SACRAMENTO - (INT) - The Department of Water Resources (DWR) on Wednesday announced the award of $28 million to 22 entities for 25 projects that will save water and energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The grants will help California respond to the immediate drought while building resiliency to cope with future droughts and climate change.

They are DWR’s first grants using proceeds from California’s cap-and-trade program for combating climate change. Through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, DWR and other state agencies are investing in projects that reduce carbon pollution while also creating jobs, improving air quality and providing other benefits, such as energy and water savings.

The Department is awarding an additional $9 million that was appropriated in recent drought legislation, AB 91.

In all, the 25 projects will save an estimated 270,000 acre-feet of water and prevent the release of approximately 199,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to climate change.

Over 70 percent of the funding will provide benefits to disadvantaged communities that are targeted for investments from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.

Story Date: June 25, 2015