The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution District in California has money for heavy-duty diesel owners of small fleets to replace their older, polluting trucks with newer, cleaner models. 

The Voucher Incentive Program (VIP) is a new, streamlined option funded through the Carl Moyer Memorial Air Quality Attainment Program. More than $15 million is available through the program, which is open to any owner to fund heavy-duty truck replacements statewide. Between $30,000 and $35,000 is available per grant, depending on the age of the truck. Trucks with 1993 and older engines are eligible. Grants are made on a first-come, first-served basis and applications will be approved within five business days. 

"This is a valuable way to encourage owners/operators of older trucks to make an investment in newer, cleaner models, and it fills a great need," said Seyed Sadredin, the district's executive director and air pollution control officer. 

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

Eligible trucks must operate 75 percent of the time in California but need not be based in the Valley. Additional criteria include: 

• Fleet size must be no more than three heavy-duty diesel trucks.

• Old truck must have a 1993 or older engine.

• Truck must be registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles with a declared combined weight greater than 60,000 pounds (Class 8).

• Truck must have operated more than 30,000 miles per year or consumed 4,700 gallons of diesel fuel per year in each of the previous two years. In cases where one truck did not earn enough mileage, the operator may retire two trucks for one replacement to meet the usage requirement.

• Truck must be operational and have been registered in California for each of the last two years (partial registration for at least three months per year is eligible).

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The replacement truck(s) must meet at least 2007 emission standards and be purchased through a participating dealership, and the old truck destroyed. Trucks purchased through the program are subject to three-year reporting. A list of participating dealerships is available at http://valleyair.org/Grant_Programs/vip/VIP%20Dealer%20List.pdf. 

The program is part of the state's overall diesel emission reduction plan started in 2000. Last December, ARB adopted statewide clean bus and truck regulations in order to bring California closer to meeting federal mandated air-quality standards and deadlines. A measure to cut greenhouse gas emissions from trucks by making them more aerodynamic was also adopted as part of California's goal to cut climate change emissions 30 percent by 2020, per AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. 

For additional program information or to apply for a voucher, call the grants and incentives department at (559) 230-5800 or ARB's diesel hotline at 1-866-6DIESEL. Check www.valleyair.org for Web site updates and to sign up for automated e-mail information or ARB's Web site at www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/moyer/voucher/voucher.htm. 

The Valley Air District covers eight counties including San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare and the Valley air basin portion of Kern.