San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District April 16, 2015

 Appendix E: Incentive and Other Non-Regulatory Strategies 

 2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard 

Appendix E

Incentive	and	Other	Non‐Regulatory	Strategies	

2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard

SJVUAPCD	

 

 
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E-1 Appendix E: Incentive and Other Non-Regulatory Strategies 

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Appendix E: Incentive and Other Non-Regulatory Strategies 

Reduction of emissions through regulatory efforts alone will not bring the San Joaquin 

Valley Air Basin (Valley) into attainment of the national ambient air quality standards. 

The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (District) has increasingly relied on 

its advocacy efforts to secure state and federal funding sources, and locally-generated 

funding to implement incentive programs that have become a crucial component of the 

District’s overall strategy for achieving the emissions reductions necessary to bring the 

Valley into attainment. In addition to incentive programs, the District has also 

implemented a number of other non-regulatory measures to reduce emissions, including 

implementation of a technology advancement program, establishing legislative priorities, 

and implementing an extensive community outreach and education program. 

E.1 DISTRICT INCENTIVE PROGRAMS 

Incentive programs are an integral part of the District’s efforts to reduce emissions. 

These programs provide an effective way to accelerate emissions reductions and 

encourage technology advancement, particularly from mobile sources, a sector not 

directly under the District’s regulatory jurisdiction. Given that 85% of the NOx emissions 

in the Valley come from mobile sources, these successful voluntary incentive grant 

programs help the Valley achieve highly cost-effective emissions reductions beyond the 

District’s regulatory bounds that are surplus of the reductions required by regulations. 

The District operates one of the largest and most well-respected voluntary incentive 

programs in the state. Through strong advocacy at the state and federal levels, the 

District has appropriated $156 million in incentive funding in the 2014–2015 District 

Budget. Since the District’s inception in 1992, considerable funding has been expended 

in support of clean-air projects in the Valley. These projects have achieved significant 

emissions reductions with corresponding air quality and health benefits. The District 

typically requires match funding of 30% to 70% from grant recipients. To date, grant 

recipients have provided $526,600,794 in matching funds, with a combined District and 

grant recipient funding investment of $1.2 Billion. These investments have been made 

to purchase, replace, or retrofit thousands of pieces of equipment, including: 

 6,667 Agricultural Engine Repowers 

 2,296 Tractor Replacement Program 

 6,388 Wood Stove Replacements 

 56 Agricultural Utility Vehicles 

 3 Advanced Transit & Transportation Projects 

 6 Alternative-Fuel Infrastructure Projects 

 18 Bicycle Infrastructure Projects 

 177 Commercial Lawn and Garden Projects 

 2,234 New Alternative-Fuel Light Duty Vehicles (Public & Private) 

 12 E-Mobility Projects 

 50 Electric Forklifts 

 15 Alternative Fuel Fueling Stations 

 57 Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Projects 
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District April 16, 2015

E-2 Appendix E: Incentive and Other Non-Regulatory Strategies 

 2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard

 3,910 Lawn Mower Replacements 

 41 Locomotives 

 1 Marine Vessel 

 1,473 Off-Road Engine Repower/Retrofits 

 5,082 Heavy-Duty On-Road Truck Repowers, Retrofits, Purchases and 

Replacements 

 2,563 School Bus Retrofits and Replacements 

 78 School Bus Tank Replacement 

 15 Technology Advancement Program 

 12 Transit Pass Projects 

 87,512 Van Pool Subsidy Projects 

The District’s incentive programs continue to be a model for other agencies throughout 

the state. Recent audits noted the District’s efficient and effective use of incentive grant 

funds in reducing air pollution. The District has collaborated extensively with the U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), California Air Resources Board (ARB) and the 

United States Department of Agriculture – Natural Resources Conservation Service 

(USDA-NRCS) to develop the mechanism to take credit in state implementation plans 

(SIP) for emission reductions generated through incentive programs that satisfy the four 

federal criteria for SIP creditability – surplus, quantifiable, enforceable and permanent. 

E.1.1 Incentive Funding 

The District is engaged at every level of state and federal government to craft policy and 

funding targets that account for the Valley’s unique challenges and need to accelerate 

emissions reductions, particularly from sources not under the District’s regulatory 

authority. Toward that end, the District is working closely with the Valley’s legislative 

delegation to ensure that the Valley’s needs are well represented in discussions of 

where to focus funding throughout the state and the region as a whole. In addition, the 

District is focused on how to effectively allocate the limited funding received for its 

incentive programs. 

E.1.1.1 Funding Sources 

The District continues to dedicate significant effort to ensure that the Valley receives its 

share of state and federal incentive funds through a variety of sources. In addition to 

aggressively pursuing funding from state funding sources such as the Carl Moyer 

Program and Lower-Emission School Bus Program, the District has been very 

successful in securing grants from the highly-competitive federal Diesel Emissions 

reductions Act (DERA) and the state Assembly Bill (AB) 118 Air Quality Improvement 

Program (AQIP). Currently, the District is actively engaged with ARB and the California 

Energy Commission (CEC) to ensure that the Valley is well represented in projects 

selections from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund totaling over $1 billion per year. 

The District derives its current incentive funding from a range of local, state and federal 

funding sources. These funding sources contain restrictions on the types of projects that 

may be funded, funding limitations, expenditure deadlines, and administrative approach 
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District April 16, 2015

E-3 Appendix E: Incentive and Other Non-Regulatory Strategies 

 2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard

for distribution. These requirements vary significantly from one funding source to 

another, resulting in a complex matrix of funding categories and program requirements. 

Some of the key funding sources currently available to the District include: 

Carl Moyer Funding - The Carl Moyer program has been an on-going and reliable 

source of funding since 1998. The Carl Moyer program was established in 2004 with 

the adoption of AB 923 and Senate Bill (SB) 1107; the latter provided increased and 

continued funding through 2014 and expanded the program to include light-duty vehicle 

projects and agricultural sources of air pollution. In total, the District receives 

approximately $9 million per year in Carl Moyer funding. Recent legislation extended 

Carl Moyer funding until 2024. 

State AB 118 Funding - In 2007, the California legislature approved AB 118: the 

California Alternative and Renewable Fuel, Vehicle Technology, Clean Air, and Carbon 

Reduction Act of 2007. AB 118 provides approximately $200 million annually through 

2015 for three new programs to fund air quality improvement projects and develop and 

deploy technology and alternative and renewable fuels. The bill creates a dedicated 

revenue stream for the programs through increases to the smog abatement, vehicle 

registration, and vessel registration fees. AB 118 is designed to reduce emissions of 

criteria pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions and to deploy advanced technology. 

Most AB 118 programs are administered on a statewide basis. While the District has 

administered some of the AB 118 programs for the state, these programs have not been 

a significant portion of the District’s incentive program revenue. However, in the future, 

these funds may be more important, particularly as the District becomes more involved 

in technology advancement projects. Recent legislation extended AB 118 funding until 

2024. 

Proposition 1B Goods Movement Emission Reduction Program - The single largest 

source of funding for the District’s incentive programs is the Proposition 1B program, 

which uses bond funds for a variety of state transportation priorities. The District 

aggressively pursued its share of Proposition 1B funding, and the Valley will receive 

approximately $250 million over the life of the program. The District will receive its last 

allocation of Proposition 1B funding in fiscal year 2015-2016. 

Local Motor Vehicle Surcharge Fees – Through the passage of Assembly Bill 2522 in 

2008 and in recognition of the need for additional funding to assist the Valley attain 

federal ambient air quality standards, the District was provided with the authority to 

generate grant revenues through the adoption of motor vehicle surcharges for the 

purpose of funding emission reduction projects. In October 2010, the District acted on 

this authority and adopted a $12 per motor vehicle surcharge. This revenue source was 

then targeted to address the Valley’s unmatched challenges in meeting ever-tightening 

federal standards as well as providing a more equitable manner to satisfy the federal 

mandates for ozone nonattainment penalties under section 185. These revenues have 

been reinvested in the Valley to reduce emissions through a variety of incentive grant 

programs that have replaced or retrofitted trucks, passenger vehicles, school buses, 

transit buses, and other mobile sources of emissions. 
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E-4 Appendix E: Incentive and Other Non-Regulatory Strategies 

 2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard

The District has now had two consecutive years of no violations of the 1-hour ozone 

standard, and has requested that EPA find the Valley in attainment and lift the section 

185 penalties. If successful, this would return local control over the decision relating to 

the need and quantity of motor vehicle surcharges under AB 2522. Given the identified 

need for continued incentive funding as a means for expediting attainment of the 1997 

federal PM2.5 standard and garnering the needed attainment extension, the District is 

proposing to use a portion of these motor vehicle surcharge revenues to fund an 

emission reduction commitment in the plan. Therefore, it is recommended that the AB 

2522 motor vehicle surcharge be discontinued if and when the Governing Board makes 

a decision that such revenues are no longer necessary to meet the federal mandates for 

attaining the national ambient air quality standards. 

E.1.1.2 Incentive Strategy 

Each of the funding sources administered by the District includes different guidelines 

and statutory requirements for using the funds. Beyond the specific guidelines of each 

funding source, the District considers the following common factors when deciding how 

and where to spend incentive funds: 

Cost-effectiveness – An important factor when considering where to invest District 

funds is determining which types of projects and programs will give the District the 

greatest return on its investment. This is typically represented in dollars per ton of 

emissions reduced. While cost-effectiveness is a primary factor, the District also 

considers projects that may not have the highest cost-effectiveness, but that provide 

other benefits, such as the advancement of new technology or community involvement. 

Inventory of available projects – This factor is critical in all District incentive programs. 

To date, the District has been extremely successful in designing programs that have 

broad appeal and applicability across multiple industries. Over the past 10 years, this 

level of interest has resulted in a substantial backlog of eligible projects waiting for 

funding. Unfortunately, many of those on waiting lists have since moved into a 

regulated class, making them ineligible for funding, in most cases. As a result, the 

District must continue to not only work within the existing regulations to find costeffective, surplus project categories, but also to focus future funding in areas where a 

significant inventory of eligible projects still exists. 

