FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                  CONTACT:   Ryan Morimune, (916) 319-2014

February 24, 2015                                                                   Ryan.Morimune@asm.ca.gov

 

Bonilla Authors Bill to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Support Renewable and Sustainable Alternative Energy

 

SACRAMENTO – Assemblywoman Susan A. Bonilla (D-Concord) introduced legislation today, which will allocate a percentage of cap and trade funds to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through the production of biogas.  Once amended, Assembly Bill 577, will ensure that a specified amount of cap and trade revenue will be used towards the development of infrastructure and purification technology for biogas.     

 

“California pays billions of dollars annually to import natural gas when there are large quantities of renewable energy here in our own state,” said Assemblywoman Bonilla.  “AB 577 will not only help reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions, but most importantly it increases investments in biogas development, which will diversify our state’s gas production and decrease our reliance on natural gas.”  

 

With the natural gas sector now under the regulation of the cap and trade program, producers and suppliers must limit their GHG emissions or purchase carbon credits or offsets.  AB 577 takes advantage of this new revenue by reinvesting it back into the gas sector.  Allocating cap and trade proceeds will allow local businesses to build the infrastructure necessary to collect and purify biogas, an abundant alternative energy source.  In effect, this measure protects the state from natural gas supply problems and fluctuating costs, while also keeping energy jobs in California.  

 

The state could produce almost 300 billion cubic feet of renewable gas per year, just from organic waste. This renewable biogas, derived from food processing, livestock, agriculture, yard waste, or collected from landfills, could be used to power upwards of two million homes or generate 2.5 billion gallons of clean, ultra-low carbon transportation fuels.     

 

“As a state, it is critical that we think of innovative, efficient, and long-term solutions to global warming, and not just the next carbon emissions limit,” continued Bonilla.  “This bill creates investment and support for a sustainable alternative plan that will produce safe, cost-effective, and reliable energy.”

 

Assemblywoman Susan A. Bonilla (D-Concord) was elected in November 2010 and represents California’s 14th Assembly District, which includes Contra Costa County and Solano County.

 

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