Incentives to Buy Electric Vehicles

By Zach Friend, Supervisor, Second District

The Monterey Bay Air Resources District, administers the AB 2766 Emissions Reduction Grant Program, which provides funding to public agencies and individuals for certain emissions reduction purchases. What is this program and how can local governments and residents apply for the grants? Let’s take a look at this program and the Air District in general.

What is the Monterey Bay Air Resources District (MBARD)?

TheMonterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District, of which I currently serve as Chair, protects public health and the environment from the effects of air pollution. The District is responsible for air monitoring, permitting, source testing, enforcement, long-range air quality planning, regulatory development, education and public information activities related to air pollution. Additionally, the District administers the AB 2766 Emissions Reduction Grant Program (among other programs), which can provide funding to local governments and individuals for emissions reduction.

What is the AB 2766 Program?

Assembly Bill (AB) 2766 was enacted over thirty years ago and it authorized the DMV to collect a motor vehicle surcharge of $4 for each vehicle registered within the boundaries of the Air District and to have those funds “…be used solely to reduce air pollution from motor vehicles and for the related planning, monitoring, enforcement and technical studies.” Since the grant program was initiated over 30 years ago, the Air District has authorized over $40 million to over 600 projects in Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties.

What is the funding used for?

The funding is used for three main buckets: the Clean Air Management Program, the Clean Vehicle Incentive Program and the Electric Vehicle Incentive Program. Here is a breakdown:

Clean Air Management Program: These projects (from public agencies, such as the County of Santa Cruz) are fixed assets for which trade activity data is available to calculate reductions in motor vehicle emissions. Funding from this program has funded roundabouts in our area as well as adaptive traffic control systems (on areas including Ocean Street, 41st and soon on Soquel).

Clean Vehicle Incentive Program: This provides funding for public agencies and/or fleet owners to replace gas powered engines with electric vehicles. Local cities and the County have used this program to retire older (high gasusage vehicles) with electric vehicles.

Electric Vehicle Incentive Program: Provides incentives to residents of Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties to purchase or lease plug-in hybrid, battery-electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Funding for this program will open again in July of this year.

How much funding is available to local residents?

F or Santa Cruz County residents interested in the incentive program you may be eligible for funding for certain vehicles mentioned above. Specifically, for new battery electric vehicle

$1,000 for a used one. For a plug-in hybrid you can receive $1,000 for a new and $700 for a used. For an electric motorcycle the incentive is $1,000 for new and $500 for used.

These funds have run out before and are provided on a first-come, firstserved basis (with funding becoming available again in July of this year). Low-income qualified residents may be eligible for doubled incentive amounts. How can you apply for the Electric Vehicle Incentive Program funding?

To learn more about the program in advance of it opening in July, you can visit the Air District website dedicated to the program at: https://www.mbard.org/ electric-vehicle-incentive-program - or, you are welcome to contact the District directly at (831) 647-9411. n

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As always, I appreciate any feedback you may have on this (or any other County issue). I’m maintaining regular updates on social media at www.facebook.com/supervisorfriend