Comment Log Display

The California Green Business Program
http://www.greenbusinessca.org/ (CA GBP) was established by AB 913
in 2011.   The legislation conferred official state recognition on
the local government-based Green Business Programs (GBP) operated
by cities and counties across the state that serve small and medium
businesses.  Programs currently operate in the 9 San Francisco Bay
Area counties; 3 Monterey Bay Area counties; Santa Barbara,
Humboldt and Ventura counties; and the cities of Santa Monica and
Thousand Oaks.  The City of Los Angeles plans to launch a program
soon.  Collectively these programs cover 38% of California’s
population. 
   
Since the first GBPs were established in 1996, local GBPs have
served thousands of small businesses.  The Program criteria require
that businesses be in compliance with all environmental
regulations, and also meet “beyond compliance” standards to
conserve energy and water, reduce waste, and prevent pollution.
(sample checklist attached). The measures they take reduce
greenhouse gas emissions.

As regional coordinator for the 9 San Francisco Bay Area
county-based GBPs, we respectfully request that the local programs
operated by members of the CA GBP be eligible for funding from cap
and trade auction proceeds.  The funds would be used to sustain and
expand existing GBPs, launch new GBPs to serve businesses in more
California communities, and support the statewide database used by
all CA GBP members to manage the certification process, and report
environmental outcomes. 

Here are some reasons why.

Green Business programs make a substantial, direct, and documented
contribution towards meeting AB 32 objectives. They capture data
that quantify conservation successes and convert them to ghg
emissions reductions.  Local governments that operate GBPs can
count those reductions towards meeting their climate protection
goals. 

GBPs connect the businesses they serve with local, regional and
state resources, such as energy and water conservation incentives;
recycling and pollution prevention services; and CARB's Cool
California calculator.  They verify on site that businesses meet
the standards before certification. 

Helping businesses become more efficient saves them money.  That
contributes to their overall success, and strengthens local
economies.  Healthy small businesses create jobs and provide the
services and character that define sustainable communities.  In
this way the Program contributes to meeting the goals of SB 375.
Many businesses GBPs serve are in economically disadvantaged
communities. Greener practices make them better neighbors in often
disproportionately pollution-impacted neighborhoods, while
providing green jobs opportunities.

Businesses served by the GBP are centers of innovation that show a
high degree of adaptability.  Introducing them to greener practices
has a multiplier effect.  They recruit and mentor aspiring green
businesses.  Businesses who implement green practices at work take
those practices home. 

Business demand in many GBPs is outstripping staff capacity. That
has occurred without a robust recruiting effort.   Funding from
auction proceeds would help local Programs meet current needs and
aggressively recruit and serve additional businesses. That funding
would also support maintenance and enhancement of the database that
serves the local programs throughout the state to improve the user
experience, ensure that the metrics continue to be compatible with
CARB’s and CalRecycles’ metrics, and keep pace with new program
requirements.  

Green Business Programs play a direct and important role in helping
small and medium businesses reduce greenhouse gas emissions and
succeed financially.   We respectfully request that local Green
Business Programs be eligible for cap and trade funding so that we
can continue our work, expand to new communities, and help
thousands more businesses throughout the state succeed.