The 2026 Clean Air Grants Program will be open from Monday, July 27 through Friday, September 4, 2026. Applications submitted outside this window will not be accepted.
To receive notifications about grant opportunities, subscribe to the District’s “Grants” email list: https://www.ourair.org/subscribe/
2026 Clean Air Grants for On-Road Vehicles
Si requiere asistencia para someter una solicitud en español, comuníquese con el Distrito al [email protected] (opens in a new tab).
Replace an eligible diesel or CNG medium- or heavy-duty vehicle with a zero-emission alternative.
A successful project will be eligible to receive a grant within a range from $10,000 to $250,000. Actual grant amounts vary based on several factors, including but not limited to equipment usage, cost-effectiveness, emission reductions, eligible project costs, and fund availability.
- On-road projects will be competitively ranked, and priority will be given to projects located within disadvantaged communities (opens in a new tab), as well as projects that achieve high emission reductions and strong cost effectiveness.
- Grant funds are calculated based on the amount of pollutant emissions the replacement project will reduce.
- Replacement projects and emission reductions from replacement projects must be surplus to applicable rules or regulations.
- The District has discretion on how grant funds are prioritized and distributed.
Eligible Vehicles/Equipment:
| Baseline Vehicle to be Replaced | New Vehicle to be Purchased |
|---|---|
| Compliant diesel or compressed natural gas (CNG) commercial trucks and buses (GVWR over 14,000 lbs.) with 2020 or older model year engine | A zero-emission vehicle (electric, fuel cell) |
| Compliant diesel or CNG solid waste collection vehicles, public agency vehicles, utility vehicles, and emergency vehicles (GVWR over 14,000 lbs.) with 2020 or older model year engine | A zero-emission vehicle (electric, fuel cell) |
| Compliant diesel or CNG transit/urban buses with 2020 or older model year engine | A zero-emission transit bus |
| Compliant diesel or CNG transportation refrigeration units (TRUs) accepted on a case-by-case basis (will require CARB approval) | A zero-emission TRU |
Project Requirements:
- Applications are limited to one (1) on-road grant project per Company, LLC, Taxpayer ID, etc. with final determination at the District’s discretion
- Vehicles proposed for replacement must be operating in-service at the time of application and operation must be demonstrated during a District pre-inspection.
- Funded vehicles must be registered with the California Department of Motor Vehicles within Santa Barbara County for the last 24 months.
- At least 51% total annual usage must occur in the South Central Coast Air Basin (Santa Barbara County, Ventura County, and San Luis Obispo County).
- The replacement vehicle must not yet be purchased.
- The owner’s entire fleet must be compliant with all CARB’s on-road regulations (ex: Advanced Clean Fleets (opens in a new tab), Clean Truck Check (opens in a new tab), etc.) and pass a compliance check by CARB.
- The owner’s fleet must be registered in CARB’s Truck Regulation Upload, Compliance, and Reporting System (TRUCRS) (opens in a new tab). For information on CARB’s on-road regulations please visit: ww3.arb.ca.gov/msprog/truckstop/truckstop.htm (opens in a new tab)
- More detailed and additional criteria can be found on the PDF application and in CARB’s most recent Carl Moyer Guidelines, Chapter 4: On-Road Heavy-Duty Vehicles (opens in a new tab).
How to Apply:
- Determine your vehicle’s eligibility for this program. To be eligible for funds, projects must meet the criteria in CARB’s most recent Carl Moyer Guidelines, Chapter 4: On-Road Heavy-Duty Vehicles (opens in a new tab) and Community Air Protection Project Guidelines. (opens in a new tab)
- Gather the required information about your vehicle, engine, and replacement vehicle and engine.
- Apply for grant funds in person, by mail, or email.
Please see application on the right of this page for more information.
2026 Application – Click Here (opens in a new tab)
Program opens Monday, July 27, 2026
Program closes Friday, September 4, 2026
Questions?
Contact us via email: [email protected]
This program is part of our 2026 Clean Air Grants Program funded by California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) Carl Moyer Program, Community Air Protection Program, Funding Agricultural Replacement Measures for Emission Reductions Program (FARMER), Climate Heat Impact Response Program (CHIRP), DMV surcharge revenue, and the District’s Clean Air Fund. For more information, see Clean Air Grants. (opens in a new tab)
Additional Funding Sources & Information for Cleaner On-Road Vehicles
Funding for zero-emission trucks and buses is available through California’s Heavy-Duty Vehicle Incentive Program (opens in a new tab).
The California Clean Fuel Reward (opens in a new tab) is available to commercial vehicle buyers (public or governmental agencies, businesses, and/or nonprofit organizations) who purchase or lease eligible new battery-electric vehicle (BEVs) from a Participating Retailer.
Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) (opens in a new tab)offers rebates for on-road electric vehicles through the Electric Bus Program, Member Agency Electrify Your Fleet Program (opens in a new tab), and Electrify Your Ride – Commercial Program (opens in a new tab). 3CE rebates are eligible to be stacked with Clean Air Grant funding if all program requirements are met.
Additional funding opportunities for on-road vehicles are outlined on Central Coast Clean Cities Coalition (C5)’s webpage.
Additional funding and regulatory resources for heavy-duty truck operators can be found on the California Air Resources Board Truck Stop (opens in a new tab) webpage.