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Money will help bring clean-air technologies to California. 

Release 09-16
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 26, 2009
	  	  	
Gennet Paauwe
(916)322-2990
www.arb.ca.gov

$700,000 in grants to help three companies demonstrate clean air
innovations

SACRAMENTO -- Today the California Air Resources Board approved
over $700,000 in grants to bolster the commercialization of three
cutting-edge clean air technologies.

The projects, funded under the ARB's Innovative Clean Air
Technologies program, include demonstrations of a big-rig truck
trailer aerodynamic device, a specialized drivetrain for
commercial vehicles and a stationary biogas engine.

"Taking an entrepreneurial idea to commercial success is often
the most challenging part of business," said ARB Chairman Mary D.
Nichols. "These grants are the seed money that will bring
California new, green technologies that will enliven our economy
and clean our air."

Three projects were selected for their potential to support ARB
programs and initiatives, and lead to emission reductions in
California:

    * Advanced Transit Dynamics, Inc. (South San Francisco) will
receive $249,194 to demonstrate its active flow control
technology to improve the fuel economy of Class 8
tractor-trailers by 6-10 percent, and cutting greenhouse gas
emissions toward the AB 32 Scoping Plan adopted by the Board in
December;
    * Eaton Corp. (Eden Prairie, Minn.) will receive $214,401 to
demonstrate its series hybrid hydraulic drivetrain on a package
delivery vehicle to cut greenhouse gas emissions generated from
commercial vehicles; and,
    * Sacramento Municipal Utility District will receive
$246,309 to demonstrate the use of a system using dairy digester
gases that will significantly reduce emissions from stationary
biogas engines to meet strict California emission standards. 


At least 50 percent of a project's total cost must come from
matching funds and 10 percent must be committed by the grantee.
Criteria for project selection include: the potential air quality
benefit, readiness for commercialization in California, project
quality and synchronicity with ARB's existing programs.

ARB staff review proposals looking for technologies and projects
that promote emission reductions in California by introducing a
new prevention or control technology, augmenting the degree of
control provided by an existing technology, reducing the cost or
other practical impediment, or increasing scope of application.
Proposals that meet these and other criteria are then recommended
to the Board for its approval.

Since its inception in 1993, the Innovative Clean Air
Technologies program has provided 63 grants, for a total of
approximately $12.7 million, including today's grants. Any new,
technically challenging technology or application that supports
ARB's programs and goals, while benefiting the state's economy,
may be considered for a grant.

Examples of particularly successful past demonstration projects
include:

    * An electric school bus with integrated fast-charge
capability; $140,000 granted to the Sacramento Municipal Utility
District in 2001;
    * Solar crop drying system for farm products such as nuts,
prunes and herbs; $150,000 granted to Conserval Engineering in
2000; and
    * Electric diesel particulate filter for in-use diesel
engines; $71,400 granted to Cleaire Advanced Emission Controls in
2004.
    * For more information about the Innovative Clean Air
Technologies program, and projects it supports, see:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/research/icat/icat.htm 

The Air Resources Board is a department of the California
Environmental Protection Agency. ARB's mission is to promote and
protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources through
effective reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and
considering effects on the economy. The ARB oversees all air
pollution control efforts in California to attain and maintain
health based air quality standards.


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