Required expenditure timeframes – Each funding source that the District administers 

generally requires obligation and expenditure by certain deadlines. These deadlines 

greatly impact funding priorities and choice of projects. The District may prioritize a 

funding category over others because of the timeframe associated with a particular 

funding source. For instance, priority may be given to certain projects that can 

reasonably be expected finish prior to the deadline for that specific fund over other 

projects of equal relevance or cost-effectiveness, but with longer expected completion 

times. Again, the flexibility of this option works in concert with the dynamic nature of the 

incentive programs, projects, expenditure deadlines. 
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District April 16, 2015

E-5 Appendix E: Incentive and Other Non-Regulatory Strategies 

 2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard

Upcoming regulatory deadlines – To ensure that incentive programs obtain the 

maximum SIP-creditable emissions reductions, the District performs a thorough analysis 

of all local, state, and federal regulations relating to the target categories. In addition, 

the District works proactively with the regulating agencies during the rule development 

process to understand the potential impacts of that rule on incentive projects and to 

ensure that opportunities for early incentive funding are maximized. These analyses 

determine which types of projects can be funded, for how long projects can be funded, 

which also impacts the potential cost-effectiveness of those projects. 

Health benefits – In addition to emissions reductions needed to attain air quality 

standards, the District also seeks incentive projects that provide direct health benefits to 

Valley residents. For instance, the District’s Lower-Emission School Bus Program 

reduces exposure to children from toxic diesel particulates, even though this source is 

not one of the largest sources of regional particulate pollution. 

Promoting technology advancement – Funding projects that demonstrate and 

advance new emission reduction technologies will be essential for meeting increasingly 

stringent air quality standards given the Valley’s existing challenges. The District’s 

adoption of the Technology Advancement Program emphasizes the priority given to this 

area. 

Environmental Justice – The District places a strong emphasis in providing funding in

a manner that benefits environmental justice communities. The District has worked 

cooperatively with the Environmental Justice Advisory Group to understand the Valley’s 

environmental justice issues and to craft programs that reduce emissions in these 

areas. 

Community involvement/benefits – The District develops and administers programs 

with an emphasis on community involvement. Some examples of these are the CleanGreen-Yard-Machine program, Drive Clean! Rebate program, Burn Cleaner program, 

Transit Pass Subsidy program, and the Polluting-Automobile Scrap and Salvage 

program. 

E.1.1.3 Statutory Constraints on Incentive Funding 

The District’s current incentive funding comes from a range of local, state, and federal 

funding sources. Each funding source places restrictions on the types of projects that 

may be funded, the funding limits, expenditure deadlines, and the administrative 

approach for distribution. These requirements vary significantly from one funding 

source to another, resulting in a complex matrix of funding categories and program 

requirements. Some key examples are listed below: 

Proposition 1B Goods Movement – Funding for this program must be dedicated to 

heavy duty trucks and locomotives. The program procedures require that a Requestfor-Proposals (RFP) process is used and that the most cost-effective projects are 

funded first. 
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E-6 Appendix E: Incentive and Other Non-Regulatory Strategies 

 2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard

Lower-Emission School Bus – Funding for this program must be allocated to school 

bus replacements or retrofits. The program requires that all retrofits be prioritized and 

that the oldest buses are replaced first. 

Carl Moyer – Funding is predominately used for heavy-duty diesel equipment projects. 

The program has strict funding caps and cost-effectiveness requirements. 

DMV Funds – Funding must be used primarily for on-road and off-road mobile sources. 

Portions of funds must follow state Carl Moyer and Lower-Emission School Bus 

guidelines. 

Advanced Emission Reduction Option Funds – Funding is for emission reduction 

incentive projects. The District’s Governing Board has discretion as to where to apply 

these funds using the District’s annual budget process to allocate this funding. 

Indirect Source Review (ISR) Funds – Funding preference is given to emissions 

reductions opportunities near development projects. 

E.1.1.4 SIP Creditability of Incentive Programs (Rule 9610) 

Historically, states and local air agencies have not been able to obtain SIP credit for 

incentive-based emissions reductions. When given SIP credit, incentive-based 

emissions reductions can be used alongside regulatory-based emissions reductions to 

meet federal Clean Air Act (CAA) requirements, such as demonstrating attainment with 

federal air quality standards at a future date or demonstrating that emissions reductions 

meet federal SIP reasonable further progress requirements. Given the heavy 

investment from the public and private sectors in replacing equipment under these 

voluntary incentives, establishing a general framework to receive SIP credit for these 

emissions reductions was critical for ensuring the continued success of these programs. 

Working together with EPA, ARB, and the USDA-NRCS, the District adopted Rule 9610 

(State Implementation Credit for Emission Reductions Generated Through Incentive 

Programs) on June 20, 2013. District Rule 9610 establishes the administrative 

mechanism through which the District and ARB take SIP credit for emissions reduced 

through incentives. EPA proposed a limited approval of Rule 9610 in May 20141

 and 

finalized that approval on April 9, 2015.2

 

E.1.2 Incentive Programs 

The District offers numerous incentives programs to reduce emissions from a variety of 

equipment types such as heavy duty engines, school buses, and lawn and garden 

equipment. The District places particular emphasis on providing incentives to 

environmental justice communities. District staff will continue to expand on the success 

 

1

 Revision to the California State Implementation Plan; San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District; 

Quantification of Emission Reductions from Incentives. 79 Fed. Reg. 96 pp. 25650-28658. (2014, May 19) 

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-05-19/pdf/2014-11481.pdf 2

 Revision to the California State Implementation Plan; San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District; 

Quantification of Emission Reductions from Incentives. 80 Fed. Reg. 68 pp. 19020-19033. (2015, April 9) 

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-04-09/pdf/2015-07972.pdf 
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District April 16, 2015

E-7 Appendix E: Incentive and Other Non-Regulatory Strategies 

 2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard

of its current programs and craft new incentive programs for additional emissions 

reductions from Valley sources. The following summarizes incentive programs the 

District currently implements: 

E.1.2.1 Heavy-Duty Trucks 

The District has administered numerous incentive programs targeted at on-road heavyduty trucks, one of the biggest sources of NOX emissions in the Valley. Through the 

state’s Proposition 1B Goods Movement Emission Reduction Program, Carl Moyer 

Voucher Incentive Program (VIP), and other District-operated voucher incentive 

programs funded by grants from EPA and locally generated incentive funds, the District 

has replaced hundreds of older, high-polluting trucks with cleaner trucks certified to 

meet the latest ARB emissions standards. 

The District’s truck voucher programs have been designed to provide an alternative 

source of incentive funding for small businesses that do not qualify for funding under the 

Proposition 1B Program. The District contracts with Valley dealerships and makes the 

review and approval process efficient and streamlined to provide vouchers to truck 

operators. 

E.1.2.2 Agricultural Pumping Engines 

The District provides up to 85% funding for farmers looking to replace older, dirtier 

diesel engines with low-emission Tier 4 engines or zero-emission electric motors. 

Agriculture accounts for a majority of the local economy, and this program not only 

provides for significant emissions reductions from agricultural operations, but provides 

economic relief to Valley farmers, ranchers, and dairy operators. Eligible projects are 

funded with local, state, and federal sources, including but not limited to District ISR 

mitigation fees, Carl Moyer Program funding, AB 923 funding, Federal Designated 

Funding, and Federal Diesel Air Shed Grant funding. In the past, collaboration with the 

California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and local utilities has allowed for additional 

incentives on electric line extensions and special rate schedules, enhancing 

participation in the District’s replacement program. 

Over the past fifteen years, the District has funded the replacement of over 6,600 

agricultural pump engines, with more projects currently in the queue. Over 2,000 of 

these replacements involved replacing older diesel engines with electric motors. The 

District has seen an increased demand for emissions-compliant diesel-engine repowers 

to electric motors in recent years. This option is ideal for both parties, since the District 

achieves the maximum emissions reductions with electric motor repowers and farmers 

lower their operating costs by switching to electricity, a more affordable fuel source. 

The District will consider pursuing a renewed public/private collaborative partnership 

similar to the previously mentioned partnership to provide further incentives for 

replacing remaining agricultural internal combustion engines with electric motors, 

potentially including assistance for line extensions for remotely located wells. 

For a typical irrigation pump project, the District will verify that the old engine is 

operational and eligible. If so, the engine owner is offered the incentive and has the 
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E-8 Appendix E: Incentive and Other Non-Regulatory Strategies 

 2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard

new engine or motor installed, making sure that the old engine is sufficiently disabled. 

The District conducts a post-inspection prior to payment to document the new engine or 

motor’s specifications and to ensure the emissions reductions are accurate. Ongoing 

monitoring and reporting ensures the projects meet contracted emissions reductions 

targets. 

E.1.2.3 Agricultural Equipment 

Off-road agricultural equipment replacements and repowers play a crucial role in 

reducing emissions. These equipment units, including tractors, backhoes, wheel 

loaders, and other off-road farming vehicles are widely used in the Valley, and are 

essentially uncontrolled and unregulated. Eligible projects are funded with local, state, 

and federal sources, including but not limited to ISR, Carl Moyer funding, AB923 

funding, Federal Designated funding, and Federal Diesel Air-Shed Grant. 

The District has funded the repower and replacement of over 3,500 off-road agricultural 

vehicles, with more projects currently in the queue. It is estimated that a large inventory 

of vehicles that qualify for repower or replacement still exists, and the program has the 

potential for significant and very cost-effective emissions reductions. Whether a farmer 

wishes to repower the current equipment with a cleaner engine or replace the 

equipment altogether, this program allows the District to achieve surplus emissions 

reductions while also facilitating the early equipment retirement and fleet turnover, both 

of which result in more efficient farming operations with less overall hours of operation. 

In both repower and replacement projects, the farmer enters into an agreement with the 

District to replace the old, dirty engine or vehicle with newer, cleaner technology. The 

District first performs a pre-inspection to determine that the equipment and engine are 

operational. Then a final inspection is performed to verify the new equipment, as well 

as witness the old equipment and engine’s destruction at a District-approved recycling 

or scrapping facility, ensuring the old equipment and engine will never be put back into 

service. Ongoing monitoring and reporting ensure the expected emissions reductions 

and operation of the equipment meet the grant agreement requirements. 

