Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) representatives supported 21 fleet owners operating within the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) with Carl Moyer Program, funding applications for 209 new near-zero emissions natural gas trucks, the group announced.  

Already this year, SoCalGas customers have submitted more than 150 applications to the SCAQMD as part of the $21 million Prop 1B incentive pool. Owners whose applications are accepted will receive $100,000 towards the purchase of a new near-zero natural gas truck. Replacing 350 diesel trucks with near-zero natural gas trucks is the equivalent of taking more than 20,000 passenger cars off the road.

The Carl Moyer Program was expanded this year to include infrastructure projects such as fueling and charging stations. SoCalGas also assisted customers with additional applications for the funding of five new compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling stations. The expansion of CNG stations across the state is a crucial step in the transition to near-zero natural gas trucks. 

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Carl Moyer Program, which provides owners of vehicles and equipment with diesel engines funding to retrofit or replace the engines with newer, cleaner models. Prior to 2018, the program has provided more than $460 million in funding. Approximately $25 million is available through the SCAQMD program in 2018. According to the SCAQMD, almost 7,600 tons of NOx (smog-forming emissions) and 222 tons of particulate matter have been reduced each year as the result of the Carl Moyer Program.

The transportation sector is responsible for about 40% of California’s GHG emissions and more than 80% of the state’s NOx, or smog-forming, emissions. Making the switch from diesel to near-zero natural gas trucks is vital to achieving the state’s GHG reduction goals and cleaning the air around California’s transportation corridors.

Related: Whatever Happened to CNG?