HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter from County of Lassen to Gov Brown County of Lassen
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
ROBERT F,PYLE,
District i
.JIM CHAPMAN
District 2 Richard Eg an
EFF HEMPHILLCounty Administrative G1>ticer
District 3 email:coadm1n@Qg.1a5$en.ca.us
AARON ALMMAUGH
District Julie Morgan
TOM HAMMOND Assistant to the CAO
District 5 email:im4mant&co lassen r_a us
Regina Schaap
Executive Assistant to the CAC
email: rsi;haa2@co.lassen.ca.us
June 3, 2016 County Administration office
221 S.Roop Street,Suite 4
5usanvllle,G0.96130
Phone: 530-251-8333
Fars:530-251-2663
The Honorable Edmund G. "Jerry" Braman
State Capitol, Suite 1173
Sacramento, CA 95614
Clear Governor Brown:
As a fallow up to our letter dated February 16, 2016, the Board respectfully requests your
leadership to help ensure that $130 million is allocated in the State Budget from
Greenhouse Gas Reduction Funds (GGRF)to fund a cost-share mechanism for biomass
electricity.This funding is critically needed to ensure that HL Power Company(Honey Lake
Power) in Lassen County, and other biomass to energy facilities in California remain open
and are able to help address the state's unprecedented tree mortality crisis..
As you are well aware from our previous correspondence, Honey Lake Power is the last
significant energy production facility in Lassen County. The woody biomass plant has an
expiring power purchase agreement in July of this year; and without this plant operational,
the municipal electric system will be in serious jeopardy. Without Honey Lake Power
remaining on-line, our region of the state faces bath health and economic threats that are
untenable. Three ether facilities in Lassen County have already closed, and many other
biomass plants have closed, or are threatened by closure throughout the State.
In addition to providing critical infrastructure, Honey Lake Power is of vital importance for
managing the regional forestlands in and around Lassen. From your disaster declaration,
we know that you are acutely aware of the devastating threat across the Western U.S. and
particul in California caused by dead and dying trees. Not only do wildfires decimate
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public lands, habitat for plants and animals, and private property, but also contribute to
excessive wildfire suppression costs, greenhouse gas emissions, poor air quality and
massive soil erosion. Facilities like Honey Lake Power are clearly the best preemptive tool
to manage dead and dying trees and excess forest waste, converting them to renewable
energy, and preventing damage to the environment and property.
Time is running out---and Lassen County is facing a potential crisis. You implemented an
emergency proclamation in late 2035 that recognized California's tree mortality crisis.
Biomass energy is clearly the best environmental and economic solution to address this
problem. Therefore, we are asking you to direct State agencies under your leadership to
take immediate steps necessary to retain this critical resource (Honey Lake Power). We
also urgently request the California legislature to act on measures that will retain biomass
to energy facilities as the best approach to improving the health of our valuable forest.This
critical action will serve to protect our communities, forest and environment.
Sin rely,
P
CHAPMAN, hairman
Lassen County Board of Supervisors
CC: Assemblyman Brian Dahle
State Senator Ted Gaines
Congressman Doug LaMalfa
U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein
Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC)
California State Association of Counties (CSAC)
Susanville City Council
Butte County Board of Supervisors
Modoc County Board of Supervisors
Nevada County Board of Supervisors
Plumas County Board of Supervisors
Shasta County Board of Supervisors
Sierra County Board of Supervisors
Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors
Tehama County Board of Supervisors
Lassen County Fire Safe Council
HL Power Company
Lassen County Times
JC:RE:ts
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