SACRAMENTO – The California Air Resources Board (ARB) will hold a public meeting Monday, April 6, 1998 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. to discuss this year's proposed projects for the Rice Straw Demonstration Fund (Rice Fund). The meeting will be held at the following location:

Air Resources Board
Lower Level
2020 L Street
Sacramento, California

The meeting will include presentations of the proposals that passed the initial screening process. Prototypes and samples of products made from rice straw will be on display, including:

• Construction and Sound Barrier Materials
• Animal Feed and Bedding
• Silica Conversion into Ethanol
• Preprocessing and Delivery System

Twelve grant requests have been received and are under consideration for funding from the $2 million that is available this fiscal year.

The Rice Fund was enacted through legislation in 1997 and provides up to 50 percent funding for projects that use a significant amount of California rice straw.

The final decision on which projects will receive funding will take place at the regular Air Resources Board meeting scheduled for May 21, 1998.