California Air Resources Board Archives - Clean Off-Road Equipment Voucher Incentive Project

CORE FY 23-24 Heavy-Duty IM Release Overview Webinar

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) and CALSTART are pleased to announce the Clean Off-Road Equipment Voucher Incentive Project (CORE) will begin accepting voucher applications on August 13 at 9 a.m. Pacific.

To prepare for the heavy-duty application period, CORE project administrators hosted a webinar to review the CORE FY 23-24 Heavy-Duty Implementation Manual (IM), which includes updates on new requirements, guideline modifications, voucher amounts, and detailed information on eligible equipment categories. These updates ensure stakeholders understand the requirements and procedures for participating in CORE.

Missed the Heavy-Duty Update webinar? Watch the recording and review the PowerPoint presentation:

For questions, contact  [email protected].

by Elishia Sharie

Future of Food Tour: Fresno ZE Showcase

Future of Food Flyer

The California Air Resources Board (CARB), CALSTART, and the Fresno State WET Center cordially invite you to participate in our next Future of Food Tour event, the Fresno ZE Showcase. This zero-emission vehicle and equipment showcase will bring together San Joaquin Valley farmers of all sizes, industry leaders, students, community partners and local stakeholders to learn more about the clean technology that is helping create a more sustainable farming future.

Event participants will have the chance to see electric vehicles and equipment in person, attend educational seminars and learn more about current California incentive funding opportunities. Please take advantage of the opportunity to share this FREE event with your community!

EVENT: Future of Food Tour, Fresno ZE Showcase

TIME: JUNE 7th, 2024 @ 9AM PT.

LOCATION: 2911 E Barstow Ave FRESNO, CA 93740

EVENT REGISTRATION LINK

by Elishia Sharie

CORE Project Heavy-Duty Webinar FY22/23

CORE Project Administrators hosted the first webinar for the FY22/23 heavy-duty off-road equipment funding lane. Watch the webinar recording now to learn more about programmatic updates on topics including current project funding status, small business set-aside updates, and voucher redemption timelines.

Watch Now

by Elishia Sharie

$182 Million In CORE Heavy-Duty Funding Available July 18, 2023

CORE FY 22-23 Heavy-Duty Funding Segment Opens for New Voucher Requests

Date: July 18, 2023

Time: 9:00 a.m. PST

How to Participate

The Fiscal Year 2022-23 Funding Plan for Clean Transportation Incentives allocated $182 million to the Clean Off-Road Equipment Voucher Incentive Program (CORE). CORE is intended to accelerate the adoption of cleaner, commercially available off-road technologies by providing a streamlined way for fleets ready to purchase specific zero-emission equipment. On July 18, 2023, CALSTART the CORE Project Administrators will open the FY 22-23 CORE funding for CORE eligible zero-emission heavy-duty off-road equipment vouchers.

The Clean Off-Road Equipment Voucher Incentive Project (CORE) is intended to accelerate deployment of advanced technology in the off-road sector by providing a streamlined way for fleets to access funding that helps offset the incremental cost of such technology. CORE targets commercial-ready products that have not yet achieved a significant market foothold. By promoting the purchase of clean technology over internal combustion options, the Project is expected to reduce emissions, particularly in areas that are most impacted; help build confidence in zero-emission technology in support of CARB strategies and subsequent regulatory efforts where possible; and provide other sector-wide benefits, such as technology transferability, reductions in advanced-technology component costs, and larger infrastructure investments.

CORE provides vouchers to California purchasers and lessees of zero-emission off-road equipment on a first-come, first-served basis, with increased incentives for equipment located in disadvantaged communities and small businesses.

Did you know that some CORE funded equipment can be used to meet regulatory compliance requirements? Recent CARB adopted proposed amendments to the In-Use Off-Road Diesel-Fueled Fleets Regulation include voluntary compliance flexibilities for fleets that incorporate zero-emission technology into their off-road fleets. For more information, visit https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/ordiesel, see section 2449.1(d) and (e) of the regulation for detailed information.

