Assemblymember Rudy Salas of Bakersfield has introduced a measure to send more incentives dollars to bioenergy projects for biomass conversion. The bill would carve out at least 20% of the grant funding the Public Utilities Commission provides for developing new technologies.
The bill recognizes that “open burning of forest and agricultural waste is a significant source of air pollution and climate pollution.” The phase-out of agricultural burning in the San Joaquin Valley “calls for increased funding for biomass conversion and investment in new and emerging technologies to maximize the benefits of biomass conversion.”
