Air Quality Grants & Incentives
The El Dorado County Air Quality Management District, along with State and Federal agencies provide incentives and grants to help improve the air quality of our County. Learn more about the different grants and incentives available to residents, businesses and schools.
Please Note: Residents, schools and business owners must first contact the county before making a grant-related purchase or taking a grant-related action to qualify for a grant.
Incentives for Residents
Chimney Smoke Reduction Incentive Program (RIP)
The Chimney Smoke RIP was approved in 2017, to encourage homeowners to permanently remove or replace older non-EPA certified wood stoves or eligible fireplaces with cleaner burning devices. This improves winter air quality through the reduction of emissions caused by wood combustion. You can call the office at (530) 621-7501 to learn more or explore the menu below.
RIP Information and Funding Levels
- $500 ($800)* for removal of old wood burning device and replacement with a new EPA Phase II certified wood stove, fireplace insert, or pellet stove.
- $599 ($899)* for removal of old wood burning device and use of existing or installation of a new electric, natural gas or propane furnace or appliance.
- AQMD will pay for the cost of the associated basic Building Permit (if required).
- Low-income households and residents in designated low-income communities can be eligible for up to $2,000 in total incentives thanks to new funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - call for details.
*Tahoe Applicants: The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) has provided funds for an additional $300 for replacements within their jurisdiction.
Total Number of Change-outs+ (as of September 2024):
West Slope: 1,254
Tahoe: 360
Total: 1,614
+El Dorado County residences only
How to Qualify
- You must first obtain Pre-Approval from AQMD for project eligibility (site visit required). Pre-Approval is Required Prior to Removing Old Unit.
- The home must be your primary residence in El Dorado. Long-term rentals are eligible with some restrictions.
- Woodstove to be removed must not be an EPA certified unit (uncertified).
- Fireplaces with attached glass or metal doors are eligible if used to heat the home. Open-face fireplaces (no glass or metal doors) are eligible if it is the only source of heat in the home (i.e., no wall furnaces, baseboard heaters, central forced air, etc.)
Incentive checks will be issued directly to the approved applicants after completion of the woodstove installation, until funding is depleted. Call (530) 621-7501 to get started. We can take your application over the phone and get you scheduled for a pre-approval inspection.
Expanded Clean Lawn equipment Incentive Program (CLIP)
The Clean Lawnmower incentive program provides a $200 to $2,000 incentive for the replacement (and disposal) of gasoline or diesel-powered lawn equipment and the purchase of new cordless electric lawn equipment. Fill out the Online Clean Lawn equipment Incentive Program Application. You will need approval from the Air Quality Management District before disposing of your gasoline or diesel-powered equipment.
CLIP Information
CLIP will pay the following amounts toward the purchase of a cordless electric piece of lawn equipment when a similar gasoline powered piece of equipment is surrendered:
- Leaf blower - up to $100
- Walk-behind lawnmower - up to $200
- Chainsaw, Trimmer, Edger, Brush cutter, "Weed-eater", miscellaneous - up to $200
- Ride-on lawnmower - up to $2,000
Replacement Must Be Like-for-Like
Lawn Equipment Recycled to Date (April 2018 through January 2024): 1,023
Eligibility Requirements
- Reside in El Dorado County & equipment is to be used in El Dorado County.
- Currently own and operate a piece of working gasoline or diesel-powered lawn equipment.
- Purchase a piece of new, cordless, zero-emission lawn equipment (corded equipment not eligible). Must replace with same type of equipment (Mower for Mower, etc).
- Application must be approved by AQMD before you dispose of old equipment, and you must dispose of old equipment within 30 days of purchase of new, cordless, zero-emission lawn equipment.
- Surrender old operational lawn mower to:
- El Dorado Disposal - Placerville
- Radius Recycling (Formerly Schnitzer Steel) - Rancho Cordova
- South Tahoe Refuse - South Lake Tahoe
Drive Clean! Vehicle Incentive Program
The Drive Clean! program provides a $599 incentive to County residents for the purchase or lease of an eligible NEW vehicle. Fill out Online Drive Clean! Pre-Approval Application to participate in the program. You must obtain pre-approval before purchasing your vehicle to receive the incentive.
