California Air Resources Board proposes $25M to replace or retrofit older diesel trucks
As we've discussed here before, one of the issues with cutting emissions - whether they are greenhouse or noxious gases - is the number of older vehicles still on the road. The number of new cleaner vehicles added every year is dwarfed by the number of existing vehicles which may stay on the road for 15-20 years or more. Getting a rapid reduction in emissions would be helped a lot if all those old vehicles could be retired. The California Air Resources Board has proposed spending up to $25 million to help accelerate this process. The agency wants to use the money to either replace or retrofit nearly 800 trucks operating in Southern California, the Central Valley and the San Francisco Bay area. The focus is on cleaning up trucks that are moving goods from ports to other areas of the state where the emissions from those trucks are affecting a large area.
[Source: California Air Resources Board, via Green Car Congress]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dad 11:40AM (1/05/2008)
“$25 million to help accelerate this process. The agency wants to use the money to either replace or retrofit nearly 800 trucks operating in Southern California”
Okay, the cost per truck is 31K? Am I missing something?
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Wildgoosechase 3:59PM (1/06/2008)
$31 k per truck, did you forget that this is California? At least half the money will go to "aministrative costs" to run the program. Union mechanics will perform the work for twice the wages that a non-union mechanic would get. Then the union gives a nice political contribution to the politician driving the program.
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Volodymyr 8:21PM (1/07/2008)
I just wonder if any one anytime thought about this:
Insurance companies are big obstacle to the green world. If somehow you've got tickets you'll need old car, since for new one the insurance premium will be prohibitive.
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frank moreno 6:48PM (1/08/2008)
Your efforts, albeit well meaning are wasteful. Do you know that although non-environmental friendly vehicles will be on the road for another 15-20 years most of the older vehicles will be owned by lower and midlle-lower income residents of this state. Additionally, a good majority will be limited English speaking Hispanics who are do-it-yourselfers when it comes to oil changing and oil filter replacing. Heavy trucks constitute 20% of the total transportation greenhouse gasses while automobile constitute 74%. Should'nt we be looking at more cost effective ways to spend this money? Shoul,nt there be a bi-lingual program to reach non-English speakers. We at the State of California Mexican American Chamber of Commerce wouldlike to see a more concentrated approach within our Hispanic communities which are the most prone to pollute the environment. We have begun such a program.
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