dollars.

Here is a breakdown of the kinds of grants available. Cap-and-trade money is intended for businesses and community organizations engaged in work around reducing emissions. The kinds of activities that are eligible for funding were ultimately determined by legislators and described in the 2014-15 state budget.

The $832 million is this year’s projected sum from carbon auctions that occur in February, May, August and November each year.