Clean Air Equipment Showcase Demonstrates Success of Grant Programs

Today, the Valley Air District and local leaders hosted the Clean Air Equipment Showcase in downtown Visalia. The event demonstrated the air quality benefits of the District's strong grant programs designed to replace older, high-polluting equipment and improve air quality.<_o3a_p>

In the San Joaquin Valley, strong collaboration is providing significant reductions in air pollution, toxic air contaminants, and greenhouse gases through public and private partnerships to deploy the latest and cleanest technologies. These incentive-based efforts have significantly reduced air pollution from various sectors within the Valley, including over 280,738 tons of emission reductions over the past 30 years. The District hit a historic mark in its public/private grant partnerships in the 3^rd quarter of 2024, by providing a record-breaking $138 million in local, state, and federal clean air funding, matched with $152 million for a total investment of over $290 million in support of clean air projects throughout Valley communities.<_o3a_p>

These clean air efforts are supported by a range of funding sources, including local District funds, California Climate Investments, the Funding Agricultural Replacement Measures for Emission Reductions (FARMER) Program, other state funding, and federal programs such as the Diesel Emission Reduction Act and Targeted Airshed Grants. Moving forward, it is critical that the state and federal governments continue to invest in cost-effective clean air grant partnership programs, such as the FARMER Program, to ensure continued clean air and public health progress in the Valley and throughout the state.<_o3a_p>

District officials, local elected leaders and Valley business representatives gathered with the public this morning to showcase Valley partnerships and innovations, and viewed over a dozen pieces of technology-advancing equipment that are available to Valley businesses and residents under the District's grant programs. Incentive-based strategies remain one of the most cost-effective and timely approaches to improving air quality, protecting public health, and advancing shared air quality and climate goals.<_o3a_p>

"Through these investments and partnerships, the Valley has demonstrated leadership in clean air innovation that is serving as a national model," stated Samir Sheikh, Executive Director/Air Pollution Control Officer for the District. "The District appreciates the Governor, State Legislature, and Federal government recognizing the public health benefits that result from these clean air investments."<_o3a_p>

"Transitioning older, high-polluting equipment is key to helping the Valley meet clean air goals, and these grant programs allow Valley businesses to upgrade their equipment in an efficient and effective way," stated Stanislaus County Supervisor and Air District Governing Board Chair Vito Chiesa. "We must ensure that our local businesses continue to have opportunities to receive grant funding to replace their equipment and practices with effective, cleaner options."<_o3a_p>

These District incentive programs provide funding to Valley businesses and residents, matched with applicant funding, to voluntarily replace their older, high-polluting equipment with new, much cleaner equipment. At the Clean Air Equipment Showcase, the District announced a number of key programs with funding currently available. The announcement included significantly increased funding for the Truck Replacement Program, and exciting opportunities for Valley partners to transition to cleaner technology:<_o3a_p>

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• $15 Million for Commercial Truck Replacement Program:The District is currently accepting applications to replace on-road diesel trucks with alternative technology units. Truck replacement projects that will accelerate emission reductions in low-income and disadvantaged communities experiencing greater air quality impacts may receive priority through the project review and selection process. Projects funded under this program must achieve emission reductions not required by law or regulation.
  
• $18.4 Million for Clean Vehicle Fueling Infrastructure Program:The Clean Vehicle Fueling Infrastructure Program provides incentive for the installation of new stations, conversion of existing stations, and expansion of existing stations for hydrogen fueling and electric battery charging of heavy-duty vehicles. This program supports the development and implementation of fueling infrastructure and does not provide funds for infrastructure for passenger vehicles.<_o3a_p>
• $6 Million for Public Benefit Grant Program:The District is currently providing funding opportunities to Valley public agencies for the purchase of zero and near-zero emission light-duty vehicles through its Public Benefits Grant Program. This program was developed and designed to meet the needs and challenges faced by Valley public institutions by providing funds for the purchase of these clear air vehicles which will provide a direct air quality benefit to Valley residents.<_o3a_p>
• $2 Million for Zero-Emission Landscaping Equipment Grant Program:The Zero-Emission Landscaping Equipment Program provides incentives for San Joaquin Valley landscapers, public agencies, and businesses that perform their own landscape maintenance to replace their old gas-powered landscape equipment with new electric options.<_o3a_p>
• $2.8 Million for Charge-Up! Electric Vehicle Charging Program:The District's Charge Up! Program provides funding for public agencies, businesses, and property owners of multi-unit dwellings (apartment complexes, condominiums, etc.) in the San Joaquin Valley to install electric vehicle charges. <_o3a_p>
• $25 Million for Ag Burn Alternatives Grant Program:The District's Ag Burn Alternatives Grant Program provides incentives to utilize an alternative practice for the disposition of agricultural material from orchard/vineyard removals instead of open burning. In addition, the program provides incentives for the purchase of new agricultural wood-chipping equipment to chip orchard and vineyard removals located within the San Joaquin Valley.<_o3a_p>
• $18 Million for Low-Dust Nut Harvester Replacement Program:Based on the significant dust emission reductions that low-dust harvesting equipment can provide, the District is offering funding for the replacement of older, conventional harvesters or sweepers with new, low-dust technology equipment. This incentive funding can also be combined with our Tractor Replacement funding to upgrade your tractor used to pull harvesting equipment.<_o3a_p>
• $16 Million for Woodstove Device Replacement Program:The Fireplace and Woodstove Change-Out Program helps reduce particulate matter that comes from older wood-burning devices that contribute significantly to air pollution in the Valley during fall and winter. Valley residents are eligible for up to $5,000 to replace wood or pellet-fuel devices with natural gas inserts or electric heat pumps. <_o3a_p>

Clean air investments in the Valley have significantly reduced air pollution, resulting in substantial air quality improvements throughout the Valley. Despite these improvements and ongoing local clean air efforts, more state and federal investments are needed to continue addressing mobile source emissions under state and federal jurisdiction (heavy-duty vehicles and equipment) that make up the majority of air pollution in the San Joaquin Valley.<_o3a_p>

For more information on the District's grant programs, visit valleyair.org/grantsor call the grants team at 559-230-5800 for more information.<_o3a_p>

The Valley Air District covers eight counties including San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare and San Joaquin Valley air basin portions of Kern. For additional information about the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, visit www.valleyair.org or call 559-230-6000.