E.1.2.4 Locomotives 

The emissions from goods movement are a significant source of diesel particulate 

matter (PM) in the Valley and the state, and many of the larger cities in the Valley are 

home to locomotive rail yards. Locomotives, in particular, present a considerable health 

risk from diesel PM emissions. Residential areas located close to rail yards have shown 

a significant increase in cancer risk and can equal or exceed the regional background or 

regional health risk levels. The locomotive component of the Heavy-Duty Engine 

Program awards up to 85% grant funding for newer, cleaner diesel locomotive engines 

and locomotive replacements. Eligible projects are funded with local, state, and federal 

sources, including but not limited to the Carl Moyer Program, the Federal Diesel Air 

Shed Grant, and DERA funding. 

The District has funded the repower or replacement of 41 locomotives, with more 

projects currently in the queue. One of the major benefits to the locomotive repower 
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E-9 Appendix E: Incentive and Other Non-Regulatory Strategies 

 2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard

and replacement program is increased efficiency and longevity as a result of the 

revolutionary GenSet engine technology. The GenSet system uses multiple smaller offroad tier-4 emission level engines mounted on a single chassis. This system allows for 

each of the engines to be fired up individually so that in low-power demand situations 

only one of the engines can be used, helping to reduce unnecessary emissions. In 

addition, this system comes equipped with idle reduction technology that will shut down 

the engine during periods of inactivity. 

The District funds locomotive repower or replacement projects through an RFP 

procurement process, and reviews and selects recipients based on established scoring 

criteria. During the pre-inspections, all necessary locomotive engine information is 

verified by District inspectors and documented in digital photographs. Upon verification 

of all information, the District enters into an agreement with the recipient for the project. 

Once the replacement switcher locomotive engine has been purchased and the original 

engine has been dismantled, the recipient will complete and return the claim-forpayment packet, and a post-inspection is performed, prior to payment, to verify the new 

information. Monitoring and reporting continue for the duration of the agreement to 

ensure the emissions reductions expected from the project occur. 

E.1.2.5 Forklifts 

The District funds the replacement and retrofit of forklifts through its Large Spark-Ignited 

(LSI) forklift retrofit program and its Electric Forklift New-Purchase program. Because 

emission standards for new engines in this source category have only been in effect for 

the past few years, a significant number of high-emitting units are still in operation and 

available for retrofit. Operators can meet the proposed in-use fleet-average emission 

standards by purchasing low- and zero-emission equipment and by retrofitting 

uncontrolled equipment in their fleets. The use of new controlled engines and the 

retrofit of existing engines can reduce fuel use and improve engine life, thus creating 

cost savings that offset a portion of the additional equipment cost. Eligible projects are 

funded with federal, state, and local sources, including Carl Moyer Program funds and 

motor vehicle surcharge fees. 

The District has funded 50 forklift projects. The installation of a LSI retrofit system will 

improve engine operation and reduce fuel use. Closed-loop fuel systems generally 

improve the engine’s overall efficiency. There is an estimated 10% to 20% reduction in 

fuel consumption with engines using closed-loop systems. An electric forklift has as 

obvious advantage as an emission-free vehicle, but can typically cost $1,500 to $5,000 

more than a comparable LSI forklift. However, since an electric forklift has a longer 

useful life and reduced fuel and maintenance costs, the electric forklift can reduce lifecycle costs compared to a LSI forklift. 

The forklift program is an over-the-counter program, in that applications are continually 

accepted on a first-come-first-served basis. Contrary to many of the off-road or 

agricultural components in the Heavy-Duty Engine Program, a pre-inspection is not 

required for the new electric forklift component (LSI retrofits are pre-inspected to ensure 

emissions are real and quantifiable). After contracts are awarded and the new 
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E-10 Appendix E: Incentive and Other Non-Regulatory Strategies 

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equipment is purchased and installed, post-inspections are performed to ensure 

emissions reductions are accurately recorded and ongoing monitoring and reporting are 

required to ensure the emissions reductions occur. 

E.1.2.6 School Bus Replacement and Retrofit 

School bus replacements and retrofits play a vital role in reducing school children's 

exposure to both cancer-causing and smog-forming pollution. The School Bus 

Replacement and Retrofit programs provide grant funding for new, safer school buses 

and air pollution control equipment (retrofit devices) on buses that are already on the 

road. Public school districts in California that own their buses are eligible to receive 

funding. Eligible projects are funded with local, state, and federal funds including the 

Lower-Emission School Bus Program (Proposition 1B), DERA funding, and the 

American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA). 

The District has provided funding to retrofit 2,216 school buses and replace 494 school 

buses. New buses purchased to replace older buses may be fueled with diesel or an 

alternative fuel, such as compressed natural gas (CNG), provided that the required 

emissions standards specified in the current guidelines for the Lower-Emission School 

Bus Program are met. Funds are also available for replacing on-board CNG tanks on 

older school buses and for updating deteriorating natural gas fueling infrastructure. 

Commercially available hybrid-electric school buses may be eligible for partial funding. 

Eligible school buses are selected based on specific program requirements, including 

replacing the oldest models first. After determining eligibility, school districts are 

awarded contracts that provide a reasonable time period for project completion. A 

claim-for-payment form must also be submitted before funds can be awarded. 

E.1.2.7 Community Incentives 

While all of the District’s incentive programs are open to residents of the Valley, there 

are a number of programs, such as the Heavy-Duty Engine Program and the 

Proposition 1B Goods Movement Emission Reduction Incentive Program, that are 

specifically designed for Valley businesses. These programs focus on replacing or 

retrofitting large diesel-powered equipment such as trucks, tractors, and agricultural 

irrigation pump engines. These programs are highly efficient and extremely costeffective. Of equal importance, the District currently operates several incentive 

programs designed for the general public. These programs give the general public the 

opportunity to contribute to the goal of cleaner air for all Valley residents. The District’s 

community incentives include a wide range of project types and source categories. 

Current community incentive programs include the following: 

Burn Cleaner Program – The Burn Cleaner Program helps Valley residents upgrade 

their current high-polluting wood-burning devices and open hearth fireplaces to cleaner 

alternatives such as natural gas fired devices, and EPA certified wood and pellet stoves. 

In 2014 the District implemented additional upgrades to the Burn Cleaner Program to 

make it more accessible and to increase the incentive amounts with great success. 

Through this program, the District offers a financial incentive to Valley residents with an 
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District April 16, 2015

E-11 Appendix E: Incentive and Other Non-Regulatory Strategies 

 2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard

increased incentive amount available to low-income qualified applicants through a 

streamlined voucher program that involves partnering with interested retailers. The 

program has upgraded over 6,380 wood-burning devices, and continues to receive a 

steady stream of applicants. 

Polluting Automobile Scrap and Salvage (PASS) – The PASS program currently 

offers financial incentives for participants to repair or replace their high emitting vehicle 

and formerly provided funding for a vehicle retirement option. To date the program has 

replaced 310 high-emitting vehicles with newer, cleaner vehicles, retired 504 additional 

vehicles, and repaired 13,931 vehicles. The PASS program has primarily been 

supported with locally generated incentive funds; however, a portion of the funding for 

vehicle repairs was funded through the Reformulated Gasoline Settlement Fund created 

as a result of an antitrust class action. The District expects funding for additional 

vehicle replacement projects to be provided through the State’s Enhanced Fleet 

Modernization Program. 

Clean-Green-Yard-Machine (CGYM) – The CGYM program helps clean the Valley’s 

air through incentives for residents to retire their old high-polluting gas mowers in favor 

of nonpolluting, electric mowers. The program has used locally generated incentive 

funds as well as funding from the State’s AQIP. The CGYM program has successfully 

replaced over 3,910 gas lawn mowers with clean electric models. 

Drive Clean! Rebate Program – Drive Clean! Rebate Program – This grant program 

encourages Valley residents to drive advanced, clean vehicles, including electric and 

other alternative-fueled vehicles. Since the launch of the Drive Clean! Rebate Program 

in March 2012, the District has issued 1,322 rebates, totaling more than $3.5 million in 

grant funding. 

Alternatives to Professionally Managed Pyrotechnic Firework Displays – In 2012, 

the District provided incentive funding for a pilot program to demonstrate clean laserlight shows as an alternative to pyrotechnics for July 4th celebrations. 

Public Benefit Grants Program – The Public Benefit Grants Program is one of the 

District’s newest incentive programs and provides funding to Valley cities, counties, and 

other public agencies for a wide variety of clean-air, public-benefit projects. Eligible 

applicants are cities, counties, special districts (e.g. water districts and irrigation 

districts), and public educational institutions (e.g. school districts, community colleges, 

and state universities) located within the Valley. 

REduce MOtor Vehicle Emissions (REMOVE) – The REMOVE program provides 

incentives for specific projects that will reduce the Valley’s motor vehicle emissions, 

including e-mobility (video-telecommunications), bicycle infrastructure, alternative fuel 

vehicle mechanics training, and public transportation and commuter vanpool subsidies. 

The program allocates funds to cost-effective projects that have the greatest motor 

vehicle emissions reductions resulting in long-term impacts on air pollution problems in 

the Valley. All projects must have a direct air quality benefit in the Valley. 
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District April 16, 2015

E-12 Appendix E: Incentive and Other Non-Regulatory Strategies 

 2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard

The current incentive priorities are reflected in the 2014-2015 District Budget’s incentive 

spending plan and include funding for the following incentives:

Community Incentives 

Drive Clean! Rebate Program (passenger vehicles) 

Vehicle Scrap and Repair (Tune In Tune Up) 

Burn Cleaner (residential woodburning) 

Lawn Mower Replacement 

REMOVE (vanpools, bikepaths, etc.) 

