Marc Levine’s compost bill clears Assembly committee

North Coast Assemblyman Marc Levine’s bill aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions by using compost on rangelands is advancing through the state Legislature.

Rangelands are a major source of carbon through the farming techniques used for harvesting and soil management. Initial studies have shown that compost layered over the ground traps carbon dioxide and also absorbs it from the air.

Advocates of carbon farming say if compost was applied to just 5 percent of California’s grazing lands, the soil could capture a year’s worth of greenhouse gas emissions from the state’s farm and forestry industries.

Levine’s legislation would expand research into the compost program by drawing $50 million from the state’s cap-and-trade funds. The money would fund 50 pilot projects around the state, including in North Bay counties.

The bill on Monday cleared the state Assembly’s Natural Resources Committee.

You can reach Staff Writer Derek Moore at 521-5336 or derek.moore@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @deadlinederek.