GCC: CARB approves $483M funding plan for clean transportation investments; 94% of funding from cap-and-trade

The California Air Resources Board approved a $483 million plan to fund clean car rebates, zero-emission transit and school buses, clean trucks, and other innovative, clean transportation and mobility pilot projects. . . .

Of the $483 million total, $455 million (94%) comes from the cap-and-trade program; the remainder—$28 million—is from the Air Quality Improvement Program. The funding plan prioritizes investments in disadvantaged and low-income communities.

Projects in the FY 2018-19 plan prioritize environmental justice by addressing specific community needs and increasing awareness of, and access to, cleaner transportation and mobility options exceeding the requirements called for under Senate Bill 350. The Board is increasing the target for investment in disadvantaged and low-income communities and households to 50% as called for by Assembly Bill 1550.

The funding plan builds upon successes and lessons from previous years’ investments and furthers collaboration across related initiatives such as the AB 617 Community Air Protection Program.

Highlights of the FY 2018-19 Plan include:

• $200 million for the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project (CVRP), including increased rebates for low-income consumers. (CVRP promotes clean-vehicle adoption by offering rebates for the purchase or lease of new, eligible zero-emission vehicles, including electric, plug-in hybrid electric and fuel cell vehicles.)
  
  $75 million for Transportation Equity Projects, including the Enhanced Fleet Modernization Plus-Up/Clean Cars 4 All Program (incentives for lower-income drivers to scrap and replace older, high-polluting cars with zero- or near-zero-emission cars), Financing Assistance for Lower-Income Consumers, Clean Mobility Options, Agricultural Worker Vanpools, Rural School Bus Pilot Project, and the new Clean Mobility in Schools Project.
  
  $180 million for Clean Truck & Bus Vouchers (HVIP and Low NOx Engine Incentives) and the Zero- and Near-Zero Emission Freight Facilities Project.
  
  $28.6 million for Air Quality Improvement Program or AQIP-funded heavy-duty vehicle investments, including the Truck Loan Assistance Program and new Diesel Particulate Filter Retrofit Replacements.

Over the past five years, the Legislature has appropriated nearly $1.2 billion for low-carbon transportation projects from the cap-and-trade program. Funds also come from the Air Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) with an annual budget of about $28 million. AQIP supports CVRP, the Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP), and has been funding demonstrations for advanced emission reduction vehicle technologies since 2009. . . .

Investments demonstrate continued support for emission reduction goals set forth in California’s Climate Change Scoping Plan, Mobile Source Strategy, State Implementation Plans, Sustainable Freight and Zero-Emission Vehicle Action Plans.

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