Goods Movement 

Proposition 1B Heavy Duty Trucks 

Locomotives 

Heavy Duty Equipment Programs 

Agricultural Equipment Replacement 

Agricultural Irrigation Pumps 

Truck Voucher and Reuse 

Construction Equipment Replacement 

Refuse Fleet Replacement 

Advanced Transportation/Vehicles 

Public Benefit Grants 

Hybrid Voucher Program (HVIP “Plus-Up”) 

School Bus Replacement and Retrofit 

School Bus Replacement/Retrofit 

Statewide Retrofit Program 

Regional Assistance 

Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Assistance 

Technology Advancement 

Technology Advancement Program 

Zero-Emission Commercial Lawn and Garden 

 
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District April 16, 2015

E-13 Appendix E: Incentive and Other Non-Regulatory Strategies 

 2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard

E.2 TECHNOLOGY ADVANCEMENT 

The District Governing Board approved creation of the Technology Advancement 

Program in March 2010 to accelerate development of technologies that can help reduce 

air pollutant emissions in the Valley. Meeting EPA’s increasingly stringent ozone and 

PM2.5 air quality standards will require significant advancements in low-emissions 

technologies from mobile and stationary sources. The Technology Advancement 

Program provides a strategic and comprehensive means to identify, solicit, and support 

technology advancement opportunities. Ongoing refinement of the program’s 

technology focus areas targets efforts to achieve the greatest impact on the Valley’s 

attainment and other health-based goals under the District’s ozone and PM2.5 

attainment plans. 

Technology development can benefit regional and state air quality. Strategies for 

reducing emissions in the Valley can be enhanced through partnerships and 

collaborations with other air districts and state agencies. The District is currently 

collaborating with the California Air Resources Board (ARB) and the South Coast Air 

Quality Management District (SCAQMD) to prepare a document to outline a common 

vision for attainment of federal air quality standards, as well as greenhouse gas goals 

and reduced exposure to toxics. The market penetration of transformative technologies 

will be a critical component of realizing a common vision, and the Technology 

Advancement Program will help to identify and support upcoming technology 

opportunities. 

E.2.1 Technology Focus Areas 

The District has structured the Technology Advancement Program to encourage 

participation within three focus areas: 

I. Renewable Energy. Renewable energy projects will focus on overcoming the 

barriers that prevent the use or adoption of zero-emission renewable energy 

sources or reduce emissions from renewable energy systems to make them 

cleaner than comparable non-renewable alternatives. 

II. Waste Solutions. Waste solutions will focus on waste systems or technologies 

that minimize or eliminate emissions from existing waste management systems 

and processes, including waste-to-fuel systems such as dairy digesters and other 

bio-fuel applications. 

III. Mobile Sources. Mobile source projects will demonstrate zero- or near-zeroemissions solutions to mobile source categories with emphasis on goods and 

people movement, off-road equipment, or agricultural equipment. 

These focus areas represent the current needs of the Valley; they also reflect the types 

of proposals previously received by the District within this and other programs. 

Throughout implementation of this PM2.5 plan and future air quality plans, the District 
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District April 16, 2015

E-14 Appendix E: Incentive and Other Non-Regulatory Strategies 

 2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard

will continue to evaluate and, if necessary, update these technology focus areas to 

address to the Valley’s air quality challenges. 

E.2.2 Future Demonstration Projects 

In 2014, the District solicited proposals for projects, received 35 proposals, and expects 

the total funding for selected project to be approximately $4 million. In addition to 

directly funding demonstration projects, the District actively seeks opportunities to 

collaborate with technology innovators in seeking additional funding. An example of this 

type of funding is the District’s administration of the Zero-Emission Commercial Lawn 

and Garden Technology Demonstration, funded with State Air Quality Improvement 

Program funds. 

Moving forward, District staff will continue to search for opportunities to support projects 

that build the air quality technology research and demonstration capacity of colleges 

and universities in the Valley. This emphasis will improve the ability of local institutions 

to engage in future clean-technology projects that are specifically suited to the Valley’s 

needs. To accomplish this, staff has adapted the Technology Advancement Program 

scoring criteria so that projects that incorporate local colleges and universities will score 

higher than those that do not. 

E.2.3 Demonstration Projects in Process 

The District’s Technology Advancement Program has had four rounds of funding and 

received over 130 proposals for clean technology projects. As of 2013, the District 

selected 27 of the proposed projects for funding, for over $7 million in support of clean 

technology demonstrations. The following 11 projects, out of the 27 selected, are in 

process and moving forward, or completed with reports posted to the District’s web 

page: 

Engine, Fuel, and Emissions Engineering, Inc. (EF&EE) 

Renewable Energy and Waste Solutions Technology Focus Areas 

The EF&EE project is demonstrating a compact SCR device on a biogas-powered 

engine to be installed at Joseph Gallo Farms in Atwater, CA. Source testing has shown 

the system operating at ultra-low NOx levels3

. The system includes advanced exhaust 

thermal controls, monitoring, and reductant metering equipment to prevent ammonia 

slip and reduce or eliminate the need for an ammonia slip catalyst. The slip catalyst is 

the primary source of NOx emissions in other SCR systems, and this new systems 

thermal control with advanced metering is significantly NOx emissions. 

This new technology has a low cost relative to the emission reductions, result in good 

cost-effectiveness. Additionally, EF&EE theorizes that the exhaust thermal 

management necessary for the advanced catalyst optimization will have the result of 

making the catalyst resistant to siloxanes in the source gas. Additional demonstration 

 

3

Demonstration Of A Compact SCRTM System Meeting 0.07 lb/MWh Nox In A Biogas Engine Final Report. Report 

from the contract team. (2014, June 24). Funded by and prepared for the San Joaquin Valley Technology 

Advancement Program. Available at: http://valleyair.org/grants/documents/technologyadvancement/C4236_EF&EE_FinalReport.pdf
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District April 16, 2015

E-15 Appendix E: Incentive and Other Non-Regulatory Strategies 

 2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard

will be necessary to determine if this siloxane tolerance will allow for a more costeffective application of this technology to other waste gas sources such as wastewater 

treatment plants and landfill gas. 

The technology demonstrated has the potential to impact a large number of biogas 

projects in the Valley, and with statewide efforts being made to increase the number of 

biogas projects, this project is highly relevant to our planning process and offers 

additional co-benefits in greenhouse gas reductions. 

Association of Compost Producers 

Mobile Sources and Waste Solutions Technology Focus Area 

The Association of Compost Producers has designed and tested an aerated static pile 

method of composting for a large-scale composting facility. The system consists of 

three components: substitution of diesel-powered loaders with electronic conveyor 

systems to build piles; the use of solar-powered electric blowers to replace dieselpowered windrow turners during the active phase of composting; and the use of finished 

compost biofilter covers, which reduce VOC emissions. 

The prototype aerated static pile method and conventional windrows of the same age 

and feedstock were maintained for one month, during which time emissions of VOCs, 

ammonia and greenhouse gases were sampled using flux chambers.4

 Emissions from 

the prototype method during the active composting phase were significantly reduced for 

total non-methane, VOCs, ammonia, and NOx compared to the control windrows. The 

project also reduced the amount of fuel, water, and land necessary for active-phase 

composting. 

Sun-Maid Growers of California 

Waste Solutions Technology Focus Area 

Sun-Maid Growers has modified and tested a mobile prototype device called the Burn 

Boss® Air Curtain Burner. Sun-Maid tested this device as an alternative to typical open 

burning practices for paper raisin trays, in order to reduce visible smoke emissions as 

well as PM2.5 resulting from the burning of paper raisin trays used during the grape 

harvest. The technology has been shown to significantly reduce visible smoke and NOX

emissions compared to open burning5

. The grape harvest coincides with District’s 

highest ozone levels; reductions of these emissions greatly benefit air quality. 

Solar Storage Company 

Renewable Energy Technology Focus Area 

The Solar Storage Company project will demonstrate a renewable solar-power 

generation system as an alternative to diesel power for agricultural irrigation pumping 

systems, especially those systems in remote locations. The demonstration system uses 

a thermal-solar concentration system with two reciprocating steam engines and a 

 

4 Greenwaste Compose Site Emissions Reductions from Solar-Powered Aeration and Biofilter Layer. Report from 

the contract team. (2013, May 14). Funded by and prepared for the San Joaquin Valley Technology Advancement 

Program. Available at: http://www.valleyair.org/Grant_Programs/TAP/documents/C-15636-ACP/C15636_ACP_FinalReport.pdf

5 Evaluation of Burner Boss ® Air Curtain Burner. Project Number C-15612-A. Available at: 

http://www.valleyair.org/Grant_Programs/TAP/documents/C-15612-SunMaid/C-15612_Sun-Maid_FinalReport.pdf 
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District April 16, 2015

E-16 Appendix E: Incentive and Other Non-Regulatory Strategies 

 2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard

pressurized steam storage system. This technology will provide an alternative to 

electrifying pumping systems, which is not cost-effective in situations where electricity is 

not close by or infrastructure is not in place. The project will be installed in parallel with 

a diesel backup-power system to operate the pump at times when there is a need for 

emergency freeze protection occurring with two cloudy days in a row. Meteorological 

conditions that prevent the solar use in such cases are rare and only accounts for 1% of 

the pumping time of a typical agricultural irrigation pump. As a result, the project will 

result in a 99% reduction in emissions including diesel particulates, NOX, and 

greenhouse gasses. 

This project has potential for reducing criteria pollutant emissions, as well as the 

potential to reduce greenhouse gases, while expanding renewable energy options. 

Successful demonstration of the technology may prove a low-cost thermal storage 

alternative for additional applications, thus reducing the barrier to adoption of solar 

thermal technology. 

California Bioenergy 

Renewable Energy and Waste Solutions Technology Focus Areas 

The California Bioenergy project will optimize and expand the emissions control 

systems used at the Bidart Dairy digester in Bakersfield, California. The digester gas 

system currently uses a non-selective catalytic reduction (NSCR) system. The project 

will tune the NSCR system to achieve very low NOX emissions and install a second 

after-treatment system that uses hydrogen selective catalytic reduction to reach nearzero NOX emissions. 

The District is interested in the success of clean bioenergy production through the use 

of biowaste, particularly in terms of developing ultra-low-NOX technologies to mitigate 

the potential impact from the large-scale development of these types of projects. 

Projects such as this one, if successful, move the Valley closer to that goal. The ability 

of digester projects like this to reduce greenhouse gas emissions provides co-benefits 

important for program acceptance. 

