$42 mn US in Clean Transportation grants in California (Funding, Leg. & Reg.)

Further to our April 24, 2009 story on California's funding of clean transportation technologies through the California Energy Commission, CARB also released funding details on the Air Quality Improvement Program as part of Assembly Bill 118. These funds will be available as grants toward the purchase of zero-emission and hybrid vehicles. This program is intended to help the state implement its Low Carbon Fuel Standard discussed in today's edition.

Californians can receive grants in FY 2009-10 from the following funds:

· $25 million for hybrid trucks and buses
· $5 million for zero-emission and PHEV cars and motorcycles
· $2 million for lawn and garden equipment that will augment air districts existing replacement programs
· $1.3 million for zero-emission agricultural equipment
More funding is available for demonstration projects in the following areas:
· $2 million for the production of locomotives that emit lower amounts of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter
· $1 million for hybrid marine vessels
· $3 million for zero-emission or plug-in hybrid transit and school buses in addition to retrofits
· $2 million for hybrid off-road equipment and retrofits such as vehicles used in construction, mining and airport ground support
· $1 million for hybrid off-road agricultural equipment and retrofits including tractors and agricultural pumps

(Source: California Air Resources Board, April 24, 2009) Contact: Mary Fricke, Air Resources Board, (916) 322-2638, mfricke@arb.ca.gov, www.arb.ca.gov