Comment Log Display

Dear Chair Nichols and members of the California Air Resources
Board:
Thank you for hosting the public consultation on the investment of
AB 32 cap and trade auction
proceeds on May 24, 2012. On behalf of the Sonoma County
Agricultural Preservation and Open Space
District, we are writing to encourage the California Air Resources
Board to design an investment plan
that includes funds for greenhouse gas reductions achieved through
natural resource protection and to
permit counties, and their special districts, to be eligible to
receive such funds.
Counties play a critical and much needed role in land use,
conservation and climate change. Through
local land use decisions, programs, and land acquisitions counties
can conserve and restore natural and
working lands and promote the removal of additional carbon dioxide
from the atmosphere and
minimize greenhouse gases. These actions not only help protect the
climate, but help clean our air and
water, protect communities from against severe weather events, and
provide fish and wildlife habitat,
as well as resource‐related jobs in our community. Directing
investments in natural resource protection
through counties can play a powerful and complementary role to help
the state meet its greenhouse gas
target for forests and promote effective sustainable communities
strategies pursuant to Senate Bill 375.
The provision of auction revenue to counties will help ensure that
we can play a key role in addressing
climate change and achieving these public benefits.
We support a clear role for counties and natural resource
protection as eligible categories for receipt of
allowance revenue pursuant to AB32, and thank you for your
consideration.
Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments.
Sincerely,
Bill Keene, General Manager