Drive Clean! Information
Drive Clean! Miles Logged (as of October 2024) Only first three years of vehicle mileage counted.
- Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Miles: 20,086,001
- Partial Zero Emission Vehicle (PZEV) Miles*: 7,323,176
- Total Drive Clean! Miles Logged: 27,409,177 - Over 27 million miles!
Total Emissions Reduced based on miles logged.
- Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC): 29.49 tons
- Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx): 21.46 tons
- Carbon Monoxide (CO): 277.42 tons
- Carbon Dioxide (CO2, a GHG): 11,518.65 tons
*Only 50% of PZEV miles assumed to be emissions free
Eligibility Requirements
- Pre-Approval is Required. Previous vehicle purchases are not eligible.
- Provide email address on online application as pre-approval will be emailed back to you - On-call staff will approve/deny after-hour Drive Clean online applications.
- Currently reside in El Dorado County (address in El Dorado County must be your primary residence)
- Purchase/Lease a new vehicle on eligible vehicle list as of the date of application/pre-approval:
- Vehicle must have a base MSRP of $60,000 or less - Large vehicles (such as SUV's, CUV's, trucks, vans).
- Vehicle must have a base MSRP of $45,000 or less - Vehicles classified as cars (sedans, coupes, hatchbacks, wagons).
- Vehicle must meet the minimum 30-mile EPA electric range requirement (plug-in hybrids).
- Purchase/Lease within three (3) months of receiving pre-approval (Please do not obtain pre-approval until you are ready to buy/lease in the near future).
- Submit all required documentation to AQMD within three (3) months after vehicle purchase/lease.
- Agree to own/lease vehicle for three (3) years within El Dorado County.
- One (1) Drive Clean! incentive per household. Previous Drive Clean! program incentive recipients (and households) not eligible.
Other requirements may apply and supporting evidence is required. Please see the Program Guidelines for complete details.
CHARGE! Charge at Your Residence and Go Electric (Home Electric Vehicle Charger Program)
CHARGE incentive programs provide up to $300 for the purchase of a Level 2 electric vehicle charger for your home. Fill out the Online CHARGE Incentive Program Claim Form to participate.
CHARGE Information
Submit your claim form and upload the supporting documents including:
- Proof of residency
- Proof of ownership or lease of electric vehicle or plug in hybrid vehicle
- Copy of charger purchase receipt
- Photograph of installed charger
- Copy of final building permit (if not using an existing 220/240 volt outlet)
Program Guidelines(PDF, 215KB)
Home Chargers Installed to Date: 48
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Reside in El Dorado County
- Own or lease an electric vehicle or plug in hybrid electric vehicle
- Purchase a Level 2 electric vehicle charger (optional accessories are not eligible for this incentive; adapters and splitters may be allowed in conjunction with the purchase of a charger but the total reimbursement can not exceed $300)
- If there is an existing 220/240 volt outlet in your garage or carport, then simply plug in the charger and take a photo
- If you need to install a 220/240 volt outlet or if you plan to hard wire the charger, then obtain a building permit and hire a contractor to perform the installation
- Submit a CHARGE incentive program claim form and the supporting documents. Claim form and all supporting documents must be submitted within 6 months of purchasing the charger.
- AQMD must inspect the installation prior to incentive disbursement. Staff will contact you after the claim form is approved to schedule an inspection, or call us at (530) 621-7501 for an inspection prior to submittal of the claim form.
Grants for Residents and Businesses
Residential Generator and Battery Rebate Program (From PG&E)
PG&E is offering eligible customers a rebate on the purchase of a qualifying product (generator or battery) to prepare for outages. Visit the PG&E website for more information.
Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP)
The CPUC's Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) provides incentives to support existing, new, and emerging distributed energy resources. SGIP provides rebates for qualifying distributed energy systems installed on the customer's side of the utility meter. Learn more about the SGIP.
Program Information
Qualifying technologies include wind turbines, waste heat-to-power technologies, pressure reduction turbines, internal combustion engines, microturbines, gas turbines, fuel cells, and advanced energy storage systems.
