The State of California has allocated $65.5 million to fund the Program to reduce emissions from heavy-duty diesel engines for the 2016/2017 (Year 19) Program. The Program established to distribute this money is designed to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by providing grants that cover the differential costs of cleaner on-road, off-road, marine, locomotive, stationary agricultural pump, forklift, and airport ground support equipment engines. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has invited air pollution control and air quality management districts to apply for funding under the Program. The State legislature has authorized funding for the Program through 2023.
Additionally, Program funds can become available through the Rural Assistance Program (RAP). The California Air Pollution Control Officers Association administers these funds and selects the most cost effective projects in the rural districts. The District typically does one or two RAP projects per year and the resolution provides for the District’s continued participation in this portion of the Program.
The District is eligible for a grant amount of $292,189 which is based on the state’s tentative funding allocation. This is the amount that the District would receive with a match of $43,828. District staff is recommending that the Air Pollution Control Board (APCB) accept the maximum amount available and is therefore requesting authorization for up to $50,000 in match funds. Based on the tentative funding allocation, total cost of the Program will be $336,017. The matching funds would be from the District’s AB 2766 Motor Vehicle Funds. This year’s administration allocation is tentatively set at $36,524 from the CARB.
New to the funding application this year, a district can opt to designate all or part of the administration funds to project funds. It is recommended that all the administrative funds for this year be allocated to projects since the District currently has a substantial fund balance in Moyer administration.
The Program has been successfully implemented since 1999, with the current funding being nearly fully utilized with the Off-Road Voucher Incentive Program. This program provides vouchers to equipment owners who agree to scrap their old equipment, either construction or agriculture, for a new equipment voucher worth from $2,500 to $60,000.
All districts have been asked to submit preliminary acceptance documents to the Air Resources Board by March 27, 2017. These documents were submitted on February 14, 2017, and they specified the application to be scheduled for Air Pollution Control Board consideration on March 7, 2017.