Received this email from my state representative in Sacramento.

Following up on the extension of climate change legislation passed by the Legislature last month, Governor Brown has signed Senate Bill 32 and Assembly Bill 197, two bills that will extend California's target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increase legislative oversight of the California Air Resources Board (ARB), who oversees the state's cap-and-trade program.

The ultimate goal of cap-and-trade is to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions. The funds that come from cap-and-trade auctions can also be useful for programs that help reduce the impact of climate change on the people of California.

Funding from California's bold cap-and-trade program will benefit existing programs as well as spearhead new efforts to further reduce greenhouse gasses. One such effort that will benefit from these funds is through a bill I authored this year, AB 2511, which will allow for continued development of biochar, a soil amendment that helps the soil become healthier and sequester carbon. Biochar has grown in popularity as its beneficial impact on soil has become increasingly recognized. An investment in biochar will also help address the massive tree die-off in our state as a result of the ongoing drought.

The spending plan agreed to by Governor Brown and the state Legislature also allocates $50 million for programs to help dairies reduce emissions and pollution associated with animal manure.