Air District Issues Call for Projects to Reduce Diesel Engine Pollution

Today the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (Air District) issued a call for grant applications for the 2008 Carl Moyer Memorial Air Quality Standards Attainment Program (Carl Moyer Program), a grant program funded by the state to reduce air pollution emissions from diesel engines. Between February 1 and April 4, 2008, public and private entities can apply for funds to retrofit or replace engines to reduce emissions beyond what is required by law.

“Emissions from aging heavy-duty engines are a major source of Bay Area air pollution,” said Air District Executive Officer Jack P. Broadbent. “The Carl Moyer Program helps local businesses protect the air by cleaning up dirty engines that would otherwise pollute for years to come.”

Projects reducing emissions in communities impacted most from diesel engine pollution will be targeted for participation in the Carl Moyer Program and will be given priority for grant fund allocations. The Carl Moyer Program is the first in a systematic targeting of Air District incentive programs towards the reduction of air pollution in these areas. The Air District has developed a preliminary emissions inventory of diesel engine pollution and compiled demographic and health-statistics data to help identify the following highly impacted areas: Eastern San Francisco, West Oakland, East Oakland/San Leandro, Richmond, San Jose and Concord (see map).

More than $12 million in Carl Moyer Program funding will be available this year to upgrade vehicles and machinery with heavy-duty engines that operate within the Air District’s boundaries. This includes trucks, marine vessels, construction, and airport ground support equipment, locomotives, and agricultural irrigation pumps.

A series of workshops will be held throughout the open application period to explain the Carl Moyer Program guidelines, describe how to complete the application and answer questions about the grant process. For more information about the program, see the Air District website, www.baaqmd.gov/moyer.

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is the public agency that is authorized to regulate stationary sources of air pollution in the nine Bay Area counties. For more information, visit www.baaqmd.gov.

Bay Area Air Quality Management District Carl Moyer Program

Program Overview

What is the Carl Moyer Program?

The Carl Moyer Memorial Air Quality Standards Attainment Program (Carl Moyer Program) is a state funded program that offers grants to owners of heavy-duty vehicles and equipment in order to reduce air pollution emissions from heavy-duty engines.  Grants are available for projects that:

• Install particle traps on engines to reduce emissions,
• Replace older heavy-duty engines with newer and cleaner engines and add a required particle trap,
• Purchase new vehicles or equipment that are cleaner than the law requires, 
• Replace heavy-duty equipment with electric equipment, and/or
• Install electric idling-reduction equipment.

Grants cannot be used for emissions reductions projects that are required by law or by a contract or agreement.  However, if an emissions reduction occurs 3 years prior to a requirement, funding is allowed.  For example, if a state fleet rule requires that an engine’s emissions be reduced by 2013, grants can be awarded to reduce those emissions as long as the funded equipment is operational by 2010. 

All vehicles and equipment funded with a grant must operate within the Air District’s boundaries.  The District is accepting applications for projects throughout its jurisdiction, but will prioritize projects that reduce emissions in impacted communities.  Highest priority will be given to the following six highly impacted communities:

1) Eastern San Francisco, 2) West Oakland, 3) East Oakland/San Leandro, 4) Richmond

5) San Jose, and 6) Concord.

For a map of impacted communities in the Bay Area, see: www.baaqmd.gov/moyer.  The following counties are part of the Air District’s jurisdiction:  Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Mateo, San Francisco, Santa Clara, and Napa counties.  The southern portions of Solano and Sonoma counties are also part of the Air District.

How much money is available for different types of projects?

Generally, Carl Moyer grants will cover: 1) 100% of the particle trap cost, including installation.  2) The cost of a replacement engine, including the installation cost, minus the cost to rebuild the old engine.  3) For new vehicle or equipment purchases, the Carl Moyer grants cover the difference between the cost of a new vehicle or equipment that is cleaner than the law requires and a new vehicle or equipment that meets current standards. 

Example:  For a new vehicle model year 2008 (or equipment) purchase, if the cost of a vehicle that exceeds emission standards is $120,000, and the cost of purchasing a vehicle that meets current emission standards is $100,000, the maximum Carl Moyer grant would be $20,000. 

What are my chances of getting funding?

Over 12 million dollars will be available to Bay Area businesses in 2008.  Carl Moyer Program dollars are awarded on a competitive basis.  Historically, the grants have gone to projects that involve older engines with high annual mileage, fuel use or operating hours.  What is considered an older or high annual mileage engine will vary depending on engine application (e.g. marine, on-road, off-road, etc).  Projects are weighted based on the emissions reduced.  As older engines tend to be higher polluters, these are generally more competitive projects. 

What will happen if I am awarded a Carl Moyer grant?

Engine owners with successful projects must sign a contract with the Air District and agree to a number of conditions, including:

• Participating in a pre-project inspection.  All existing engines funded must be in working condition at the time of the award. 
• Participating in a post-project inspection to confirm that the project has been completed as stated in the contract.  For engine replacement projects this inspection includes documenting the destruction of the original engine.  
• Agreeing that the engine, equipment or vehicle under contract will continue to operate in the Bay Area at similar usage rates as before the project was completed.  This requirement typically lasts between three and ten years.
• Submitting annual monitoring reports that document the mileage, fuel use or operating hours and location where the engine operates.
• Maintaining general liability and workers compensation insurance and machinery insurance equal to the full replacement value of the equipment covered under the agreement.
• Note:  This is not a complete list of the requirements for the program.

What can I do now, before I start my application?

• Review the fact sheet for your specific project type available from the Air District and online at www.baaqmd.gov/moyer.
• Contact your engine or equipment dealer to discuss possibilities for your equipment.
• Understand any applicable state fleet rules and pending fleet rules that may cover your fleet.
• Review the California Air Resources Board (ARB) 2005 Carl Moyer Program Guidelines chapter specific to the engine type.  The Guidelines are on the ARB webpage www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/moyer/moyer.htm.
• Contact the Air District with additional questions that you may have.

When will applications be available?

Applications will be available from the Air District website www.baaqmd.gov/moyer on 

February 1, 2008.  The Air District will accept completed applications through April 4, 2008.  For more information, contact the Air District’s grant programs hotline at 415-749-4994.