|
The California Air Resources Board (CARB or Board) invites you to drive forward and participate in a virtual workshop to discuss the next phase of medium and heavy-duty incentive policies to support clean transportation. This workshop will cover CARB’s Drive Forward initiative and provide an overview of draft funding allocations for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26 and FY 2026-27 Air Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) Funding Plan (Funding Plan), which CARB anticipates bringing to the Board this summer. Attend the workshop to learn about CARB’s Drive Forward initiative for medium and heavy-duty incentives and the draft funding allocations in this year’s Funding Plan.
In this workshop, we will:
-
Continue the discussion from November on light-duty purchase and community mobility incentives
-
Present the Governor’s proposed new ZEV incentive program identified in the Governor’s Proposed Budget
-
Gather feedback on what additional resources may be needed
The workshop will be held virtually via Zoom at the following date and time:
Date: Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) (approximate end time; may be earlier than listed
Location: Virtual Zoom Webinar
All interested parties are invited to attend the workshop virtually. Please register for the meeting at the link below. After you register, you will receive an email with information about how to join the meeting by digital/ computer device or telephone on the day of the meeting.
Workshop materials will be available on CARB’s webpage approximately one week before the workshop. This workshop will be recorded and posted approximately two weeks after the workshop date. A link to the recording will be made available and posted on the CARB Events Calendar webpage.
Background
In spring 2025, the federal government took unprecedented actions claiming to disapprove California’s Clean Air Act waivers that enabled enforcement of several components of our vehicle clean air and climate program.
In response, California filed suit to challenge the federal government’s unlawful actions. That case is ongoing. Additionally, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Executive Order N-27-25 on June 12, 2025, reaffirming the state’s commitment to cut harmful air pollution from transportation and protect public health. This includes directing CARB to begin work on its next round of vehicle emission standards to cut greenhouse gas, criteria air pollutant, and toxic emissions.
In this workshop, we will continue the discussion from November on medium and heavy-duty incentives. This public meeting is a key step in CARB’s Funding Plan process, which sets priorities and allocates dollars for incentive programs under AQIP. The input we receive will help shape the FY 2025-26 and FY 2026-27 Funding Plan that CARB anticipates bringing to the Board for consideration in June. Your feedback will help shape priorities and ensure we are ready to implement programs quickly once the State Budget is passed. Drive Forward will also be a main topic in this workshop, which is CARB’s initiative aimed at continuing the State’s commitment to meet federally mandated air quality standards, fulfill state goals, and protect public health by investing in the cleanest available technologies. Sustainable funding will also continue to deliver secondary benefits to California by supporting the green economy in California and preserving its leadership as one of the top US states for ZEV manufacturing jobs and production.
Drive Forward Initiative
The Drive Forward initiative reaffirms California’s leadership in clean air and climate policy, setting the course for the next phase of the state’s light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicle programs.
Drive Forward continues California’s commitment to meet state and national air quality standards, achieve climate and clean air goals, and protect public health through strong vehicle standards. Drive Forward will support the development of light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicle regulations, incentive programs, outreach and education, and supportive programs and policies that enable clean vehicle use.
This effort will further advance the clean technologies available today to ensure California meets its air quality and climate obligations.
Contact
If you have questions about the workshop please contact Chelsey Batchelder, Associate Governmental Program Analyst, at email chelsey.batchelder@arb.ca.gov or (279) 208-7401.
If you require a special accommodation or need this document in an alternate format (i.e., Braille, large print) or another language, please contact Chelsey Batchelder, Associate Governmental Program Analyst, at email chelsey.batchelder@arb.ca.gov or (279) 208-7401, as soon as possible. TTY/TDD/Speech to Speech users may dial 711 for the California Relay Service.
Important Note on Language Interpretation
Due to budget constraints, we are updating our process for providing language interpretation services (e.g., Spanish, American Sign Language, etc.) at public meetings. In accordance with the Dymally-Alatorre Bilingual Services Act (Government Code 7290-7299.8), language interpretation will be provided when at least 5% of anticipated attendees request such services. Registered participants may request services on behalf of others in advance to ensure their needs are being met. You, or someone on your behalf, must request language interpretation services from us at least 10 calendar days before the meeting date.
|