To participate in the CORE Project, owners/operators reach out to CORE-approved Dealers here: https://californiacore.org/dealerlist/

by Elishia Sharie

CORE FY 22-23 Heavy-Duty Workgroup 4/27/2023 Flyer

CORE FY 22-23 Heavy-Duty Implementation Workgroup Meeting 4.27.2023

This event has passed

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) held a Webinar work group meeting on the implementation of the Clean Off-Road Equipment Voucher Incentive Project (CORE), including policies approved by the Board in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-23 Funding Plan for Clean Transportation Incentives (Funding Plan). Each year, staff conducts additional public process following Board approval of the Funding Plan to define new mechanisms and criteria for the FY while completing annual updates to the Implementation Manual. In addition, staff take this opportunity to engage with stakeholders and establish protocol to successfully reopen the project in 2023. The agenda and PowerPoint presentation are available for review, please see below.

by Elishia Sharie

Public Workgroup Meeting for the Clean Off-Road Equipment Voucher Incentive Project (CORE) Heavy-Duty FY22-23

REGISTER TODAY!

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has allocated $273 million of Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-23 funding to the Clean Off-Road Equipment Voucher Incentive (CORE) Project, furthering the shift to zero-emission technology in diverse markets, industries, and applications using zero-emission off-road equipment. This year, CARB will continue to build on key efforts to ensure the project operates effectively at this proposed funding level. Staff will continue to engage with stakeholders through a public work group process to update implementation of the program in the following areas:

- Equity and small business considerations
- Funding categories
- Program eligibility metrics
- Zero-emission equipment refueling support

On February 9, 2023, CARB will hold a public workgroup to discuss CORE implementation. Topics will include an overview of the CORE Project, FY 2021-22 voucher funding outcomes, and FY 2022-23 Implementation and projected timeline.

Date: February 9, 2023Time: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. (PST)Location: Zoom

Agenda: Workgroup Agenda

PowerPoint Presentation: Workgroup PPT

by Elishia Sharie

La nueva categoría de financiamiento de CORE proporciona más de $27 millones de dólares para los profesionales de jardinería de pequeñas empresas

A partir del 7 de Noviembre de 2022, los profesionales de jardinería de pequeñas empresas que califiquen pueden comprar cortadoras de césped, sopladoras y otro equipo de jardinería cero emisiones con descuento a través de una nueva categoría de financiamiento que se ofrece a través del Proyecto de Incentivos con cupones para Equipo Todoterreno Limpio (Clean Off-Road Equipment Voucher Incentive Project, CORE) del Consejo de Recursos del Aire de California. Administrado por CALSTART, la nueva categoría de financiamiento del programa CORE tiene una asignación de más de $27 millones de dólares de fondos de cupones para servicios profesionales de jardinería operados por pequeñas empresas o propietarios únicos.

CALSTART administra el programa CORE y su nueva categoría de financiamiento para CARB. CARB anunció por primera vez esta nueva oportunidad de financiamiento en octubre.

“Los jardineros profesionales a menudo operan con márgenes de ganancias muy ajustados y pueden tener dificultades para actualizarse a una nueva tecnología”, dijo Jacob Whitson, gerente de programa de CALSTART, “Los nuevos incentivos de vales para jardinería de CORE les permitirán adoptar más fácilmente equipos profesionales de cero emisiones para sus negocios, mientras que a su vez insta a los fabricantes a expandir sus ofertas en este mercado”.

“Este nuevo equipo más limpio y silenciosocon amplia disponibilidad elimina la exposición a gases nocivos para los profesionales que operan estas máquinas y para cualquier persona cercana”, dijo Sydney Vergis, jefa de la División de Control de Fuentes Móviles de CARB. “Los fondos de los incentivos del proyecto CORE ayudarán a que más equipos de cero emisiones lleguen a las manos de los profesionales de la jardinería, al mismo tiempo que ayudan a California a cumplir sus objetivos climáticos y de aire limpio”.

