The South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) will offer up to $26.485 million this fiscal year to help reduce diesel emissions from heavy-duty vehicles and equipment operated by Southern California businesses and public agencies. The initiative is part of the statewide Carl Moyer Memorial Air Quality Standards Attainment Program, which aims to speed up the introduction of low-emission heavy-duty engines. Alternative-fueled engines such as those using compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, propane, and electricity will be given preference for funding, but cleaner diesel engines may be considered in some cases. Program funds can be used to purchase new vehicles, new engines/repowers, or retrofits to existing engines. Some funding is also available for alternative-fuel refueling infrastructure and electric charging stations. In general, new vehicle and equipment must achieve a 30-percent reduction of nitrogen oxide emissions compared to current emission standards, and retrofits must achieve a 15-percent reduction. Vehicles and equipment funded must operate for at least five years, and 75 percent of their use must be within AQMD’s jurisdiction, which includes all of Orange County and portions of Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties. An exception may be made for equipment that operates 75 percent of the time within the state of California, on case-by-case basis.