The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District in California has launched the Voucher Incentive Program, which will offer money to small fleets to replace older, polluting trucks with newer ones.


"Funding assistance for clean trucks is key to quickly reduce diesel emissions in one of the busiest trade corridors in the state," said California Air Resources Board Chairman Mary Nichols. "This will benefit valley residents with cleaner air to breathe, resulting in fewer cases of respiratory disease, hospital visits and missed work days."

The Voucher Incentive Program has made more than $15 million available, which was funded through the Carl Moyer Memorial Air Quality Attainment Program. Applicants will receive between $30,000 and $35,000 per grant, depending on the age of the truck. Grants are given on a first-come, first-serve basis. Although trucks are not required to be based in the valley, trucks must be operational in California for 75 percent of the time.

Other eligibility requirements include:

* Fleet size can be no more than three trucks.
* Old truck must have a 1993 or older engine.
* Truck must be registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles and be a Class 8 model.
* Truck must have been driven more than 30,000 miles per year or consumed 4,700 gallons of diesel fuel per year in each of the previous two years.
* Old truck must be working and have been registered in California for each of the last two years.
* The new truck must meet at least 2007 emission standards and be purchased through a participating dealership. A list of dealerships can be obtained at valleyair.org.
* After the new truck is purchased, the old truck must be destroyed.
* Replacement trucks are required to undergo three years of reporting.

For more information, visit www.valleyair.org or www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/moyer/voucher/voucher.htm.