US Hybrid Corporation 

Mobile Sources Technology Focus Area 

US Hybrid, in collaboration with CALSTART, will to convert a Terex wheel loader to 

plug-in hybrid operation for fuel savings and emission reductions. Hybrid-electric 

technology, which is already available in the light-duty vehicle category, has only 

recently been applied to off-road vehicles. This project will advance the use of this 

technology for this off-road category and quantify the emission reductions associated 

with the system. The wheel loader will be tested at Maddox Farms, a dairy located in 

Fresno County. The hybridized vehicle includes electric-only operation, idle elimination, 

and power for electric attachments. 

The outcome of this project has the potential to affect a large segment of the off-road 

vehicle emissions inventory and is very relevant to the attainment planning process. 

Additionally, the expected fuel savings will also reduce the long-term cost of ownership 

for the technology. 
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District April 16, 2015

E-17 Appendix E: Incentive and Other Non-Regulatory Strategies 

 2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard

Electricore, Inc. 

Mobile Sources Technology Focus Area 

Electricore, Inc. will build and demonstrate a zero-emission, completely autonomous 

agricultural spray vehicle. Electricore will work with Trexa, LLC, who has developed a 

low-cost, commercial, electric off-road vehicle platform that will be combined with a 

commercial orchard pull-rig agricultural spray trailer. Electricore will oversee the 

demonstration at Paramount Farms in Kern County. The vehicle will operate 

autonomously based on robotics developed by the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon 

University. 

Successful implementation of this technology could have an impact on the inventory of 

emissions from agricultural tractors, which are numerous in the Valley. Likewise, the 

reduced fuel use and the associated greenhouse gas reductions provide co-benefits 

beyond criteria pollutant emissions reductions. 

US Hybrid Corporation 

Mobile Sources Technology Focus Area 

US Hybrid, in partnership with CALSTART and Roush, will demonstrate a plug-in 

electric-hybrid propane utility truck using a Ford F-250 truck base. US Hybrid will 

demonstrate and test the utility truck at Maddox Farms near Riverdale, California. The 

demonstration and testing will identify NOX emission reductions, greenhouse gas 

reductions, and fuel savings. 

The outcome of this project has the potential to affect a large segment of the on-road 

vehicle emissions inventory in light of the extensive use of utility trucks in agriculture 

and other industries. Likewise, the reduced fuel usage, use of propane, and the 

associated greenhouse gas reductions provides co-benefits beyond criteria pollutant 

emissions reductions. The expected fuel savings will also reduce the long-term cost of 

ownership for the technology. 

City of Manteca 

Mobile Sources Technology Focus Area 

The City of Manteca will demonstrate two new Autocar Xpeditor E3 refuse vehicles 

fitted with Parker RunWise advanced series hybrid-drive technology to reduce diesel 

fuel consumption, associated NOX, and other emissions, by up to 45%. The City will 

purchase the trucks from Autocar and subcontract with infoWedge to install monitoring 

equipment and collect data from the hybrid truck and a conventional diesel truck, for 

comparison purposes. infoWedge will characterize the drive cycle; monitor a 30-day 

demonstration of the hybrid truck; monitor and report emissions testing; and monitor 

long-term (6 months) demonstration to evaluate usage patterns, fuel consumptions, and 

maintenance needs. 

Successful implementation of this project will show the ability to reduce emissions 

through reduced fuel use in the medium heavy-duty diesel truck off-road category. The 

reduced diesel fuel use also reduces greenhouse gas emissions and lowers overall, 

long-term operating costs for end users. 
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District April 16, 2015

E-18 Appendix E: Incentive and Other Non-Regulatory Strategies 

 2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard

Capstone Turbine Corporation 

Mobile Sources Technology Focus Area 

Capstone Turbine Corporation is demonstrating a class 7 CNG-powered turbine range 

extender electric truck. The truck features an all-electric traction drive system, capable 

of handling the transient load requirements while the microturbine operates at its 

optimal modes for range extension. The electrical system will also be capable of 

operating a truck refrigeration unit eliminating the use of an auxiliary power unit. 

Leslie’s Floral in Bakersfield will demonstrate the demonstration unit in deliveries 

ranging from Fresno to Bakersfield. This will demonstrate both the benefit of this level of 

hybridization as well as the ability for the unit to handle longer over the road driving 

conditions. 

Biogas & Electric, LLC 

Renewable Energy and Waste Solutions Technology Focus Areas 

Biogas & Electric is demonstrating its NOxRx engine after-treatment system at the 

Bakersfield Wastewater Treatment Plant #3. The NOxRx system is based on wet 

scrubber technology, using fluids from the digester as the scrubbing liquor. Since the 

technology is not catalyst based it would be resistant to gas impurities that would be 

expensive to remove as is necessary other competing technologies. The goal of the 

project is to demonstrate a system with low operational costs capable of meeting 

ultra-low NOx emissions. 

Transportation Power, Inc. 

Mobile Sources Technology Focus Area 

Transportation Power, Inc. is demonstrating a zero-emission electric yard tractor for use 

at IKEA’s distribution center in Lebec. The electric yard tractor would replace diesel rigs 

currently used to move trailers around the facility. Key innovations that will be 

demonstrated with this project include improved vehicle efficiency and battery charging 

capability. This will enable the tractors to support the demanding two-shift tractor 

operations at the regional distribution center, with 8-10 hour shifts and only about 1 1/2 

hour between shifts. 

Colony Energy Partners 

Renewable Energy and Waste Solutions Technology Focus Areas 

Colony Energy Partners is in the process of developing the Tulare Anaerobic Digester 

Facility and proposes to develop and demonstrate a novel packaged hardware system 

for gas purification and injection into the natural gas pipeline. The packaged hardware 

will have a smaller footprint, and enable much simpler future installations. Gas cleaning 

systems, which are used to upgrade biogas to pipeline quality for export to the utility, 

prevent emissions from the alternative use of the gas in power production systems. 

Development of a packaged combination of hardware capable of cost-effective gas 

purification may provide an option for reducing future emissions from power generation 

that use gas from digester systems. 
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District April 16, 2015

E-19 Appendix E: Incentive and Other Non-Regulatory Strategies 

 2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard

The Greenstation LLC 

Mobile Sources Technology Focus Area 

The Greenstation is demonstrating a backpack battery powered leaf blower in Fresno 

and Visalia using the most advanced battery and blower technology available designed 

for commercial use. The project will integrate the blower units into the daily institutional 

grounds maintenance schedules and demonstrate the technology will be capable of 

replacing high emitting gasoline powered leaf blowers in commercial lawn maintenance 

operations. Given the neighborhood-level impacts of conventional gas powered lawn 

maintenance equipment, development of zero emissions alternatives has the potential 

of providing significant health benefits to Valley residents and lawn care workers. 

E.2.4 Interagency Collaborative Demonstration Projects 

In addition to projects selected through the request-for-proposals process, the District 

has partnered with other air quality agencies in the state to demonstrate new and 

emerging technologies. 

Restaurant Charbroiler Technology Partnership 

Emission Control Device Manufacturers, Restaurants, and South Coast Air 

Quality Management District (South Coast) 

A variety of technologies for capturing emissions from under-fired charbroilers have 

been developed or improved in recent years. To prove these technologies at working 

restaurants and to ease the transition to these controls, the District is seeking a small 

group of Valley restaurant partners to participate in a new demonstration program. 

Participating restaurants will be provided funding for the full cost of purchasing, 

installing, and maintaining installed systems during a demonstration period covering two 

years of operation. The District opened a request for qualifications to identify eligible 

equipment manufacturers on May 7, 2014, and has identified a list of eligible devices 

and manufacturers. Work is ongoing with partner restaurants to install and demonstrate 

these systems. 

These demonstrations will build upon previous and ongoing laboratory testing focused 

on control technology for under-fired charbroilers. South Coast released a program 

opportunity notice for this testing project in October 2011 to solicit proposals from 

control device manufacturers. District staff assisted in reviewing the submitted 

proposals and making recommendations on which manufacturers should be allowed to 

submit their device to the testing protocol at the University of California, Riverside 

College of Engineering - Center for Environmental Research and Technology test 

kitchen facility. This technology demonstration effort is testing promising prototype 

emission control devices, which will support future regulatory efforts at both South 

Coast and the District. 

Zero-Emission Commercial Lawn and Garden Equipment Demonstration 

California Air Resources Board 

The Cordless Zero-Emission Commercial Lawn and Garden Equipment Demonstration 

Program will provide eligible cordless zero-emission commercial lawn and garden 

equipment to commercial landscape professionals (participants) who conduct business 
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District April 16, 2015

E-20 Appendix E: Incentive and Other Non-Regulatory Strategies 

 2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard

within the Valley. The cordless zero-emission lawn and garden equipment must be 

designated commercial-grade and used by commercial landscape professionals to 

complete multiple small to large gardening tasks over an eight-hour workday period. 

Eligible equipment may include, but is not limited to, lawn mowers, edgers, 

trimmers/brush cutters, hedge clippers, blowers/vacuums, sweepers, and chainsaws. 

The District opened a Request for Applications on August 20, 2012. Participating 

equipment manufacturers/vendors (technology demonstrators) were responsible for 

providing the equipment; training to participants on the safe and efficient operation of 

the equipment and maintenance; and providing materials necessary for daily operation. 

The participants were to use the equipment in real-world settings to verify equipment 

durability and performance, battery capacity, and battery charge time. In addition, the 

participants were responsible for providing monthly data and feedback to the District 

and technology demonstrators and may have the opportunity to keep the equipment 

upon submittal of all required data and information for the program. The Cordless ZeroEmission Commercial Lawn and Garden Equipment Demonstration Program 

successfully ended in June 2013 with a total of 4 technology demonstrators, 60 

participants and 445 pieces of equipment for in-use testing. The program demonstrated 

the performance and durability of electric equipment in non-residential applications to 

accelerate marked acceptance and build upon the progress already made in the 

residential sector. 

