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The Carl Moyer Memorial Air Quality Standards Attainment Program is a voluntary incentive- based grant program to reduce emissions from trucks, off-road equipment, marine vessels, locomotives, and currently unregulated engines through diesel retrofits as defined under broad definition of retrofit (the five R’s). While the program was originally created in 1998 to reduce NOx emissions, projects that reduce PM and reactive organic gas emissions (ROG) are also eligible for funding.

The program is currently funded at approximately $140 million per year through state general revenues, vehicle registration fees, tire fees and other sources. The California Air Resources Board (ARB) establishes the program’s rules and guidelines, while the state’s regional air quality management districts (AQMDs) administer the program in their area and distribute the funds. While each regional AQMD can establish additional funding requirements to meet specific priorities, all are required to use a “cost-effectiveness formula” to rank projects. This formula includes PM, NOx, and ROG emissions reductions. 

The majority of projects that have been successfully funded and implemented through the Carl Moyer program include the installation of emissions control retrofit devices on government-owned fleets of on-highway vehicles, including trucks and buses. Additional projects include repowering of agriculture pumps, construction equipment and marine vessels, as well as subsidizing the purchase of natural gas vehicles. During its first six years, the Moyer Program provided $154 million to reduce emissions from approximately 7,000 diesel engines. A total of 18 tons per day reduction of NOx was achieved during this period at an impressive cost-effectiveness of $3,000 per ton. In addition, PM emissions were reduced by 1 ton per day.14 Additional information about the Carl Moyer Program can be found at: www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/moyer/moyer.htm.