SACRAMENTO – The California Air Resources Board (ARB) today announced that the State Capitol is included in the 23 state government buildings now being heated and cooled by a high- tech boiler. Funded in part by the ARB's Innovative Clean Air Technologies Program (ICAT), the natural gas-fired boiler significantly reduces nitrogen oxide emissions which are a contributor to urban smog.

ARB Chairman Alan C. Lloyd said, "Low NOx technologies such as this state-of-the-art boiler are an important step toward cleaner air. New technologies require funding to take them from inception to commercialization and I am pleased that the ARB could take part in that journey."

The ARB's ICAT Program funded more than $195,000 of the $3.3 million project, with further monies coming from GRI, a natural gas research and development group ($1.6 million), Coen Company ($1 million) and Southern California Gas ($405,000).

The Coen Company designed and built the boiler, which can be up to 70 percent cleaner than conventional equipment. The boiler, one of two at the Department of General Services' Heating and Cooling Plant, is now fully operational and is a model for other types of low-polluting boilers. The emissions reduction from this boiler is over 16 tons per year, making it the emissions equivalent of removing 1,400 cars from Sacramento's roads.

"We're excited that our Central Plant is the host site for this first-of-its-kind demonstration project," said DGS Interim Director Cliff Allenby. "It promises to be an important part of the air pollution solution in Sacramento, as well as helping cut the state's heating and cooling bills."

NOx emissions from the plant's new boiler have been reduced from more than 30 parts per million (ppm) to 9 ppm. At maximum efficiency, the plant is able to save more than $100,000 annually in fuel costs alone.

Since the ARB's ICAT program began in 1994, $3.5 million has been approved to fund 14 projects. Any type of clean air pollution control technology is eligible for ICAT funding. Specifically, the ARB looks for new technologies that reduce emissions or offer increased efficiency or cost-effectiveness.

More information about the ARB's ICAT Program.