Clean Air Grants Off Road Equipment Replacement Program

The Clean Air Grants Off Road Equipment Replacement Program is administered by the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District, a local government agency responsible for improving air quality and protecting public health within Santa Barbara County, California. The program is funded through a combination of state and local funding streams, including the California Air Resources Board Carl Moyer Program, Community Air Protection Program, FARMER Program, CHIRP, DMV surcharge revenue, and the District Clean Air Fund. The initiative is designed to accelerate the replacement of older, high polluting off road equipment with newer, cleaner technologies that reduce emissions beyond what is required by regulation. The primary purpose of the program is to reduce harmful air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and particulate matter by incentivizing voluntary early replacement of diesel powered off road equipment. Eligible projects include replacement of equipment such as tractors, dozers, forklifts, loaders, excavators, scrapers, agricultural utility terrain vehicles, and ground support equipment. The program emphasizes zero emission technologies and prioritizes projects located in disadvantaged communities, as well as those that demonstrate strong cost effectiveness and significant emission reductions. Funding is provided on a reimbursement basis, meaning that applicants must first complete the purchase or financing of the replacement equipment before receiving grant funds. Award amounts range from ten thousand dollars to two hundred fifty thousand dollars per project, with final amounts determined by factors including equipment usage, emission reductions achieved, project cost effectiveness, and overall funding availability. Funds cannot be used for equipment that has already been purchased prior to execution of the grant agreement, and administrative costs are not eligible. Additionally, emission reductions must be surplus, meaning they cannot be required by existing laws or regulations. Eligibility is open to public entities, private businesses, and nonprofit organizations, provided they meet program requirements and submit a complete application. Applicants are limited to one application and one equipment replacement project per entity. Existing equipment must meet specific criteria, including being diesel fueled with at least twenty horsepower, having a functional hour meter, and being operational and in service at the time of application. The equipment must have operated exclusively within Santa Barbara County for the previous twenty four months, and replacement equipment must continue to operate within the county. Additional requirements include compliance with CARB regulations, destruction of the old equipment, and adherence to cost effectiveness thresholds defined in state guidelines. The application process requires submission of a complete application along with supporting documentation demonstrating equipment ownership, usage history, regulatory compliance, and specifications for both existing and replacement equipment. Applications may be submitted in person, by mail, or via email. The District reviews all complete applications, conducts pre inspections to verify equipment status, and ranks projects based on criteria such as location, emission reductions, technology type, and cost effectiveness. Submission of a complete application does not guarantee funding, as awards are competitive and dependent on available funds. The application window for the program opens on July 27, 2026 and closes on September 4, 2026. Applications submitted outside this timeframe are not accepted. The District provides confirmation of receipt within twenty four hours of submission, and applicants are advised to follow up if confirmation is not received within seventy two hours. Questions regarding the program can be directed to the District via email at grants@sbcapcd.org or by phone through listed contacts. Funded projects are subject to strict post award requirements, including annual reporting, operational monitoring, and potential audit inspections. Applicants must agree to terms that prohibit use of emission reductions for credit programs and require destruction of replaced equipment. The program does not explicitly state a recurring annual cycle, but given its alignment with ongoing state funding programs, similar opportunities may be offered in future years. Overall, the program represents a targeted effort to improve air quality through incentivized equipment modernization within a defined geographic area.

Prioritize zero emission equipment and demonstrate strong cost effectiveness and emission reductions; ensure all documentation is complete and accurate to avoid rejection; verify eligibility against CARB guidelines before applying