Title
Authorize the Agricultural Commissioner to submit a grant application to the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District for an AB2766 Grant for a Farm Tractor Emission Reduction Project in Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties.
Body
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
Authorize the Agricultural Commissioner to submit a grant application to the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District for an AB2766 Grant for a Farm Tractor Emission Reduction Project in Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The Agricultural Commissioners of Monterey County, Santa Cruz County and San Benito County will jointly submit this AB2766 Grant Application to reduce ozone and PM10 emissions from farm tractors and other farm vehicles operating in the Air District. The Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner will administer the project for all three counties. This project will achieve highly cost effective emission reductions from farm vehicles and will help farmers modernize their tractor fleets and reduce their diesel fuel use and fuel costs.
The three county agricultural commissioners have conducted a number of highly successful farm vehicle emission reduction projects funded by the District. Through similarly successful agricultural equipment upgrade projects funded by the Air District in recent years, over 100 tractors and harvesters have been upgraded or replaced with modern, low emissions engines, eliminating over 500 tons of air pollution in the Air District. We are in the process of completing the latest grants, and those funds have been fully allocated for seven tractor replacements in the Air District.
The funds will be allocated to farms across Monterey County, Santa Cruz County and San Benito County proportional to each county’s population. Participation in the program by the farming community is voluntary, with each participating farm expected to contribute significant funds towa...
Click here for full text