Clean Air Grants for On-Road Vehicles

The 2023 Clean Air Grants Program has closed. Please contact [email protected] to be added to the email notification list to stay updated about future grant programs. 

2023 Clean Air Grants for On-Road Vehicles

Si requiere asistencia para someter una solicitud en español, comuníquese con el Distrito al [email protected]

Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (District) has funding opportunities for a variety of on-road vehicle replacement projects. Grant funds are calculated based on the amount of pollutant emissions the replacement project will reduce.

  • Priority will be given to zero-emission or near-zero emission technology projects, along with projects located within low-income and disadvantaged communities, as defined by this map: https://webmaps.arb.ca.gov/PriorityPopulations/
  • The District has discretion on how grant funds are distributed.

Eligible Vehicles/Equipment:

Existing Vehicle to be ReplacedNew Vehicle to be Purchased (Diesel not eligible)
Compliant diesel commercial trucks and buses (GVWR over 14,000 lbs.) with 2017 or older model year engineA zero-emission vehicle or near zero-emission vehicle* (electric, fuel cell, CNG-fueled)
Compliant diesel solid waste collection vehicles, public agency vehicles, utility vehicles, and emergency vehicles (GVWR over 14,000 lbs.) with 2017 or older model year engineA zero-emission vehicle or near zero-emission vehicle* (electric, fuel cell, CNG-fueled)
Compliant diesel transit/urban buses with 2017 or older model year engineA zero-emission transit bus
Compliant diesel transportation refrigeration units (TRUs) accepted on a case-by-case basis (will require CARB approval)A zero-emission TRU

*A near-zero emission vehicle has a CARB certified engine meeting emission levels of 0.02 g/bhp NOx and 0.01 g/bhp PM or less

Project Requirements:

  • Applications are limited to one 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 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). For information on CARB’s on-road regulations please visit: ww3.arb.ca.gov/msprog/truckstop/truckstop.htm
  • More detailed and additional criteria can be found on the PDF application and in the CARB’s 2017 Carl Moyer Guidelines, Chapter 4: On-Road Equipment

How to Apply:

1. Determine your vehicle’s eligibility for this programPlease see CARB’s 2017 Carl Moyer Guidelines, Chapter 4, and Community Air Protection Project Guidelines for full details. 
2. Gather the required information about your vehicle, engine, and replacement vehicle and engine.
3. Apply for grant funds in person, by mail, or email. 

Please see application on the right for more information.

Application

Program opened Monday, July 24, 2023.
Program closed Friday, September 1, 2023


Questions?

Contact us via email at [email protected] 


This program is part of our 2023 Clean Air Grants Program funded by California Air Resources Board’s Carl Moyer Program, Community Air Protection Program, and Funding Agricultural Replacement Measures for Emission Reductions Program (FARMER). For more information, see 2023 Clean Air Grants.


Additional Funding Sources and Information for Cleaner On-Road Vehicles

Funding  for hybrid and zero-emission trucks and buses, as well as low-NOx natural gas engines, is available through California’s Heavy-Duty Vehicle Incentive Program.

Additional funding and regulatory resources for heavy-duty truck operators can be found on the California Air Resources Board Truck Stop page.

CARB has a calculator tool to help estimate a potential grant amount. Please note that the District is only funding zero-emission and low-Nox replacement projects.