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newsrel -- ARB approves funding plan for low-carbon, zero-emission vehicles; improves 'car scrap' program

Posted: 26 Jun 2014 14:42:04
Please consider the following news release from the California
Air Resources Board: http://bit.ly/1yStd18
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 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 26, 2014

NEWS RELEASE 14-56

CONTACT:

Melanie Turner
(916) 322-2990
melanie.turner@arb.ca.gov


ARB approves funding plan for low-carbon, zero-emission vehicles;
improves ‘car scrap’ program

$100 million will benefit disadvantaged neighborhoods

SACRAMENTO — The California Air Resources Board took two separate
actions today that combined will continue to support the
development and deployment of advanced vehicle technologies,
provide incentives for clean-cars and improve existing vehicle
retirement and replacement programs. 

The two separate actions will improve air quality and fight
climate change while providing significant benefits to both
low-income consumers and Californians who live in communities
that are disproportionately impacted by air pollution. 

“Action taken by the Board today will provide $100 million to
directly benefit disadvantaged communities,” Air Resources Board
Chairman Mary D. Nichols said. “The funding plan and ARB’s
amended ‘car scrap’ program together provide emission reductions
for all Californians and financial incentives for those who need
it the most.”

The funding plan includes increased investments in cleaning up
emissions from freight and goods transport, and continued
investments in zero-emission vehicle technologies. New pilot
projects deploy zero-emission heavy-duty trucks and buses and
advanced technology demonstration projects in the freight
sector.

The Air Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) supports the
development and commercialization of advanced technologies that
are necessary to meet California’s long-term air quality and
climate goals. The funding plan for fiscal year 2014-15 totals
$222 million, including $200 million from the State’s share of
auction proceeds under ARB’s cap-and-trade program for low-carbon
transportation projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Legislation signed into law in 2012 by Governor Jerry Brown
requires a portion of proceeds from ARB’s cap-and-trade program
to be invested in disadvantaged communities.

Highlights of the plan include:

Clean Cars 
• $116 million to support the highly successful Clean Vehicle
Rebate Project (CVRP), which offers rebates directly to consumers
who purchase zero-emission and near-zero-emission passenger
cars.
• Fuel-cell electric vehicles, which run on hydrogen, are now
eligible for $5,000 per vehicle.
• $9 million for pilot programs, such as car sharing, to help
consumers in disadvantaged communities access new clean-vehicle
technologies, and to provide emissions benefits where they are
most needed. 

Low Carbon Trucks and Buses
• $85 million with a focus on freight for advanced technology
heavy-duty vehicle and equipment deployments and demonstrations
in disadvantaged communities.  
• $10 million to $15 million in incentives for the purchase of
heavy-duty hybrid and electric vehicles, such as delivery trucks.
 
• $20 million to $25 million for large-scale pilot projects to
provide robust demonstrations of zero-emission technologies in
the freight and transit sectors. 
• $50 million for advanced technology freight demonstration
projects, including zero-emission drayage trucks (that service
ports).

Truck Loan Assistance Program
• $10 million for continued funding of the Truck Loan Assistance
Program, which helps smaller truck fleets that have difficulty
obtaining loans to upgrade their trucks. It provides enhanced
credit assurance so small fleets can access loans for trucks with
clean-diesel technologies.

Separately, the Board adopted amendments to improve its Enhanced
Fleet Modernization Program (EFMP), or ‘car scrap,’ program. The
EFMP’s successful retirement-only component incentivizes
California motorists to voluntarily retire older, higher
polluting vehicles and light- and medium-duty trucks. 

Changes to the retirement-only portion of the program include:
• Limiting the program to low-income residents, meeting the
directive of SB 459 that EFMP focus on low-income participants.
• Each vehicle to be scrapped must complete a Smog Check test to
demonstrate (pass or fail) that it is road worthy and therefore
retiring it will provide real air quality benefits.

A new air district administered retire-and-replace pilot program,
offered in the South Coast and San Joaquin air basins, is set to
launch later this year.
• The program allows air districts the flexibility to address
regional needs by piloting various approaches to the program.
• Incentives will be offered on a sliding scale from as high as
$4,500 toward the purchase of a used hybrid vehicle or other
vehicle that gets at least 35 miles per gallon or other new or
used plug-in hybrid. Plus, enhanced incentives, approved as part
of the annual AQIP funding plan could provide additional
financial assistance for the purchase of a replacement vehicle.

More information about EFMP can be found at:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/aqip/efmp/efmp.htm.


California is in a drought emergency.
Visit www.SaveOurH2O.org for water conservation tips.

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