Grants for Businesses
Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Grant- Request for Proposals
We are looking for electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) installations to support electric vehicle (EV) use in El Dorado County. Approximately $50,000 is available for "charging station" projects in this round of proposals at up to $5,000 per charger (i.e., per individual EV connection). Matching funds must be provided in the form of grantee-provided electricity, designation of parking spaces, and availability to the public. Call the AQMD at (530) 621-7501 to learn more.
EVSE Information
Eligible applicants in El Dorado County only include: retail business operators, owners, and retail commercial property owners, cities, special districts, other political subdivisions and jurisdictions joined together by joint power authorities (JPA)s or memorandum of understanding (MOU)s, and non-profit organizations.
FARMER (Funding Agricultural Replacement Measures for Emission Reductions) Grant
The Funding Agricultural Replacement Measures for Emission Reductions (FARMER) Program provides funding through local air districts for agricultural harvesting equipment, heavy-duty trucks, agricultural pump engines, tractors, and other equipment used in agricultural operations. $2.7 Million in grant funds are available to the "shared pool" air districts, including El Dorado County AQMD. In order to qualify, the equipment must be engaged in agricultural operations, project categories include: Off-road equipment replacement such as tractors and agricultural pumps; Heavy-duty truck replacement; Electric UTVs; and Agricultural EV charging infrastructure.
Download and fill out the application for your project at: farmer-grant.force.com
Submit your completed application to the El Dorado County Air Quality Management District before August 30, 2024.
Carl Moyer Grant Program
The Carl Moyer Grant Program provides competitive grants for the incremental cost of cleaner-than-required engines, vehicles, and equipment. Submit your Carl Moyer Grant General Application online.
Program Information
The program focuses on cleaning the air by replacing older heavy-duty diesel with electric, alternative-fuel, or cleaner diesel technologies. While air pollution regulations continue to be the primary means to reduce air pollution emissions, the CMP plays a complementary role to California's regulatory program by providing incentives to obtain early or extra NOx, PM and ROG emission reductions.
Eligibility Requirements
Public and private entities can apply for CMP funding. In order to receive funds, projects must not be required by any regulation, memorandum of understanding, or other legal mandate. Under CMP Guidelines, fund recipients sign a contract with AQMD and submit basic project status information on a regular basis. Small businesses with vehicles or equipment that are exempt from or not yet subject to air quality rules are particularly encouraged to apply. To be eligible for CMP funds, projects must meet the criteria described in the 2017 Carl Moyer Program Guidelines and all subsequent advisories to the Guidelines. Projects must also be in compliance with applicable California Air Resources Board (CARB) regulations. In addition, projects must meet the cost-effective threshold of $30,000 per weighted ton of total reduced emissions.
The project categories identified for funding under the AQMD CMP solicitation are:
On-Road: Eligible project types include vehicle replacement and repower/conversion projects; on-road retrofit projects will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All on-road projects must generate surplus emission reductions and be fully compliant with all applicable fleet regulations.
Off-Road: Propulsion engines greater than 25 horsepower on mobile off-road equipment are eligible for CMP funding, with limitations. Off-road projects must demonstrate compliance with any applicable CARB regulation at the time of application. Off-road heavy-duty equipment/engines include, but are not limited to, construction equipment, agricultural tractors, marine engines, shore power and locomotive equipment. Portable equipment are not eligible for CMP funding.
Construction equipment projects:
- Repower with an emission-certified engine
- Retrofit with a verified-diesel emission control strategy, and
- Replacement by a vehicle with an engine certified as meeting the current off-road emission standards.
Infrastructure: The 2017 update to the CMP Guidelines allow funding for infrastructure projects that enable the deployment of alternative, advanced, and cleaner technologies to support the State's air quality goals. Specifically, projects that install fueling or energy infrastructure to fuel or power a "covered source" are now eligible for CMP funding consideration. Apply for infrastructure projects.
Previous Grant Recipients for District Grant Awards
Carl Moyer – Infrastructure Projects
The Carl Moyer Infrastructure Projects grant provides funding for infrastructure projects that enable the deployment of alternative, advanced, and cleaner technologies to support the California's air quality goals. These projects specifically install fueling or energy infrastructure to fuel or power-covered sources.