Los compradores de equipos pueden solicitar cupones para los siguientes tipos de equipo de jardineríaa partir de hoy, 7 de noviembre de 2022:

Bordeadoras
Cortasetos
Desbrozadoras
Motosierras
Sierras de pértiga
Aspiradoras
Sopladoras de hojas portátiles
Sopladoras de hojas de mochila
Podadoras de empuje
Podadoras con operador a bordo/de pie
Baterías
Cargadores
Equipo de administración de energía

El sitio web de CORE presenta una lista de fabricantes de equipos de servicio de jardinería de cero emisiones aprobados y una lista de distribuidores autorizados en todo California y otros estados.

Para reunir los requisitos para los cupones, las pequeñas empresas deben ofrecer servicios de jardinería que ayuden a reparar, instalar o subcontratar el desarrollo de sistemas e instalaciones de jardinería para jardines públicos y privados y otras áreas que están diseñadas para mejorar estética, arquitectónica, hortícola o funcionalmente los terrenos dentro o alrededor de una estructura o una extensión o parcela de tierra. Además, la empresa debe ser de propiedad y operación independientes con una oficina principal que se encuentre en California. Finalmente, la empresa debe tener 100 empleados o menos y un promedio de ingresos brutos anuales de $15 millones de dólares o menos durante los tres años anteriores.

Para promover una amplia aplicación de los fondos CORE, se reservarán $10 millones de dólares de la asignación total de fondos durante 180 días naturales para garantizar que las microempresas tengan acceso a participar. Los $17 millones de dólares restantes se reservarán para pequeñas empresas.

Para enviar una solicitud para un cupón, los compradores de los vehículos deben seleccionar el equipo del catálogo y comunicarse con un distribuidor aprobado para enviar una solicitud de cupón. El concesionario enviará la solicitud de cupón al Centro de Procesamiento de cupones y el comprador del vehículo recibirá el incentivo CORE en el punto de venta.

Se han asignado otros $17.2 millones de dólares en fondos de cupones para equipo de trabajo pesado para las categorías de equipos agrícolas y de construcción respaldadas por CORE, que incluyen: cabezas tractoras terminales, unidades de refrigeración para transporte montadas en camiones y remolques, montacargas grandes y equipo de manejo de carga, unidades de energía móviles, equipos de apoyo en tierra para aeropuertos, embarcaciones comerciales portuarias y transportadores de vagones y locomotoras de cambio. La primera ronda de CORE dio como resultado más de 460 cupones para vehículos y equipos de suministro de vehículos eléctricos por un total de más de $62 millones de dólares, siendo las cabezas tractoras de terminal el tipo de equipo más solicitado. La segunda ronda de CORE se lanzó en julio de 2022 y tuvo una gran demanda. Actualmente, hay financiamiento disponible. Visite https://californiacore.org/ticker/ para obtener más información.

by Elishia Sharie

New CORE Funding Category Provides More Than $27 million for Small Business Landscape Professionals

Starting November 7, 2022, qualified small business landscape professionals can purchase discounted zero-emission lawn mowers, blowers and other landscape equipment through a new category of funding offered through the California Air Resources Board’s Clean Off-Road Equipment Voucher Incentive Project (CORE). Administered by CALSTART, the CORE program’s new funding category has an allocation of more than $27 million of voucher funds for professional landscape services operated by small businesses or sole proprietors.

CALSTART administers the CORE program and its new funding category for CARB. CARB first announced this new funding opportunity in October.

“Professional landscapers often operate on very tight profit margins and can find it challenging to upgrade to new technology,” said Jacob Whitson, CALSTART’s lead project manager, “CORE’s new landscape voucher incentives will allow them to more easily adopt zero-emission professional equipment for their businesses, while in turn encouraging manufacturers to expand their offerings in this market.”

