|
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is pleased to announce a competitive grant solicitation for several Grantees to implement and administer the projects eligible for Advanced Technology Demonstration and Pilot Project program (referred to as Program or ATDPP) under the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021-22 Funding Plan for Clean Transportation Incentives (FY 2021-22 Funding Plan) and the FY 2022-23 Funding Plan for Clean Transportation Incentives (FY 2022-23 Funding Plan). On November 19, 2021, the Board approved $40 million for the Program for five project categories allocated under the FY 2021-22 Funding Plan. Then on November 17, 2022, the Board approved an additional $135 million for the Program allocated under the FY 2022-23 Funding Plan. These two Program funding allocations have been combined under this Solicitation. Additionally, $50 million in funding from the California Energy Commission (CEC) is included in this Solicitation to support infrastructure.
CARB’s goal under this Solicitation is to support a wide array of zero-emission off-road equipment and vessel projects as well as Green Zones, which has a very broad scope and is focused on supporting broad and creative roads to zero-emission adoption at the municipal level.
The Program is intended to strategically accelerate the advancement of innovative and economically viable technologies into the commercial marketplace while also supporting the State’s equity and emission reduction goals. The Program helps to achieve these goals by funding projects that help guide development by encouraging the economic and environmental benefits of the projects. Historically, 99 percent of demonstration and pilot project funds have gone to projects located in priority populations or to projects that benefit priority populations.
Projects funded under this Solicitation can support both pre-commercial technologies that are not yet offered for sale in the marketplace as well those commercial technologies that have already been deployed into the marketplace. All work must be completed and the CARB approved final report must be submitted to CARB by March 15, 2027.
This competitive Solicitation is for a grantee, which can be a California based public agency or a California based non-profit organization that demonstrates the requisite administrative and technical expertise in overseeing large scale advanced technology deployments and professional relationships with prospective project partners (manufacturers, end-users fleets, communities).
Applications must be submitted via email to Mr. Earl Landberg no later than 5:00 p.m. (PST), Thursday, October 12, 2023.
Applicant Web Conference
CARB will hold one Applicant Zoom Conference, at which time staff will be available to answer questions potential applicants may have regarding eligibility, application completion, and other requirements.
Date: August 23, 2023
Time: 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. (PDT)
Interested parties may email questions prior to the Applicant Zoom Conference. Staff will not respond to questions regarding this solicitation via email, but will instead collect all questions submitted and respond during the Applicant Zoom Conference. Staff also will not respond to new questions after the Conference has taken place. All answers provided during the Conference are draft; the questions emailed in advance and the questions and answers provided during the Applicant Zoom Conference will be reviewed and a final response will be posted on the CARB grant solicitations webpage by September 13, 2023.
Background
There are several key pieces of legislation that provide the overall policy framework and funding to support Advanced Technology Demonstration and Pilot Projects. In 2007, Governor Schwarzenegger signed into law the California Alternative and Renewable Fuel, Vehicle Technology, Clean Air, and Carbon Reduction Act of 2007 (AB 118, Statutes of 2007, Chapter 750). AB 118 created the Air Quality Improvement Program (AQIP), a voluntary incentive program implemented by CARB, to fund clean vehicle and equipment projects, air quality research, and workforce training and development.
As required in Health and Safety Code (HSC) Section 44274(a), the Board adopted regulatory guidelines in 2009 for AQIP. The Guidelines for the AB 118 Air Quality Improvement Program (AQIP Guidelines) define the overall administrative requirements, policies, and procedures for program implementation based on the framework established in statute.
In 2012, the legislature passed, and Governor Brown signed into law three bills – AB 1532 (Pérez, Chapter 807), SB 535 (de León, Chapter 830), and SB 1018 (Budget and Fiscal Review Committee, Chapter 39) – that established the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) to receive Cap-and-Trade auction proceeds and to provide the framework for how the auction proceeds will be administered to further the purposes of AB 32. Cap-and-Trade auction proceeds have been appropriated to CARB for Low Carbon Transportation projects that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with an emphasis on investments that benefit the State’s priority populations. Per statute, these funds must be used to further the purposes of AB 32. The Low Carbon Transportation investments build upon and greatly expand existing advanced technology and clean transportation programs, which provide mobile source incentives to reduce criteria pollutant, air toxic, and GHG emissions.
The Board, on November 19, 2021, approved the FY 2021-22 Funding Plan, and included $40 million allocated to Advanced Technology Demonstration and Pilot Projects. Further, the Board approved the FY 2022-23 Funding Plan on November 17, 2022, which allocated $135 million for projects of which all funding will be available in this Solicitation.
AB 179 (Ting, Chapter 249, Budget Act of 2022) provides guidance, the legislation states that in awarding funds, the Board shall consider prioritizing projects based on maximizing emission reductions consistent with the Commercial Harbor Craft regulation. The Board shall prioritize private ferry operators regulated by the Public Utilities Commission, public ferries, licensed commercial passenger fishing vessels, research vessels, and excursion vessels. Therefore, funding will be prioritized to support the above listed vessels. However, all vessels impacted by the Commercial Harbor Craft regulation will be eligible.
Contact
If you have any questions regarding Advanced Technology Demonstration and Pilot Projects or the Applicant Zoom Conference, please contact Mr. Earl Landberg, Staff Air Pollution Specialist, at (916) 287-0171.
|