Natural Gas-Fired, Fan-Type Central Furnaces with Reduced NOX Emissions 

South Coast Air Quality Management District 

South Coast conducted a demonstration project focused on prototype natural gas-fired 

fan-type central furnaces with reduced NOX emissions. South Coast released a 

program opportunity notice for this demonstration project in February 2010, which 

solicited a number of proposals from furnace manufacturers and gas industry 

technology developers in partnership with furnace manufacturers. This technology 

assessment of reduced NOX central furnaces was initiated with the November 2009 

amendment of South Coast Rule 1111 (NOx Emissions from Natural Gas-fired, Fan type 

Central Furnaces). The District co-funded this technology assessment with the 

SCAQMD and Southern California Gas Company (SoCal Gas). The District provided 

$50,000, SCAQMD provided $1 million, and SoCal Gas provided $450,000 in funding. 

The technology assessment project was completed in the first quarter of 2014. 

The goal of this technology assessment was to demonstrate reduced NOX furnaces 

capable of meeting an emissions goal of 14 nanograms NOX per joule of useful heat. 

Based on the results of the furnace demonstration project, the technology required to 

meet new NOx standards will be available by 2015. As a result of the study findings, 

the District amended Rule 4905 in January 2015 and incorporated more stringent NOx 

emissions limits for units subject to the rule and expanded applicability to include units 

installed on commercial buildings and on manufactured homes. 

 
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District April 16, 2015

E-21 Appendix E: Incentive and Other Non-Regulatory Strategies 

 2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard

Vision for Clean Air: A Framework for Air Quality and Climate Planning 

South Coast Air Quality Management District and California Air Resources Board 

While the District’s air quality challenges are significant, many aspects of those 

challenges are not unique, and they are not isolated to the boundaries of the Valley air 

basin. Strategies for reducing emissions in the Valley are enhanced through 

partnerships and collaborations with other air districts and state agencies. The District 

seeks out opportunities for such collaborations to build strong relationships and even 

stronger attainment strategies. 

In 2011, ARB, with the assistance of the District and South Coast AQMD, developed the 

Vision for Clean Air: A Framework for Air Quality and Climate Planning. The goal of this 

collaboration is to draft a common vision for mobile and stationary source strategies that 

integrate the need to meet federal air quality standards for PM2.5 and ozone, the need 

to reach California’s greenhouse gas goals, and the need to reduce public exposure to 

toxics (e.g. diesel particulates). This collaborative effort will take advantage of the 

efficiencies inherent in dealing with these three issues as inter-dependent problems with 

inter-dependent solutions. 

Through the Vision for Clean Air effort, the three agencies have been evaluating 

pollutant reductions needed to meet overlapping air quality requirements for 2019, 

2023, 2035, and 2050. These reductions will depend on the integration of 

transformative measures and emerging technologies (including zero- and near-zero 

emission goods movement) with long-range planning and control strategies. Critical to 

the attainment of targets will be the evaluation of the potential policies, legislation, 

infrastructure, and efficiencies that will ensure that South Coast, the Valley, and 

California are prepared to meet the long-term goals. 

E.3 LEGISLATIVE STRATEGY 

Each year the District Governing Board adopts a legislative platform to guide District 

advocacy and policy efforts. Through state and federal lobbying efforts and delegation 

visits to Washington D.C., the District informs elected officials about Valley needs and 

concerns based on the priorities established in the legislative platform. With 

persistence, the District has secured support and additional incentive funding for 

programs critical to emissions reductions in the Valley. The legislative platform includes 

both legislative priorities and positions on anticipated federal legislation. The following 

is a summary of the legislative priorities and District positions on anticipated federal 

legislation. For complete details refer to the District’s legislative strategy, adopted in 

January 2015.6

 

6

 SJVAPCD. Item Number 10: Approve the District’s 2015 Legislative Platform and take positions on anticipated 

federal air quality legislative proposals. (22, January 2015). Available at: 

http://www.valleyair.org/Board_meetings/GB/agenda_minutes/Agenda/2015/January/final/10.pdf 
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District April 16, 2015

E-22 Appendix E: Incentive and Other Non-Regulatory Strategies 

 2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard

E.3.1 Streamline Implementation of the Clean Air Act 

Since its adoption, the Clean Air Act has led to significant improvements in air quality 

and public health benefits throughout the nation. However, as an area in the nation with 

mature local air quality management programs, the Valley has reached the point of 

diminishing returns. After more than 20 years since the last amendments to the CAA in 

1990, experience shows that many well-intentioned provisions are leading to 

unintended adverse consequences. The antiquated provisions of the Clean Air Act are 

now leading to confusion, and lack of updated congressional directive has rendered 

courts as policy makers. 

The District supports the well-intentioned concepts in the CAA that call for routine 

review of health-based air quality standards, clean air objectives that are technologyforcing, and clean-air deadlines that ensure expeditious clean-up and timely action. The 

District recommends the CAA be amended to allow for consideration of the following 

critical factors in establishing attainment deadlines and implementation milestones for 

new standards: 

 Upcoming health standards and associated deadlines are impossible to meet. 

 The current five year review of standards is too short and has led to overlapping 

requirements and chaotic transitions between standards. 

 Requiring contingency measures in extreme nonattainment areas is irrational and 

unnecessary. 

 Section 185 of the CAA, which requires businesses in “Severe” and “Extreme” 

non-attainment areas to pay non-attainment penalty fees, is unfair and 

ineffective. 

 The CAA requirements for Severe and Extreme ozone nonattainment areas to 

address vehicle-related emissions growth must be clarified. 

 Transition to health risk-based approach in lieu of the current mass based 

approach. 

E.3.2 Increase State Subvention Funding to Provide More Support for Unfunded 

Mandates 

Local air pollution control and air quality management districts receive subvention funds 

to support important local air program activities. These funds are allocated from the 

Motor Vehicle Account through the budget of the California Environmental Protection 

Agency, under the Air Resources Board section. Local subvention funds were initially 

provided in 1972, and were increased several times to address the costs of inflation. 

Despite a significant increase in unfunded mandates, for over twenty years there have 

been no adjustments for inflation, or added responsibilities. The District, therefore, 

supports an increase in subvention funds to help offset increases in costs and 

responsibility. The District currently receives $900,000 per year which is less than 2% 

of the District’s annual operating budget. 
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District April 16, 2015

E-23 Appendix E: Incentive and Other Non-Regulatory Strategies 

 2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard

E.3.3 Policies/Guidelines for the Carl Moyer Program 

The Carl Moyer Program has been a valuable source of incentive funds to obtain 

voluntary emissions reductions from mobile sources of emissions. Assembly Bill 8 was 

recently adopted to extend funding for the Carl Moyer program through 2023. The 

following policies should guide the state as new guidelines/requirements are developed 

for the program through the new sunset date: 

 The focus of the Carl Moyer Program should continue to be the reduction of 

criteria pollutants. Efforts to include greenhouse gas emissions projects should 

only be considered as co-benefits to projects that are principally designed for the 

reduction of criteria pollutant emissions. 

 Regional funding formulas should continue to utilize a region’s non-attainment 

status, and the severity of the air quality problem, as the primary factor in 

determining the regional breakdown of statewide Carl Moyer funding. 

 With respect to regulatory deadlines, incentive funding should be decoupled from 

regulatory enforcement. Projects that provide cost-effective and surplus 

emission reductions should be eligible for funding regardless of compliance 

status with respect to regulatory deadlines. 

E.3.4 Cap and Trade Revenues 

The cap and trade program implemented by ARB sets up a mechanism by which 

affected sources can procure allowances or offsets to meet specified and declining caps 

on their greenhouse gas emissions. This scenario can potentially lead to adverse 

impacts in areas that are already disproportionately impacted by criteria pollutant 

emissions. The Cap and Trade Program generates in excess of $1 billion annually. 

The state allocates these funds to programs across a number of state agencies. The 

following overarching policies should be applied as the state considers funding projects 

and programs from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund: 

 Projects funded with Cap and Trade revenues should achieve greenhouse gas 

reductions, with priority given to projects that achieve reductions in criteria 

pollutants as well. 

 A portion of Cap and Trade revenues should be directed to projects in areas that 

are already disproportionately impacted by air pollution. 

 Policies should be put in place to ensure that programs funded with Cap and 

Trade revenues meet or exceed the provisions of Senate Bill 535 that require a 

minimum of 25% of the Cap and Trade revenue be spent to benefit

disadvantaged communities and that 10% of the revenue be spent in those 

communities. In determining what communities are disadvantaged, the state is 

required to prioritize communities that face significant environmental challenges 

as well as economic challenges. 
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District April 16, 2015

E-24 Appendix E: Incentive and Other Non-Regulatory Strategies 

 2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard

E.3.5 Oppose Climate Change Measures that Result in Public Health Detriment 

Due to Increases in Criteria or Toxic Air Emissions 

Although climate change measures provide for many co-benefits in reducing both 

greenhouse gasses and criteria pollutant emissions, there are some measures that may 

lead to increases in criteria pollutant or toxic emissions. Therefore the District will 

support reasonable climate protection measures that reduce greenhouse gas emissions 

as well as toxic and criteria pollutants. The District will oppose climate change 

measures that are detrimental to public health by leading to increases in toxic or criteria 

pollutant emissions in already impacted areas. 

E.3.6 Disadvantaged Community Policies 

The Valley is home to a number of disadvantaged communities that deserve care and 

attention. The District will adhere to the following principles in pursuing efforts to 

identify and address the needs of these communities: 

 The District will support measures that improve quality of life and economic 

welfare. In identifying communities of need, both socioeconomic and 

environmental impacts should be considered. The District supports CalEPA’s 

California Communities Environmental Health Screening tool (CalEnviroScreen) 

as the appropriate tool for identifying disadvantaged communities. 

 The District considers poverty as a key factor contributing to diminished public 

health and will oppose efforts that lead to “redlining” these communities and 

inhibit economic growth. 

 The District will support efforts to target additional state and federal resources to 

mitigate issues faced in disadvantaged communities. 

 The District will oppose measures that dilute local control by diverting local 

revenues or the authority over the expenditure of local resources to the state or 

federal government. Reduced local control will weaken local enforcement 

programs. Local agencies are better suited to efficiently and effectively identify 

and address community needs. 

E.3.7 Seek Funding and Other Support from ARB and EPA to Install and Operate 

Additional Air Quality Monitoring Instruments throughout the Valley 

The District operates one of the most extensive air monitoring networks in the nation. 

Data from these monitors is utilized to measure progress and assess the need for 

further reductions needed to attain federal air quality standards established by EPA. 