“Now widely available, this new cleaner, quieter equipment eliminates exposure to harmful fumes for the professionals operating these machines, and for anyone nearby,” said Sydney Vergis, chief of CARB’s Mobile Source Control Division. “The CORE project incentive funds will help get more zero-emission equipment into the hands of landscape professionals — while also helping California meet its clean air and climate goals.”

Equipment purchasers can request vouchers for the following types of landscape equipment starting today, November 7, 2022:

Edgers
Hedgers
String trimmers
Chainsaws
Pole saws
Vacuums
Handheld leaf blowers
Backpack leaf blowers
Walk-behind mowers
Ride-on/Stand-ride mowers
Batteries
Chargers
Power management equipment

CORE’s website features both a list of approved zero-emission landscape service equipment manufacturers and a list of approved dealers throughout California and other states.

To be considered for voucher eligibility, small businesses must offer landscape services that help repair, install, or subcontract the development of landscape systems and facilities for public and private gardens and other areas that are designed to aesthetically, architecturally, horticulturally, or functionally improve the grounds within or surrounding a structure or a tract or plot of land. Additionally, the business must be independently owned and operated with a principal office located in California. Finally, the company must have 100 or fewer employees and average annual gross receipts of $15 million or less over the previous three years.

To promote broad application of CORE funding, $10 million of the total funding allocation will be set aside for 180 calendar days to ensure microbusinesses have access to participate. The remaining $17 million will be set aside for small businesses.

To submit a voucher request, vehicle purchasers must select eligible equipment from the equipment catalog and contact an approved dealer to submit a voucher request. The dealer will submit the voucher request to the Voucher Processing Center and the vehicle purchaser will receive the CORE incentive at the point of sale.

Another $125 million in heavy-duty voucher funds have been allocated for construction and agriculture equipment categories supported by CORE, including: terminal tractors, truck- and trailer-mounted transport refrigeration units, large forklifts and cargo-handling equipment, mobile power units, airport ground-support equipment, commercial harbor craft and railcar movers and switcher locomotives. The first round of CORE resulted in over 460 vouchers for vehicles and electric vehicle supply equipment totaling over $62 million, with terminal tractors being the most requested equipment type. The second round of CORE launched in July of 2022 and saw high demand. Currently, there is funding available. Visit https://californiacore.org/ticker/ to learn more.

by Elishia Sharie

Public Workgroup #3 Meeting - Professional Landscape Service Equipment

THIS EVENT HAS PASSED

The Fiscal Year 2021-22 Funding Plan for Clean Transportation Incentives allocated $194.95 million to the Clean Off-Road Equipment Voucher Incentive Project (CORE). CORE is intended to accelerate the adoption of cleaner, commercially available off-road technologies by providing a streamlined way for fleets ready to purchase specific zero-emission equipment. In addition to freight, this year CORE has expanded to include incentive funding for construction, agriculture, and marine zero-emission equipment. Included in the total funding allocation for CORE for Fiscal Year 2021-22 is $30 million from Senate Bill 170 directing CARB to establish a statewide program for incentivizing the purchase of zero-emission professional landscaping equipment for small-businesses and sole proprietors.

On August 29, 2022, California Air Resources Board (CARB) staff will hold a public workgroup meeting to present a draft “Attachment D - Professional Landscape Service Equipment – CORE Implementation Manual” for California small businesses or sole proprietor landscapers.

This meeting will be webcast via Zoom. To participate in the work group meeting, please register before 3:50 p.m. on August 28, 2022. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information to join the webinar either through a computer, digital device, or via conference line. Each meeting link in the confirmation email is unique so please do not share it with others. Every person who wishes to participate needs to register separately and use the unique link sent to them to access the webinar. Please note that there is no in-person attendance option for this meeting. This meeting will be recorded. A link to the recording will be available after the meeting date on the Low Carbon Transportation Investments and Air Quality Improvement Program website. The discussion material which will be posted no later than August 28, 2022.

