Clean Air Grants - Off-Road Equipment Replacement

The 2025 Clean Air Grants for Off-Road Equipment Replacement is administered by the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (the District) with funding provided through the California Air Resources Board’s Carl Moyer Program, the Community Air Protection Program, the FARMER (Funding Agricultural Replacement Measures for Emission Reductions) Program, and DMV surcharge revenues. These grant funds aim to support public health by facilitating the early replacement of high-polluting off-road diesel equipment with cleaner alternatives, going beyond regulatory compliance to reduce air pollution. The grant opportunity specifically targets off-road equipment such as diesel-powered tractors, dozers, forklifts, loaders, excavators, scrapers, agricultural utility terrain vehicles, and ground support equipment. The replacement equipment must serve the same function as the existing equipment and must operate 100% of the time within Santa Barbara County. Auxiliary engines and portable engines are not eligible. Priority will be given to zero-emission technology projects and those located in disadvantaged communities as designated by California Senate Bill 535. Emission reductions achieved by the funded projects must be surplus to regulatory requirements, and replacement equipment must meet cost-effectiveness thresholds established in the most recent Carl Moyer Program Guidelines. Eligible applicants include public, private, and nonprofit entities, but each applicant may only submit one application per program category and only one grant project per Company, LLC, or Taxpayer ID. The District exercises final discretion in determining eligibility and fund distribution. Projects are selected based on a range of evaluation criteria including emission reductions, cost-effectiveness, equipment technology, and project location. Grants are reimbursement-based and are awarded only after the entire cost of the equipment has been paid or financed by the applicant. The grant application must be complete and submitted via email, mail, or in-person by 5:00 PM on Friday, September 5, 2025. Incomplete applications will be returned and must be completed before the deadline. Required documentation includes proof of ownership and use of existing equipment, proof of operational status (validated through District pre-inspection), CARB certification documents, a current dealer price quote for replacement equipment, and signed compliance statements. Additional program requirements include equipment operability and use verification, warranties, and submission of usage reports for the life of the project. Applicants must also agree not to claim emission reduction credits for the funded equipment and to destroy the replaced equipment under District supervision. The District may require installation of a GPS unit and non-resettable digital hour meters to ensure compliance. The application package includes sections covering business and contact information, equipment details, grant signing authority, and regulatory compliance declarations. Any project that has already received funding from other sources must disclose this in the application. Applications open on Monday, July 28, 2025, and close on Friday, September 5, 2025. For assistance or more information, applicants can contact Mike McKay at (805) 979-8331 or via email at grants@sbcapcd.org. More information and application materials are available at the District’s official grants webpage: https://www.ourair.org/grants/.

Ensure all equipment has a working hour meter and CARB documentation. Early pre-inspections are encouraged.