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Please consider the following news release from the California
Air Resources Board: http://bit.ly/1FDuKYx

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 25, 2015

NEWS RELEASE 15-36

CONTACT:

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


ARB approves funding plan for low-carbon, zero-emission vehicles,
boosts funding for low-income pilot programs 

$373 million available to meet growing demand, accelerate
advanced technologies 


SACRAMENTO - The California Air Resources Board today approved a
$373 million funding plan that covers all investments in advanced
technologies for fiscal year 2015-16, from zero-emission
heavy-duty trucks and buses to rebates for low- and zero-emission
passenger vehicles. 

The budget for the annual Funding Plan for Low Carbon
Transportation Investments and the Air Quality Improvement
Program is up by $150 million over last year's budget, and is
subject to approval by the Legislature when it considers the
proposed expenditure of Cap-and-Trade auction proceeds as part of
the State Budget.

“Action taken by the Board today to boost funding for clean
vehicle programs is in direct response to growing demand, and the
need to put more zero-emission vehicles on California’s roads and
highways,” Air Resources Board Chairman Mary D. Nichols said.
“This funding plan delivers clean air, less carbon pollution and
provides financial incentives to allow all Californians to
benefit from driving and owning the cleanest vehicles.”  

The investments are pivotal to meeting California’s ambitious
goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality,
deploy zero-emission vehicles and reduce petroleum dependency by
accelerating the development and deployment of advanced vehicle
technologies.

The bulk of the $373 million -- $350 million -- comes from the
funds in the state’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund dedicated to
low-carbon transportation investments and supports a variety of
programs for a wide range of cars, trucks and off-road equipment.
An additional $23 million comes from the Air Quality Improvement
Program under AB 8.

$200 million is for light-duty vehicles, including the Clean
Vehicle Rebate Project, which provides incentives for the
purchase of zero-emission vehicles.  $167.5 million is dedicated
to heavy-duty vehicle and freight-equipment projects, including
vouchers to help support the purchase of hybrid and zero-emission
trucks and buses. Among the heavy-duty vehicle investments are
three new programs, including a trade-up pilot program to
transition off-road agricultural equipment to cleaner
technologies. (The remaining $5.5 million is held for
administrative overhead and a reserve.)

The Funding Plan builds on last year’s investments that benefit
disadvantaged communities, including innovative pilot programs to
help owners of older, dirty vehicles move up to much cleaner,
newer cars including electric vehicles. Over all, the Funding
Plan dedicates 50 percent of the low-carbon transportation funds
to benefit disadvantaged communities. Of those dedicated funds,
10 percent is to be invested directly in those communities.

Key Highlights of the Funding Plan:

•	$163 million for the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project, which offers
up to $5,000 in vehicle  rebates for the purchase or lease of
new, eligible zero-emission and plug-in hybrid light-duty
vehicles. This allocation is expected to meet demand projected
for the upcoming year and includes an income eligibility cap to
exclude high-income consumers and higher rebate levels for lower
income consumers.
•	Increased Investments for Light-Duty Pilot Projects in
disadvantaged communities including $20 million to expand air
district administered retire-and-replace pilot programs that help
low-income residents afford the cleanest cars.
•	$12 million for HVIP (Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus
Voucher Incentive Project) to encourage commercial deployment of
hybrid and zero-emission trucks and buses.
•	Expanded Investments in Large-Scale Commercialization Projects,
including the addition of $20 million for pilot deployment of
zero-emission trucks and $45 million for pilot deployment of
zero-emission buses, to help these technologies become more cost
competitive. This includes $5 million for school buses in rural
school districts.
•	$59 million for advanced technology demonstration projects for
larger vehicles, building on demonstrations funded with last
year’s appropriation. 
•	Continuation of the successful Truck Loan Assistance Program
that provides credit to consumers upgrading their trucks.
•	Additional investments in both on- and off-road advanced
technologies.

The Funding Plan addresses two new statutory requirements: The
first, SB 1275, authored by Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de
León, established the Charge Ahead California Initiative with a
goal of placing 1 million zero-emission and near-zero-emission
vehicles in California by 2023, and increasing access to these
vehicles by low-income consumers and consumers in disadvantaged
communities. SB 1275 also required ARB to establish an income
eligibility limit for its existing Clean Vehicle Rebate Project.
SB 1204, authored by Senator Ricardo Lara, created the California
Clean Truck, Bus and Off-Road Vehicle and Equipment Technology
Program to fund the development, demonstration and early
commercial deployment of zero- and near-zero-emission
technologies with priority given to projects that benefit
disadvantaged communities.  Of the plan’s Low Carbon
Transportation Investments, $148 million goes to support SB 1204
projects.




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