Clean Air Grants Marine Diesel Engine Repower Program

The Clean Air Grants Marine Diesel Engine Repower Program is administered by the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District, a local governmental agency responsible for improving air quality and protecting public health within Santa Barbara County. The program is funded through multiple California Air Resources Board initiatives, including the Carl Moyer Program, Community Air Protection Program, FARMER Program, and CHIRP, along with local funding sources such as DMV surcharge revenue and the District Clean Air Fund. The overarching goal of this program is to accelerate the replacement of older, high polluting diesel marine engines with cleaner technologies, achieving emissions reductions earlier than required by regulatory timelines. The primary purpose of the program is to reduce harmful emissions from marine vessels operating along the California coast by incentivizing engine repower projects. Funding supports the replacement of existing diesel engines with newer, lower emission or zero emission alternatives. Projects must demonstrate that emission reductions are surplus, meaning they go beyond what is already required by federal, state, or local regulations. The program places particular emphasis on projects that achieve high emission reductions, demonstrate strong cost effectiveness, and are located in disadvantaged communities or incorporate zero emission technologies. Grant funding is awarded on a competitive basis, with eligible projects receiving between 10000 and 250000 dollars depending on project specifics such as equipment usage, emission reductions achieved, and available funding. Funds are distributed on a reimbursement basis, meaning applicants must first incur project costs before receiving grant payments. Costs must align with eligibility requirements and comply with the most recent Carl Moyer and Community Air Protection guidelines. Administrative costs are not eligible for reimbursement, and applicants must ensure all funded equipment meets certification requirements and is not used to generate emission reduction credits. Eligible applicants include public, private, and nonprofit entities that own and operate qualifying marine vessels. To qualify, vessels must be based in Santa Barbara County and operate at least 50 percent of the time in the coastal waters of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, or Ventura counties. The program excludes recreational and non diesel vessels and limits eligibility for certain vessel types regulated under the Commercial Harbor Craft Regulation. Applicants must also demonstrate that existing engines are operational and in service, maintain proper documentation of usage over the previous 24 months, and ensure that replaced engines are destroyed following program requirements. The application process requires submission of a complete application package including detailed vessel and engine information, proof of usage, compliance documentation, and equipment specifications for replacement engines. Applications may be submitted by mail, email, or in person, and must be complete to be considered. The District reviews applications for completeness, conducts pre inspections on selected projects, and ranks projects based on criteria such as emission reductions, technology type, geographic location, and cost effectiveness. Submission of an application does not guarantee funding, and incomplete applications are returned without review. The program operates within a defined annual application window. For the 2026 cycle, applications open on July 27, 2026 and close on September 4, 2026. Applications submitted outside of this timeframe are not accepted. After submission, applicants receive confirmation of receipt and may be contacted for additional verification or inspection. Award decisions are made after all complete applications are evaluated and ranked, and funding is distributed until available funds are exhausted. Applicants must complete the repower project before regulatory compliance deadlines and adhere to ongoing reporting and operational requirements throughout the project lifecycle. Contact for the program is available through the District via the grants email address, and applicants are encouraged to review all application materials and guidelines prior to submission. The program is expected to recur annually as part of the broader Clean Air Grants initiative, with future cycles following similar timelines and requirements, subject to funding availability and regulatory updates.

Ensure complete documentation demonstrate high emission reductions and cost effectiveness prioritize zero emission technologies and verify compliance before submission