Post Date:03/18/2024As established by SB 375, the California Air Resources Board sets greenhouse gas reduction targets for regions across the state. As part of developing their long-range plans, regions must show their ability to meet these targets through the integration of a Sustainable Communities Strategy that relies on land use and transportation strategies to reduce emissions from passenger vehicles primarily through reductions in vehicle miles traveled. If a region finds that it is not feasible to meet their target with a SCS they are required to develop an Alternative Planning Scenario (APS) that demonstrates what additional actions would need to occur to allow the region to achieve its target.
Since the passage of SB 375 in 2008, several state funding programs have emerged that require regions to have an adopted SCS (and not an APS) to apply and compete for funding (i.e., regions must achieve their greenhouse gas target in order to maintain eligibility for funding; an APS does not satisfy these requirements). The funding sources at risk if the SACOG region does not develop a plan that achieve the region’s 19% greenhouse gas reduction target include competitive and formula transportation funding programs created under Senate Bill 1 (SB1) in 2017 and others funded by California’s cap and trade program. Some of these requirements are spelled out in state statute while others have specific requirements written into their application guidelines. The specific funding programs for which an adopted SCS that meets the regional GHG reduction targets are detailed in the SCS Funding Risks document. Return to full list >>