MEDIA ADVISORY: CalEPA and CARB hold public meetings on California Climate Investments in disadvantaged communities

SACRAMENTO -
Members of the public are invited to participate in community meetings to discuss use of proceeds raised through the state's Cap-and-Trade auctions to fund projects that reduce greenhouse gases in disadvantaged and low-income communities through the California Climate Investments initiative. The meetings focus on two questions: how to identify disadvantaged communities and how to assess benefits of proposed projects to individuals living in these communities.

The California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) and California Air Resources Board (CARB) staff are hosting the following meetings to share their initial thinking on these issues and seek public input. These meetings are part of the implementation of Senate Bill 535 (De León, 2012) and Assembly Bill 1550 (Gomez, 2016).

What: Three public, community meetings to discuss investment of cap-and-trade proceeds in disadvantaged communities through the California Climate Investments initiative.

Who: Staff from CalEPA, CARB and members of the public

When & Where:

Fresno, 6-8 pm
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Cecil C. Hinton Community Center
2385 S. Fairview Avenue

Los Angeles, 6-8 pm
Thursday, February 2, 2017
Junipero Serra Building
320 W. 4th Street

Oakland, 6-8 pm
Monday, February 6, 2017
Elihu Harris Building
1515 Clay Street

In addition, a webinar will be presented on Tuesday February 7, 2017, from 2-4 pm.
You may access the webinar at: https://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/capandtrade/auctionproceeds/upcomingevents.htm

California Climate Investments is a statewide initiative that puts billions of cap-and-trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy and improving public health and the environment-particularly in disadvantaged communities. The cap-and-trade program also creates a financial incentive for industries to invest in clean technologies and develop innovative ways to reduce pollution.

California Climate Investment projects include affordable housing, renewable energy, public transportation, zero-emission vehicles, environmental restoration, more sustainable agriculture, recycling and much more. At least 35 percent of these investments are made in disadvantaged and low-income communities. For more information, visit California Climate Investments.

ARB's mission is to promote and protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources through effective reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and considering effects on the economy. The ARB oversees all air pollution control efforts in California to attain and maintain health based air quality standards.