The District is also committed to providing accurate and timely air quality information to 

educate and empower the public to protect themselves during poor air quality episodes. 

This is accomplished utilizing the air monitoring data through the District’s first-in-thenation Real-Time Air Advisory Network (RAAN). 

Installation, operation and maintenance of the Districts air monitoring network is 

resource intensive. The District’s annual operating appropriation for air monitoring is 

approximately $2.9 million. The increase in federal mandates relating to air monitoring 
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(more monitors and more labor intensive QA/QC and reporting procedures for existing 

monitors) combined with the need for more monitoring capabilities to satisfy the 

District’s initiative to provide neighborhood by neighborhood air quality information 

require additional resources. 

E.3.8 Support Efforts that Provide for Cost-Effective Alternatives to Open 

Burning of Agricultural Waste 

In 2003, state law was amended to require the District to the limit open burning of 

agricultural material in accordance with a phased-in schedule of deadlines. In addition 

to those requirements, the state law authorizes the District to postpone the burn 

prohibition dates for specific types of agricultural material if the District makes three 

specific determinations and the ARB concurs. The determinations are: (1) there are no 

economically feasible alternatives to open-burning of the specific type of material; (2) 

open-burning the specific type of material will not cause or substantially contribute to a 

violation of a federal air quality standard; and (3) there is no long-term federal or state 

funding commitment for the continued operation of biomass facilities in the Valley or the 

development of alternatives to burning. Working closely with the stakeholders over the 

years to identify economically feasible alternatives to open burning of various 

agricultural materials, the District has achieved an 80% reduction in agricultural burning. 

Given current energy policy in California, biomass power facilities, which are one of the 

primary alternatives to agricultural burning, are in jeopardy. Many biomass plants in the 

Valley are nearing the end of their long-term contracts with utilities and find themselves 

in a position where the power that they provide is not the type of power that utilities are 

seeking and that the prices being offered for new contracts are too low to support their 

operations. 

The District will support efforts to help level the playing field and provide fair competition 

between biomass plants and other renewable sources of power. The District will also 

support research and development of alternatives to the open burning of agricultural 

waste. 

E.3.9 Technology Advancement 

The Valley is classified as an Extreme non-attainment area for ozone. This means that 

that technology does not currently exist to bring the region into attainment of the federal 

ozone standard. Meeting the newest air quality standards will require transformative 

measures and technologies to achieve near zero emissions. In order to further develop 

technology to close the gap in required emissions reductions, the District operates a 

Technology Advancement Program. Along with its own resources, the District is 

seeking state and federal assistance to advance technology in the following areas: 

 Mobile sources projects that demonstrate zero- or near-zero-emissions solutions 

to mobile source categories with emphasis on goods and people movement, offroad equipment, or agricultural equipment. 
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 Renewable energy projects that focus on overcoming the barriers that prevent 

the use or adoption of zero-emission renewable energy sources or reduce 

emissions from renewable energy systems to make them cleaner than 

comparable non-renewable alternatives. 

 Waste solutions projects that focus on waste systems or technologies that 

minimize or eliminate emissions from existing waste management systems and 

processes, including waste-to-fuel systems, such as dairy digesters and other 

bio-fuel applications. 

E.3.10 Support Adequate Resources and Policies to Reduce the Impact of 

Wildfires and their Attendant Public Health Impact 

Wildfires result in significant loss of life and property. Air pollution generated from 

wildfires is enormous and well exceeds the total industrial and mobile source emissions 

in the Valley. These emissions result in significant adverse public health impacts in the 

Valley and in many regions throughout California. In the summer of 2008, California 

experienced a record number of wildfires, and the resulting emissions caused serious 

public health impacts and unprecedented levels of PM2.5 and ozone in the Valley and 

other regions throughout the state. Historically clean rural areas throughout the state 

and in the Valley experienced their worst air quality in decades, and pollutant levels and 

the number of daily exceedances of the health-based standards were significantly 

higher than ever before in recorded history. 

Reducing wildfires and the resulting air pollutants requires a sustained and multi-faceted 

approach that employs effective measures to reduce fuel supplies and adequate 

resources to manage fires when they occur. The District supports policies and 

initiatives that would encourage rapid disposal of the fuel supply, including the following: 

 Additional financial and staffing resources for public and private land managers 

to conduct prescribed burning as an effective means for reducing fuel supplies 

that lead to large and uncontrollable wildfires. 

 Additional resources to manage wildfires when they occur. 

 Lessening or removal of contradictory environmental protection policies that 

prohibit the use of mechanized methods, or prescribed burning to reduce fuels 

when those are the only feasible methods available. 

 Changes in the federal policies that better incorporate air quality concerns by 

shifting focus to prescribed burning and employing fire management techniques 

that reduce air quality impact when wildfires occur. 

E.3.11 District Positions on Anticipated Federal Legislation 

It is expected that Congress will attempt to guide clean air policies by influencing EPA 

actions through its agency oversight and budgetary authorities. A key focus of these 

efforts is expected to be actions relating to EPA’s ability to set new air quality standards 

and provide more congressional guidance relating to EPA’s definition and treatment of 

exceptional events. The following are three bills expected to be re-introduced in the 
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coming Congress. The District supported these bills last year and would support them 

again if they are re-introduced. 

CASE Act: The Clean Air Strong Economies (CASE) Act by Congressman Olson,

Texas. The CASE Act requires that EPA not propose a national primary or secondary 

ambient air quality standard for ozone that is lower than the existing standard until at 

least 85 percent of the counties that were nonattainment areas under that standard 

achieve full compliance with the standard. Additionally, the CASE Act would require 

that EPA take into consideration feasibility and cost when setting standards and include 

in the regulatory impact analysis for the proposed and final rule at least one analysis 

that does not include any calculation of benefits resulting from reducing emissions of 

any pollutant other than ozone. 

ORDEAL Act: The Ozone Regulatory Delay and Extension of Assessment Length 

(ORDEAL) Act by Senator Jeff Flake, Arizona and Congressman Matt Salmon, Arizona. 

The ORDEAL Act would lengthen the period between when EPA would review and set 

a new ozone standard from the current five year interval to ten years. 

State and local air agencies are mandated to develop measures to meet federal 

ambient air quality standards that were set without considering the economic costs. 

The Act also sets attainment deadlines and implementation milestones that do not fully 

take into account natural environment (climate, geography, topography), magnitude of 

the needed emission reductions, availability of technology (maturity of existing control 

program, time needed to develop new technologies), economic feasibility, and pollution 

transport from other regions and countries. 

Continued effort to develop cost-effective measures in areas such as the Valley where 

businesses are already subject to the toughest air regulations in the nation is extremely 

difficult. In fact, both the District and the South Coast Air Quality Management District 

concluded that technology did not exist to meet even the 1997 8-hour ozone standard. 

Meeting the new standards that approach background pollution concentrations require 

transformative measures that need sufficient time to be planned and implemented. For 

instance, meeting the latest ozone standard requires eliminating all emissions 

associated with fossil fuel combustion. The deployment of necessary technology and 

massive fueling infrastructure is virtually impossible before the current deadline of 2032. 

More realistic attainment timelines would allow time for technologies to advance and 

businesses to develop capital improvement programs to incorporate those technologies 

in an economically feasible fashion. Additionally, efforts to accurately assess the 

incremental costs and benefits of new standards would better inform policy makers 

when reviewing new standards. 

Currently, in the Valley, there are six active State Implementation Plans (SIP) in place 

for ozone and PM, including one for a standard that was revoked. Furthermore, the 

District is mandate to adopt four additional plans in the next two to three years. There is 

a great deal of overlap, confusion, and redundancy as multiple plans for the same 

pollutant are at play. 
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CLEER Act: Commonsense Legislative Exceptional Events Reform (CLEER) Act by 

Senator Flake, Arizona and Congressman Olson, Texas (Attachment D). These bills 

were introduced last year and the House bill was cosponsored by Congressman 

McCarthy and 22 other members of Congress. The bills streamline EPA’s exceptional 

events approval and appeal process. At the District’s request, the House bill was 

amended to include language that clarified that the prolonged and extraordinary drought 

and related weather conditions similar to those faced by the Valley in 2013/14 should be 

considered Exceptional Events. 

E.4 COMMUNITY OUTREACH 

The District’s outreach programs are integral to the development, implementation, and 

success of attaining federal air quality standards. In addition, engaging the public in 

efforts to reduce emissions is a key element of the District’s attainment strategy. 

Education increases public support for new and controversial regulations. The District’s 

education and information program has expanded and evolved over the years. The 

following outreach programs are just some of the District’s programs related to healthbased PM2.5 control measures and strategies. 

E.4.1 Real-Time Air Advisory Network (RAAN) 

Pollution levels can vary greatly during the day. While the District issues a daily air 

quality forecast for each county in the air basin, localized air quality often deviates from 

these generalized, county-wide, daily forecasts. Access to real-time data generated 

from the air quality monitor closest to a particular location compensates for such 

deviations and helps ensure that outdoor activity can be limited to periods of the day 

when air quality is acceptable and healthier. 

The District launched the Real-time Air Advisory Network (RAAN) in 2010. This 

program is the first communication network in the nation to provide automated 

notification of poor or changing local air quality to the public throughout the air basin. 

While the District initially developed the program for schools as a tool to determine 

appropriate levels of outdoor activity for their students, the District expanded the 

program in 2011, and it is now available to all Valley residents. 

The District combines local air quality information with specific, concentration-based 

health recommendations that allow RAAN subscribers to make informed decisions 

about when and for whom outdoor activities should be limited. The knowledge that 

exercise magnifies the health risks of PM2.5 exposure motivated the District to develop 

the RAAN program. Heavy breathing, as during exercise, allows air pollutants, 

especially the smallest particles (those less than 0.1 microns (PM0.1), also referred to 

as ultrafine particles), to more easily penetrate the alveolar region of the lungs. 

Particles that make it to this region are absorbed directly into the body’s bloodstream. A 
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2003 study7 found that during moderate exercise, 80% of inhaled PM0.1 were deposited 

in the lungs, compared to 60% lung retention while a person is at rest. However, 

because the volume of air exchanged per minute increased substantially during 

exercise, overall PM0.1 deposition increases by as much as 450%. 