Contact

If you have qustions or comments regarding this work group, please contact Mr. Eloy Florez, Air Pollution Specialist, at (951) 542-3166. If you require a special accommodation or need this document in an alternate format (i.e. Braille, large print) or another language, please contact CARB via email at [email protected] as soon as possible. TTY/TDD/Speech to Speech users may dial 711 for the California Relay Service.

Servicios de interpretación

El 29 de agosto de 2022, el personal del Consejo de Recursos del Aire de California (CARB) llevará a cabo una reunión pública para presentar un borrador del “Adjunto D, El Manual de Implementación” para equipos profesionales de paisajismo y empresas pequeñas de paisajistas operando en California. Adicionalmente, se busca comentarios para el desarrollo del Programa de incentivos para equipos todoterreno limpios (CORE, por sus siglas en ingles).

Esta junta se llevará a cabo en inglés con servicios de interpretación en español. Sus preguntas, comentarios, y respuestas se usarán para el desarrollo de este proyecto y serán traducidas para el beneficio de todos los participantes. Para más información favor de contactar a Sr. Eloy Florez, Especialista de Contaminación del Aire, al (951) 542-3166.

by Elishia Sharie

$125M in Incentives for Off-Road Zero-Emission Equipment Available through the California CORE Project

Vouchers for Tractors, Forklifts, Construction Equipment and More Help Reduce Emissions and Improve Air Quality

PASADENA, CA – The California Air Resources Board (CARB) opens the second round of its Clean Off-Road Equipment Voucher Incentive Project (CORE) today, providing point-of-sale discounts on off-road zero-emission equipment. The project is administered by CALSTART and has $125M in funding available, more than double the amount allocated to the project when it first launched in January 2020. Originally only for freight, in 2022, CORE is expanding to include funding for the commercial harbor craft and agriculture and construction sectors.

Participation in the project has been streamlined for ease of use, and key elements include:

Qualified participants will receive vouchers for point-of-sale discounts on off-road zero-emission equipment, up to a maximum of $500,000 per voucher
There is no requirement to “scrap,” sell, or retire existing equipment
Additional funding may be available for charging/refueling infrastructure, equipment operated in disadvantaged communities, and small businesses

“California is backing up its commitment to clean the air in overburdened communities and carry out the direction of the Governor’s Executive Order with a significant investment in zero-emission vehicles and sustainable transportation,” CARB Deputy Executive Officer Craig Segall said. “CORE is specifically designed to assist industry sectors that currently use off-road equipment and can help clean up the communities hardest hit by air pollution.”

“The streamlined process incorporates feedback from program participants and we are anticipating significant interest in this second round,” said Niki Okuk, deputy director at CALSTART. “The industry is continuing its transition to zero-emissions and CORE provides a clear market signal that helps bring new products to the market.”

CORE supports the following nine equipment categories:

On- and off-road terminal tractors
Truck- and trailer-mounted transport refrigeration units (TRUs)
Large forklifts and cargo-handling equipment
Airport ground-support equipment
Railcar movers and switcher locomotives
Mobile power units (MPUs) and mobile shore-power cable management systems
Construction equipment
Agricultural equipment
Commercial harbor craft

The first round of CORE resulted in over 460 vouchers for vehicles and electric vehicle supply equipment totaling over $62 million, with terminal tractors being the most requested equipment type.

CORE is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, improving public health and the environment, and providing meaningful benefits to the most disadvantaged communities, low-income communities, and low-income households.

About California Air Resources Board (CARB)

CARB’s mission is to promote and protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources through effective reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and considering effects on the economy. CARB is the lead agency for climate change programs and oversees all air pollution control efforts in California to attain and maintain health-based air quality standards.

About CALSTART

A national nonprofit consortium with offices in New York, Michigan, Colorado, California, Washington, D.C., central Europe and partners world-wide, CALSTART works with 300+ member company and agency innovators to build a prosperous, efficient and clean high-tech transportation industry. We knock down barriers to modernization and the adoption of clean vehicles. CALSTART is changing transportation for good.

by Elishia Sharie