Clean Air Grants On-Road Vehicle Program

The Clean Air Grants On-Road Vehicle Program is administered by the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District as part of its broader Clean Air Grants Program. The District operates as a local government agency responsible for improving air quality and protecting public health within Santa Barbara County and surrounding regions. Funding for this program is derived from multiple sources, 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. These funding streams are designed to incentivize early adoption of cleaner technologies that reduce emissions beyond regulatory requirements. The primary purpose of this grant is to support the replacement of older diesel or compressed natural gas medium- and heavy-duty vehicles with zero-emission alternatives such as electric or fuel cell vehicles. The program specifically targets vehicles with engines from model year 2020 or older and requires that replacements provide measurable emission reductions that are surplus to regulatory requirements. The initiative emphasizes cost effectiveness and pollutant reduction, prioritizing projects that deliver significant environmental benefits and those located within disadvantaged communities. Funding is provided on a reimbursement basis, meaning applicants must initially finance the full cost of the replacement vehicle and will be reimbursed after project completion and verification. Grant awards range from 10000 to 250000 dollars, with final award amounts determined based on factors such as usage, emission reductions, and project cost effectiveness. Funds may only be used for eligible equipment replacement and cannot be applied toward administrative costs or projects already required by regulation. Projects must meet cost effectiveness thresholds and comply with all relevant CARB guidelines. Eligible applicants include public agencies, private companies, and nonprofit organizations that operate qualifying vehicles within the defined geographic region. Vehicles must have been registered and operating within Santa Barbara County for at least 24 months prior to application, and at least 51 percent of annual usage must occur within the South Central Coast Air Basin. Additionally, applicants must demonstrate full compliance with CARB regulations across their entire fleet and provide extensive documentation, including ownership records, usage logs, compliance certifications, and proof of insurance. The application process requires submission of a complete application package either by mail, email, or in person. Applicants must include detailed information about the baseline vehicle, proposed replacement vehicle, and supporting documentation verifying eligibility and compliance. Applications are competitively ranked based on criteria such as emission reductions, cost effectiveness, and project location. Selected applicants undergo a pre inspection to verify operational status and accuracy of submitted information before final award decisions are made. The program operates on a defined annual timeline, with the 2026 application window open from July 27 through September 4. Applications submitted outside this period are not accepted. Only one application per entity is allowed for this program category, and incomplete applications are returned without consideration. Following submission, the District reviews and ranks applications, conducts inspections, and issues awards until funding is exhausted. Recipients are required to meet reporting obligations, maintain compliance, and ensure proper destruction of replaced equipment. Successful projects must adhere to strict post award requirements, including annual usage reporting, maintaining equipment within the eligible geographic area, and ensuring that replaced engines are permanently destroyed. The program also prohibits the use of funded emission reductions for credit trading or regulatory compliance purposes. These conditions ensure that funded projects deliver real, additional environmental benefits while maintaining accountability and transparency throughout the grant lifecycle.

Focus on maximizing emission reductions and demonstrating cost effectiveness and ensure all documentation is complete and accurate