Background
To achieve California’s numerous air quality, climate change, and zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) deployment goals, CARB has adopted an aggressive, multipronged strategy that uses incentives to complement regulatory approaches. Annually, the State appropriates funding to a portfolio of incentive programs, and each program plays a unique role to improve air quality, enhance community protection, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Further, CARB allocates this funding to incentive projects that are designed to support the transition to a low carbon economy across multiple sectors, including investments in the transportation sector administered in accordance with the Funding Plan for Clean Transportation Incentives (Funding Plan).
The Funding Plan is an annual, detailed guide that explains how Clean Transportation Incentive funds will be spent. Developed annually, the Funding Plan has traditionally incentivized multiple technologies at different points on their commercialization arcs. The incentive funds have helped to continue successful deployments of the cleanest available technologies, reduce production costs, promote consumer acceptance, and accelerate technology transfer to other sectors. These projects are designed to achieve immediate emission reductions and support the equitable transformation of California’s vehicle and equipment fleet to zero emissions where feasible and as clean as possible where zero emissions are not yet feasible. In designing these investments, CARB strives to maximize benefits for disadvantaged communities, low-income communities, and low-income households (priority populations).
This year, the Funding Plan allocates nearly $35 million for the Air Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) appropriated to CARB in budget bills passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor. Created in 2007 by Assembly Bill (AB) 118 (Nunez, Stats. 2007, ch. 750), AQIP has been reauthorized (AB 8, Perea, Stats. 2013, ch. 401) or extended (AB 126, Reyes, Stats. 2023, ch. 319) twice over the years. AB 126 specifies AQIP’s purpose is to fund zero emission technology and certain heavy-duty projects and provide benefits in nonattainment air basins, with a priority for projects in extreme nonattainment areas.
Inquiries regarding this matter should be directed to Stephanie Parent, Staff Air Pollution Specialist, at (279) 842-9565 or to Lisa Macumber, Branch Chief, at (279) 208-7860.
CARB staff will present the Proposed Funding Plan to the Board for their consideration of approval at the Board Meeting. Copies of the Proposed Funding Plan may be obtained from CARB’s Low Carbon Transportation Incentives and Air Quality Improvement Program website.
Written Comment Period & Comment Submittal
Interested members of the public may present comments orally or in writing during the meeting and may provide comments by postal mail or by electronic submittal before the meeting. To be considered by the Board, written comments not submitted during the meeting, must be received no later than Tuesday, November 12, 2024, and addressed to one of the following:
Clerks' Office, California Air Resources Board
1001 I Street, Sacramento, California 95814
Please note that under the California Public Records Act (Government Code section 7920.000 et seq.), your written and oral comments, attachments, and associated contact information (e.g., your address, phone, email, etc.) become part of the public record and can be released to the public upon request.
|
