DIAMOND BAR, Calif. - The Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee (MSRC) has announced exciting new projects for the New Year, as well as continuing support for those with a history of success. The MSRC will hit the ground running in 2008 with an unprecedented 11 categories for its FY 2007-08 Work Program, offering more than $13 million in Clean Transportation Funding for projects aimed at combating air pollution from mobile sources.
The Work Program is made up of the projects that the MSRC funds during the fiscal year. In the past, these projects have included transportation control measures, transportation demand management projects, clean fuel and clean vehicle programs, and other projects that result in the direct and tangible reduction of vehicular air pollution. Each year the MSRC develops categories and funding targets for the Work Program based on its evaluation of past Work Programs, as well as public input and discussion.
This year, the Local Government Match Program has $3 million available to qualified cities and counties, and provides a "dollar-for-dollar" match to fund new, expanded or upgraded alternative-fuel infrastructure and the purchase of heavy-duty alternative fuel vehicles. A new Match Program subcategory has been added this year to include the installation of automated fleet management and vehicle diagnostic devices on-board light and medium-duty fleet vehicles. A workshop for applicants will take place on Friday, January 4 at 1:30 p.m. at the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) headquarters.
Another popular category that will receive continued funding is the Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Program, which has $2.5 million available to assist eligible applicants in the construction, upgrade, and expansion of alternative fuel infrastructure within the south coast region. A bidder's conference for this program will take place on Wednesday, January 9, 2008, at AQMD.
The MSRC has also allocated an additional $1.2 million for the Alternative-Fuel School Bus Buy-Down Incentive Program, which offers funding to qualified school bus vendors to "buy down" the cost of an alternative fuel bus, making buses available to school districts at a reduced purchase price. This year the program's focus is expanded to allow for liquefied petroleum gas, commonly known as propane, buses as well as CNG.
Two categories new to the MSRC's Work Program are the Heavy Duty Natural Gas Off-Road Cargo Handling Equipment Program and the On-Road Heavy Duty Alternative Fuel Engine Program.
The Cargo Handling Equipment program has $1 million in funding available to encourage owners of yard hostlers and yard trucks that operate at the San Pedro Ports and warehouse distribution centers within the South Coast AQMD to purchase the lowest emitting heavy-duty equipment commercially available. The second program offers $1.5 million to owners of heavy-duty trucks and buses to purchase and/or re-power these vehicles with dedicated alternative fuel engines certified by the California Air Resources Board at or below a NOx standard of 0.2 g/bhp-hr.
Among the other new programs that the MSRC is funding are projects to demonstrate new technologies for on-road diesel NOx control systems, a ride matching program for schools, a study on intelligent transportation systems for local governments, and a big-rig freeway service patrol demonstration project. The MSRC also is providing additional funding for its Showcase demonstration program, targeting specific types of off-road construction equipment to fill in the gaps left in the Showcase program's initial round of funding.
"The $13.7 million we are providing will help to leverage a wide variety of partners in the coming year," said MRSC chair Gwenn Norton-Perry. "With the addition of the new project categories, the MSRC is broadening its reach to include other types of vehicle technologies and new, innovative programs targeting some of the region's most pressing air pollution challenges. Our programs are growing to reflect the newest technologies as they become available."
The program announcements for the MSRC's 2007-'08 Work Program can be found at msrcdev.exemplifi.io
The Work Program is made up of the projects that the MSRC funds during the fiscal year. In the past, these projects have included transportation control measures, transportation demand management projects, clean fuel and clean vehicle programs, and other projects that result in the direct and tangible reduction of vehicular air pollution. Each year the MSRC develops categories and funding targets for the Work Program based on its evaluation of past Work Programs, as well as public input and discussion.
This year, the Local Government Match Program has $3 million available to qualified cities and counties, and provides a "dollar-for-dollar" match to fund new, expanded or upgraded alternative-fuel infrastructure and the purchase of heavy-duty alternative fuel vehicles. A new Match Program subcategory has been added this year to include the installation of automated fleet management and vehicle diagnostic devices on-board light and medium-duty fleet vehicles. A workshop for applicants will take place on Friday, January 4 at 1:30 p.m. at the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) headquarters.
Another popular category that will receive continued funding is the Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Program, which has $2.5 million available to assist eligible applicants in the construction, upgrade, and expansion of alternative fuel infrastructure within the south coast region. A bidder's conference for this program will take place on Wednesday, January 9, 2008, at AQMD.
The MSRC has also allocated an additional $1.2 million for the Alternative-Fuel School Bus Buy-Down Incentive Program, which offers funding to qualified school bus vendors to "buy down" the cost of an alternative fuel bus, making buses available to school districts at a reduced purchase price. This year the program's focus is expanded to allow for liquefied petroleum gas, commonly known as propane, buses as well as CNG.
Two categories new to the MSRC's Work Program are the Heavy Duty Natural Gas Off-Road Cargo Handling Equipment Program and the On-Road Heavy Duty Alternative Fuel Engine Program.
The Cargo Handling Equipment program has $1 million in funding available to encourage owners of yard hostlers and yard trucks that operate at the San Pedro Ports and warehouse distribution centers within the South Coast AQMD to purchase the lowest emitting heavy-duty equipment commercially available. The second program offers $1.5 million to owners of heavy-duty trucks and buses to purchase and/or re-power these vehicles with dedicated alternative fuel engines certified by the California Air Resources Board at or below a NOx standard of 0.2 g/bhp-hr.
Among the other new programs that the MSRC is funding are projects to demonstrate new technologies for on-road diesel NOx control systems, a ride matching program for schools, a study on intelligent transportation systems for local governments, and a big-rig freeway service patrol demonstration project. The MSRC also is providing additional funding for its Showcase demonstration program, targeting specific types of off-road construction equipment to fill in the gaps left in the Showcase program's initial round of funding.
"The $13.7 million we are providing will help to leverage a wide variety of partners in the coming year," said MRSC chair Gwenn Norton-Perry. "With the addition of the new project categories, the MSRC is broadening its reach to include other types of vehicle technologies and new, innovative programs targeting some of the region's most pressing air pollution challenges. Our programs are growing to reflect the newest technologies as they become available."
The program announcements for the MSRC's 2007-'08 Work Program can be found at msrcdev.exemplifi.io