Bill Mongelluzzo | Jul 29, 2009 2:34PM EDT
The Port of Oakland is partnering with government agencies to provide $22 million in subsidies to motor carriers for the retrofitting or replacement of old, polluting trucks.
Grants of up to $50,000 per vehicle are available to replace pre-1994 trucks. The port estimates some 200 trucks will have to be replaced because they are too old for retrofit devices that trap particulate matter emissions.
Grants of about $15,000 per vehicle are available to retrofit 1994 model year and newer trucks. The traps will reduce PM emissions by 85 percent on an estimated 800 vehicles.
The port and the Bay Area Air Quality Management district are contributing $5 million to the grant program. The federal Environmental Protection Agency provided $2 million. The California Air Resources Board will provide $10 million from a 2006 state bond issue known as Proposition 1B.
Oakland, which seeks to reduce truck pollution in the harbor area through its Comprehensive Truck Management Program, has established a trucker information center in the harbor area to accept applications for the grant program.
Contact Bill Mongelluzzo at bmongelluzzo@joc.com.