The 2017 update to the CMP Guidelines allow funding for infrastructure projects that enable the deployment of alternative, advanced, and cleaner technologies to support the State's air quality goals. Specifically, projects that install fueling or energy infrastructure to fuel or power a "covered source" are now eligible for CMP funding consideration. Apply for an Infrastructure Project Grant
Program Information and Guidelines
Eligible infrastructure projects include, but are not limited to:
- Battery charging stations: New, conversion of existing, and expansion to existing battery charging stations for heavy-duty vehicles and equipment
- Alternative Fuel Station: New, conversion of existing, or expansion of existing hydrogen or natural gas fueling stations for heavy-duty vehicles and equipment
- Stationary Agricultural Station: Pump electrification
- Shore Power: Shore-side electrification for projects not subject to CARB's shore power regulation. Only a port authority, terminal operator, or marine vessel owner are eligible for this type of infrastructure project.
All eligible costs are listed in the 2017 Carl Moyer Guidelines.
Submit Your Online Application
Residential Generator and Battery Rebate Program (From PG&E)
Visit the PG&E website for more information.
Financial Assistance for Diesel Vehicles Needing to Comply with Air Resources Board (ARB) Truck and Bus Regulations
The Ombudsman of the California Air Resources Board (ARB) is reaching out to small business development centers, economic development agencies, utility business representatives and others that may regularly interface with small business owners or those who hire or serve them. This is the first in a new effort to provide you with information on resources that may be useful to your customers. For more information, visit the ARB website or call ARB’s 866-6DIESEL hotline at (866-634-3735).
Program Information
How to Use the “ARB Funding Programs: Vehicles and Equipment” Table
- Applicability: The resources listed in this table apply primarily to owners of light and heavy-duty diesel trucks /buses (gross vehicle weight 14,000 pounds or more) operating in California at least 51% of the time.
- Pending: This indicates that changes are being made to eligibility or other criteria to reflect recent direction from ARB’s Board. Check the website (see below) for updates.
- Reading the Table: Website links to additional information appear in either the “Where to Apply” or “Comments” column.
- Caveat: While the programs identified are commonly available, funding availability varies based on a number of factors, including demand and whether the application is in advance of a compliance date. For that reason, your customer will need to contact the entity listed and confirm funding availability and the eligibility of their vehicle.
Additional Links
ARB’s Office of the Ombudsman provides regulatory compliance assistance to small businesses across California. Please go to their website or contact them directly for additional information to support you or your customers.
Financial Assistance For Mandated Upgrades To Gas Dispensing Facilities
El Dorado provides assistance for gas dispensing facilities facing mandated environmental protection upgrades. You can submit the RUST Funding Application Form(PDF, 49KB) online.
Program Funding and Information
New funding (AB 96) is available for EVR Phase II upgrades through the State Water Resources Control Board RUST Program. There have been some changes to the requirements for both the new funding and the regular yearly allocation. If a station does not qualify for the AB 96 funding, it may still qualify for the regular yearly funding.
Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust
The Volkswagen (VW) Mitigation Trust was established to fully mitigate the diesel NOx emissions caused by VW’s illegal actions. The mitigation plan for California includes a variety of grant categories available to replace diesel vehicles registered throughout the state of California. Learn more about the Information on the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust.
Program Information
California’s Mitigation Trust funding will be offered statewide and will be allocated across the five categories listed below. The categories and allocation amounts were approved by CARB through the adoption of the Beneficiary Mitigation Plan on May 25, 2018, which was developed with public input and are based on technology availability, the market demand as demonstrated by other funding programs, and the ability of the project funding categories to fully mitigate the excess NOx caused by the subject VW diesel vehicles.
- Combustion Freight and Marine Projects
- Zero-Emission Transit, School, and Shuttle Buses
- Zero-Emission Freight and Marine Projects
- Zero-Emission Class 8 Freight and Port Drayage Trucks
Grants for Schools
See information on the Carl Moyer Grant Program and Carl Moyer - Infrastructure Projects.
Clean School Bus Program - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Following the passage of the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA will make significant investments in the health, equity, and resilience of American communities. EPA’s new Clean School Bus Program provides five billion dollars over five years (FY 2022-2026) to replace existing school buses with clean and zero-emission models.
To learn more, visit the EPA Clean School Bus Program website.