Anyone can subscribe to RAAN at no charge through the District’s website 

(www.valleyair.org); all that is required is the subscriber’s email address. Once

subscribed, the District will send email notifications with a link to the real-time data of 

the closest monitoring station within the District’s extensive monitoring network. The 

District sends automated notifications on an hourly basis when air quality deteriorates or 

improves. 

E.4.2 Real-Time Outdoor Activity Risk (ROAR) 

To support the expanded RAAN program, the District developed the Real-time Outdoor 

Activity Risk (ROAR) scale. The levels of this scale provide specific recommendations 

and limitations for increasing levels of activity, from recess through competitive athletic 

events. This scale is based on the Air Quality Index system that is used for the daily air 

quality forecasts, but provides more detailed activity recommendations based on the 

latest health science. The ROAR system, when used in conjunction with the Air Quality 

Flag Program and daily air quality forecasts, is part of a comprehensive set of tools 

available to schools and the public for effective health protection. 

E.4.3 Web-Based Archived Air Quality System (WAAQS) 

Following-up on the success of the RAAN program, the District develop a system that 

would provide air quality conditions on a neighborhood by neighborhood scale as 

opposed to being limited to only the readings from monitors. This project was organized 

through the following phased approach: 

Phase I Establish Algorithms and/or modeling techniques for Quantifying 

Neighborhood Level Particulate and Ozone Concentrations 

Phase II Provide Historical Air Quality Trends at the Neighborhood Level 

Phase III Provide Real-time Air Quality Data at the Neighborhood Level 

Phase I: Phase I of this project was completed in 2014 and established a modeling 

technique for quantifying neighborhood level ozone and PM2.5 concentrations. The 

District has already used this modeling technique to generate neighborhood level ozone 

and PM2.5 concentrations for each of the approximately 3,600 grid cells (4 km x 4 km) 

that make up the San Joaquin Valley dating back to 1990. This data is being used as 

the foundation for providing historical air quality information under Phase II of this 

project. 

 

7

 Daigle, C.C., Chalupa, D.C., Gibb, F.R., Morrow, P.E., Oberdörster, G., Utell, M.J., and Frampton, M.W. (2003). 

Ultrafine Particle Deposition in Humans During Rest and Exercise. Inhalation Toxicology, 15, 539–552. 

DOI:10.1080/08958370390205065 
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Phase II: Under Phase II, the District committed to provide an online tool to the public 

that will allow residents to view historical air quality information for their neighborhood 

by simply entering an address of their choosing. This newly developed system has 

been named the Web-Based Archived Air Quality System (WAAQS). The 

neighborhood level air quality statistics that will be provided to the public consist of the 

following: 

 Number of days with Good air quality 

 Number of days with Unhealthy air quality 

 Days over federal standards for ozone and PM2.5 

 Neighborhood air quality compared to trends for the County and San Joaquin 

Valley 

The District released a beta version of the online web page to the public on March 1, 

2015. The District will accept and consider comments and recommendations in a 

continuous effort to improve the information provided on the web page. 

Phase III. The launch of Phase III in 2016 will give the public access to real-time air 

quality information on a neighborhood by neighborhood basis and ensure that Valley 

residents have the most detailed and accurate information with which to make decisions 

regarding outdoor activity. 

E.4.4 Check Before You Burn 

The Check-Before-You-Burn outreach program is critical to the implementation of 

District Rule 4901—Wood Burning Fireplaces and Wood Burning Heaters. Rule 4901 

was adopted in 2003 and, along with the Check-Before-You-Burn program, is credited 

with reducing levels of PM2.5 emissions during the winter season to historically low 

levels. The rule and outreach program was amended in 2008 and again in 2014 to 

reflect more stringent federal health-based standards, and together they have achieved 

the highest level of public recognition and compliance of any District program, with 80% 

of Valley residents professing awareness of it based on a 2014 public survey.8

 

According to the same survey, 59 percent of the respondents (Valley-wide) with woodburning devices never used them. These statistics are a testament to heightened public 

awareness resulting from the District’s multilingual, multimedia, targeted public outreach 

campaigns. 

Annual Check-Before-You-Burn outreach campaigns feature District Governing Board 

members in outdoor, radio, and video media speaking to the public about how to get 

involved in clean air activities. The District also uses extensive social media posts 

(Facebook and Twitter) to reach even more segments of the Valley’s population. In 

addition, the District’s toll-free information line and website receives thousands of “hits” 

 

8

 San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District: Memorandum to SJVUAPCD Governing Board, District’s Public 

Opinion Survey Relating to Residential Wood Burning and Other Habits of Valley Residents. Fresno, CA: Public 

Governing Board Meeting, March 20, 2014. Available at 

http://www.valleyair.org/Board_meetings/GB/agenda_minutes/Agenda/2014/march/final/09.pdf
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during the wood-burning season, specifically to access wood-burning forecast 

information. 

E.4.5 Healthy Air Living 

Most of the District’s outreach activities and programs are covered by the Health Air 

Living umbrella. As a year-round message, the Healthy Air Living idea of “make one 

change” promotes and encourages Valley residents and businesses to implement 

voluntary measures to reduced emissions and improved air quality. Many of the 

emission-reduction recommendations address PM2.5 emissions, either directly emitted 

or as byproducts of other pollutants (e.g. reducing the number of miles traveled in a car 

reduces NOx and, therefore, particulates). 

Components of the Health Air Living message include Blue Sky, Brown Sky; It’s Up To 

You kids activity kits aimed at elementary school students and their parents; the Healthy 

Air Living Kids Calendar for kindergarteners through high-school students; and Healthy 

Air Living Pledge Cards, which are customized for residents, businesses, schools, and 

faith-based organizations. In addition to these specific programs and others, the 

Healthy Air Living logo and message are incorporated into the District’s 

communications, collateral, incentive materials, and outreach efforts. 

E.5 ADDITIONAL STRATEGIES 

Non-regulatory strategies help accelerate attainment and have been an important part 

of recent District air quality attainment plans. The following strategies are supported by 

the District as alternative methods to reduce emissions in the Valley. 

E.5.1 Energy Efficiency 

California has been on the forefront of developing renewable energy sources, and has 

implemented regulations to ensure cleaner non-renewable energy. The District’s 

involvement in energy efficiency and renewable energy is guided by its Regional Energy 

Efficiency Strategy (REES), which was adopted in January 2010.9

 This policy identifies 

the District’s commitment to fostering energy efficiency and clean energy alternatives as 

opportunities for emissions reductions. The District continues to work with stakeholders 

and state agencies to expand net metering and feed-in tariffs for use of solar and other 

renewable energy sources, promote energy efficiency programs for energy end users 

that will result in lower emissions and a more stable electrical distribution system, and 

develop measures that incentivize and encourage low-emission technologies for use of 

waste gas as an alternative to waste-gas venting or flaring. 

 

9

 San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. (2010). Approval of the District’s Regional Energy Efficiency 

Strategy. Memorandum to the SJVAPCD Governing Board. Public Hearing, January 21, 2010. 

http://www.valleyair.org/Board_meetings/GB/agenda_minutes/Agenda/2010/January/Agenda_Item_7_Jan_21_2010.

pdf 
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E.5.2 Eco-driving 

Finding ways through education and outreach to reduce emissions from mobile sources 

in the Valley is critical to attainment of federal air quality standards. One such program 

in development is Eco-Driving. Eco-Driving refers to everyday techniques that drivers 

can do to maximize the fuel economy of their vehicles. These include observing good 

operating maintenance, such as proper tire pressure, wheel alignment, and oil viscosity; 

improving aerodynamics; traveling at efficient speeds; choosing the appropriate gear for 

manual transmissions; driving defensively to avoid unnecessary braking; accelerating at 

a constant pace; and other simple, yet often forgotten, driving techniques. As with other 

informational activities conducted by the District, an Eco-Driving program could be 

encompassed under the Healthy Air Living umbrella. 

E.5.3 Green Purchasing and Contracting 

Valley businesses and government agencies can get involved in air quality 

improvements by considering the environmental impacts when making purchasing and 

contracting decisions. Green purchasing and contracting is the selection of goods, 

services, and vehicles that have a reduced impact on human health and the 

environment when compared with other products that serve the same purpose. These 

efforts can reduce waste, energy consumption and the overall impact of day to day 

operations. When making purchasing decisions, give preference to environmentally 

responsible products, materials and supplies; fuel-efficient, low-emission and hybrid 

vehicles; energy-efficient and water-efficient appliances; service providers who employ 

greener methods. 

The District has created the Green Purchasing and Contracting: A guide to reducing 

environmental impacts through the procurement process guideline and made it 

available on the District webpage.10 The District has also set an example for other 

agencies by adopting and implementing its own Green Procurement & sustainable 

Practices Policy in January 2012. The District will continue to support Valley 

organizations in adopting policies and practices to make green purchasing and 

contracting a routine part of their operations. 

E.5.4 Alternative Energy 

The District encourages cleaner ways of generating electricity and mechanical power, 

and moving vehicles, in addition to overall reductions in energy use. These alternative 

energy choices include renewable energy, waste-to-energy systems, and alternative 

fuels and vehicle technologies. The District also encourages the use of alternative 

energy sources that are clearly cleaner than industry standards in terms of criteria 

pollutants. The District’s Alternative Energy: On the Fast Track to Clean Air11 is a 

guideline for considering clean energy options in the Valley that discuss, and provide 

 

10 SJVAPCD. Green Purchasing and Contracting: A guide to reducing environmental impacts through the 

procurement process. Available at http://www.valleyair.org/Programs/FastTrack/2011/GreenPurchasingReport4-6-

11%20_2_.pdf. 11 SJVAPCD. Alternative Energy: On the Fast Track to Clean Air. A Guide for Considering Clean Energy Options in 

the San Joaquin Valley. Available at http://www.valleyair.org/Programs/FastTrack/2011/Alternative%20Energy.pdf 
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additional resources for, the District’s current recommendations regarding the most 

advantageous and viable alternative energy systems. Alternative energy choices 

include solar energy, wind turbines, biomass, dairy digesters, and electric irrigation 

pumps, just to name a few. 

 
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