The California Air Resources Board will open a second round of grant requests to help truck owners with pre-2004 diesels meet its 2007 emission standards, and Cascade Sierra Solutions (CSS) is standing by to help steer truck owners through the application process.
The request for applications is expected to open in the early part of October 2010.

California's Air Quality Management Districts will be accepting applications for grants worth up to $50,000 toward the purchase of newer diesel trucks meeting CARB's 2007 emission standards. Grants for natural-gas-powered trucks may be available for up to $100,000.

To qualify, trucks equipped with older diesel engines must meet certain eligibility criteria, which include:
1) trucks must be model-year 2003 or older, and
2) must be involved in goods movement activities,
3) must have a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of 33,001 lb or greater (Class 8),
4) must be currently registered in California or provide detailed proof of areas of operation,
5) must have operated at least 50 percent of the time within Proposition 1B trade corridor(s) for the past 2 years,
6) and new for this round, grant requests from operators running up to 10 percent out-of-state miles will be considered by the Air Districts.

Applicants seeking assistance from Cascade Sierra Solutions should call 541-302-0900 immediately -- rather than waiting for the grant program to open -- and ask for Proposition 1B application assistance.

During the first round of Prop 1B funding, CSS helped over 400 truck owners apply for and receive truck replacement grants.

Find out more about Cascade Sierra Solutions by visiting the website: www.cascadesierrasolutions.org