January 3, 2012 > Air District offers grants to reduce port truck pollution Air District offers grants to reduce port truck pollution Submitted By Aaron Richardson The Board of Directors of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, the regional agency responsible for protecting air quality in the nine-county Bay Area, approved $1.04M in funding to replace older, higher-emitting trucks to reduce diesel particulate emissions at the Port of Oakland on December 7, 2011. Grants will be available through the Air District's Transportation Fund for Clean Air Regional Fund, which is financed by a Department of Motor Vehicles surcharge on vehicles registered in the Bay Area. The Board of Directors selected Cascade Sierra Solutions to assist the Air District in implementing this program. "Our port truck grant programs create a 'win-win' solution for West Oakland and the port trucking community," said Damian Breen, the Air District's director of strategic incentives. "Truckers get help in modernizing their equipment before state deadlines and the local neighborhood will see reductions in toxic diesel pollution." This latest round of funding should provide for upgrades of 104 port trucks with model year 2004 engines registered in the Bay Area. The grant funding will provide $10,000 to these eligible Bay Area truck owners toward the purchase of a truck with a cleaner 2007 model year engine. Under the program, owners would also be able to trade their old 2004 trucks in for their current worth. Visit www.baaqmd.gov/goods for details on how to apply.