Marine Diesel Engine Repower Program

The 2025 Clean Air Grants for Marine Diesel Engine Repower Program is administered by the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (District) and is designed to support projects that reduce air pollution by upgrading or replacing older diesel-powered marine engines. The program aligns with the objectives of several California Air Resources Board (CARB) initiatives, including the Carl Moyer Program, the Community Air Protection Program, the FARMER Program, and revenue from the DMV surcharge. These initiatives prioritize early, cost-effective replacements of high-polluting equipment to improve public health and environmental quality. The grant program specifically targets marine diesel engines, offering financial assistance to repower or replace these engines with cleaner technologies. The program prioritizes zero-emission technologies and projects that are located in disadvantaged communities as defined by the SB 535 Disadvantaged Communities map. Projects must produce surplus emission reductions that exceed existing regulatory requirements. All projects must comply with the Carl Moyer Guidelines, particularly Chapter 7, and must demonstrate cost-effectiveness in their emission reduction outcomes. Eligible applicants include public, private, and nonprofit entities. Each entity is limited to submitting one application per program category, and only one marine grant project per Company, LLC, or Tax ID is allowed. Applications must be complete and submitted before the deadline to be considered. Applicants are expected to provide documentation of ownership and 24 months of usage data for the existing engines, which must be operational at the time of application. In addition, proposed replacement engines must not be purchased before the grant agreement is fully executed and must come with appropriate warranty documentation. Repower projects must be completed before the compliance deadlines under the Commercial Harbor Craft Regulation. Vessels must be based in Santa Barbara County and operate at least 50% of the time in the coastal waters of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties. The vessels must also have a functioning hour meter, as required by CARB regulations. Specific types of vessels such as commercial fishing boats, dredge vessels, tugs, and pilot vessels are eligible, while recreational and non-diesel vessels are not. All engines proposed for replacement must be verified as operational through a pre-inspection by the District and must be destroyed at an approved location prior to grant disbursement. The application period opens on Monday, July 28, 2025, and closes on Friday, September 5, 2025. Applications can be submitted in person, by mail, or by email to the District. Applicants should expect to receive a confirmation of receipt within 24 hours. If no confirmation is received within 72 hours, they are instructed to contact Mike McKay at (805) 979-8331 or via email at Grants@sbcapcd.org. Applications are reviewed based on factors including project location, technology, emission reduction potential, and cost-effectiveness. Grant funds are issued on a reimbursement basis, meaning the applicant must first pay or finance the entire project cost. Required documentation includes a completed application, records of baseline engine usage, proof of regulatory compliance, detailed dealer price quotes for replacement engines, vessel registration, and applicable licenses. Additionally, applicants must submit EPA Certificates of Conformity and ensure that no emission credits will be claimed for the funded project. Any engine removed must be clearly identified and rendered inoperable under District supervision. Funded applicants must also submit annual usage reports and may be subject to GPS tracking and periodic audits to ensure compliance with grant terms.

Incomplete applications will be returned. No equipment purchases can be made prior to grant approval. Projects must meet CARB cost-effectiveness thresholds.