SoCalGas funds natural gas truck grant applications

Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas), Santa Monica, California, has announced the company's latest efforts to help California fleets obtain funding for the purchase of new near-zero emissions heavy-duty natural gas trucks. SoCalGas representatives supported 21 fleet owners operating within the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), Diamond Bar, California, with the Carl Moyer Memorial Air Quality Standards Attainment Program (Carl Moyer Program), funding applications for 209 new near-zero emissions natural gas trucks. SoCalGas customers have submitted more than 150 applications to the SCAQMD as part of the $21 million Prop 1B incentive pool. Owners whose applications are accepted will receive $100,000 toward the purchase of a new near-zero natural gas truck.

The Carl Moyer Program is administered by the local air districts and provides grant funding for cleaner-than-required engines and equipment. Local air districts also select which projects to fund. This year, the program was expanded to include infrastructure projects such as fueling and charging stations. SoCalGas also assisted customers with additional applications for the funding of five new compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling stations.

This year marks the 20^th anniversary of the Carl Moyer Program. Prior to 2018, the program has provided more than $460 million in funding. Approximately $25 million is available through the SCAQMD program in 2018. According to the SCAQMD, almost 7,600 tons of nitrogen oxide (NOx) and 222 tons of particulate matter have been reduced each year as the result of the Carl Moyer Program.

"Last month, SoCalGas customers began receiving deliveries of ultra-low emission 12-liter natural gas trucks, the cleanest heavy-duty truck commercially available today," Sharon Tomkins, vice president of customer solutions and strategy for SoCalGas, says. "Incentive funding like the Carl Moyer Program will enable more fleets to switch to ultra-low emission trucks at a cost on par with diesel trucks."

"SoCalGas account executives have been instrumental in streamlining our data collection process, scheduling meetings and processing the paperwork needed so that we could submit accurate and timely grant applications," Kent Ramseyer, energy manager for the Newport-Mesa Unified School District, Costa Mesa, California, says.  "NMUSD staff looks forward to working with SoCalGas on these and other projects in the near future."

The transportation sector is responsible for about 40 percent of California's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and more than 80 percent of the state's NOx emissions, SCAQMD says. Making the switch from diesel to near-zero natural gas trucks is vital to achieving the state's GHG reduction goals and cleaning the air around California's transportation corridors.