-- SB 498 SAMPLE LETTER –

[Date]

The Honorable Mike Gatto, Chair

Assembly Appropriations Committee

State Capitol Building, Room 2114

Sacramento, CA 94249

RE: SB 498 (Lara) – Biomass: Solid Waste Conversion Technology

As Amended June 26, 2014 – SUPPORT

Dear Chairman Gatto:

On behalf of __________, I write to express our strong support for Senate Bill 498 (SB 498). As you know, this bill would help to facilitate the development of cleaner and more efficient technologies in California for converting biomass materials to renewable energy.

SB 498 is intended to accomplish the goals set forth in SB 804 (2013), which was enrolled but ultimately vetoed by the Governor. In his veto message, the Governor agreed with the intent of the bill and directed his Administration to work with stakeholders to develop a more straightforward, technology neutral approach. SB 498 does just that. This bill would simply expand the definition of biomass to include non-combustion thermal conversion technologies.

Current law defines "biomass conversion" as the controlled combustion of biomass materials--such as wood, lawn and garden clippings, agricultural waste, leaves, tree pruning as well as non-recyclable paper--when separated from other solid waste and used for producing electricity or heat. This bill would simply include thermal conversion technologies in the biomass definition, allowing for cleaner and more efficient technologies to be used to process biomass and providing conversion technologies processing biomass with the same incentives afforded to biomass combustion. Moreover, SB 498 has requirements to ensure only biomass materials are sent to biomass conversion facilities.

--ORGANIZATION SPECIFIC INFORMATION AS APPROPRATE --

It is for these reasons that we strongly support SB 498. Should you have any questions, please contact ______________.
 
Sincerely,
 
 
 
YOUR NAME/ORGANIZATION
 
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