SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - The Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District (Sac Metro Air District) has successfully obtained millions of dollars through the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) Cap-and-Trade program for fiscal year 2018/2019, which will be used to meet the goals of AB617, the Community Air Protection Plan. This plan seeks to reduce emissions in low-income, disadvantaged communities, whose residents are disproportionally affected by air pollution.

The Sac Metro Air District pioneered mobile source incentive programs, which create innovative and creative approaches for deployment of lower-emitting vehicle and equipment technologies and are now duplicated throughout the United States. “With this latest round of funding, the District will use its expertise to build upon its successes identifying and tailoring programs that assist businesses, government agencies, nonprofits, schools and other entities with zero emission incentive projects,” said Sacramento County Supervisor and California Air Resources Board member Phil Serna who also serves on the District’s Board.

This money will supplement current funding that protects the health of regional residents by reducing air pollution emissions and greenhouse gases through incentive programs.

“With the help of our regional partners, and under the leadership of Supervisor Serna who represents us on the CARB Board, the District has been successful in advocating for Cap-and-Trade funds for the Sacramento region,” said District Board Chair and City of Sacramento Vice-Mayor Eric Guerra. “Projects that were implemented with Cap-and-Trade money such as electric school buses and Our Community CarShare reduce emissions, protect public health and expand the growing number of clean mobility options in the region, particularly for underserved communities.”

The over $14 million dollars that will be administered by the Sac Metro Air District will result in hundreds of projects, which will protect public health and improve regional air quality by reducing emissions in the Sacramento region. The District has also asked CARB to add flexibility to its existing program guidelines in an effort to expand funding opportunities to those that do not currently qualify.

“It is important to me that we put these funds to good use,” said District Board Vice-Chair and Sacramento County Supervisor Sue Frost. “By working with CARB to expand the guidelines, we can aid businesses in taking on the costly burden of upgrading equipment that is less harmful to our air quality.”