Valley Air District staff joined farmers, ranchers, farmworkers, educators, students, state legislators and government leaders, who all converged recently on the west steps of the State Capitol for the California Agricultural Day, to highlight and learn about the latest in the agriculture community.

The annual celebration, hosted this year by the California Women for Agriculture, the California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom and the California Department of Food and Agriculture, recognizes California’s agricultural community by showcasing the various crops and commodities produced in the state. This year’s event focused on the “Next-Gen Tools, Talent, and Tech” that help the state’s agriculture lead and feed the nation.

District staff were on hand to share information about the various ag-related programs and grant opportunities available to Valley agri-businesses and other stakeholders. Among those who spoke at the event included First Partner of California Jennifer Siebel Newsom (pictured in center with District staff), Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture Karen Ross, and Senator Melissa Hurtado of District 16.

During Tracy Unified School District’s March school board meeting, District Governing Board Member and San Joaquin County Supervisor Robert Rickman (pictured second from right) presented the school district a commemorative check for $212,000 in recognition of its efforts to expand infrastructure for EV charging at school campuses.

Funded through the District’s Charge Up! Program, the school district has installed 38 Level 2 EV chargers, many of which have two ports to allow simultaneous charging of two vehicles.

The Charge Up! grant program provides public agencies, businesses and property owners of multi-unit dwellings, such as apartment buildings, an incentive of up to $50,000 per site to install EV chargers. Interested stakeholders can find more information at www.valleyair.org/chargeup or by calling 559-230-5800.

During the recent Special City Selection Committee meeting in January, Visalia Councilmember Liz Wynn was appointed to the District’s Governing Board as a Large City representative from Tulare County. In addition, Councilmember Deborah Lewis, who represents District 4 on the Los Banos City Council, was reappointed to the Governing Board for a 3-year term.

Wynn, who represents District 1 on the Visalia City Council, currently serves as Foundation Director of Kaweah Health Foundation. A former City of Visalia Planning Commissioner, Wynn was the executive director of the Visalia Emergency Aid Council, and previously served on the Housing Element Task Force and Planning Policy Task Force for the City of Visalia.

As an option under the Truck Replacement Program, the Yard Truck Replacement Program reduces diesel-engine emissions within the District boundaries by replacing old yard trucks with new, zero-emission electric yard trucks.

Yard trucks, which also can be known by other terms like yard dogs, yard goats and yard jockeys, are trucks used to move trailers and containers short distances around freight terminals, port facilities, warehouses and other facilities.

Funding is awarded at 45% of the eligible cost of the replacement truck, up to $200,000 per vehicle.  Funds are provided on a first come, first served basis.

Yard Trucks are either manufactured as on‐road or off‐road, certified vehicles. To be replaced, eligible on-road manufactured trucks must have an engine model year that is 6 years or older. Eligible off‐road manufactured trucks must have an engine that is uncontrolled, Tier 1, Tier 2 or Tier 3 certified. 

Additionally, applicants can apply separately for battery-charging stations under the District’s Clean Vehicle Fueling Infrastructure Program.

Zero-emission yard trucks offer a variety of benefits, ranging from environmental to financial, while operating in a reliable manner to keep business functioning.