CA Governor Signs Pro-NGV Legislation

California Gov. Jerry Brown has signed legislation (SB 1204) that will create the California Clean Truck, Bus, and Off-Road Vehicle and Equipment Technology Program to fund zero- and near-zero emission versions of those vehicles. The bill is designed to reduce emissions from the highest polluting vehicles in the state, particularly those in the freight sector. Based on current spending levels, the program is expected to add $12 million to $20 million per year in alt fuel vehicle funding through January 1, 2018. The program will be funded through greenhouse gas cap-and-trade revenues that are collected by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and deposited in the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. The program will be administered by the state board, in conjunction with the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, who will provide an annual framework and will develop guidance through the existing Air Quality Improvement Program funding plan process and implementation program. The program will allocate no less than 20 percent of funding to early commercial deployment of existing heavy duty truck technology, including “vocational trucks, short-haul and long-haul trucks, buses, and off-road vehicles and equipment, including, but not limited to, port equipment, agricultural equipment, marine equipment, and rail equipment.” Remanufactured and retrofitted vehicles also qualify for funding as long as the warranty and emissions requirements are met. A copy of SB 2014 is available here. Congratulations to the California NGV Coalition, its members and the other companies that worked so hard on see this legislation get signed into law.