Air Pollution Control District Incentivizes Switch-Over to Clean Machines in Santa Maria
Jarrod Zinn
SANTA MARIA, Calif. – Electric lawn mowers and more generated a buzz in Santa Maria on Wednesday.
The Air Pollution Control District (APCD) of Santa Barbara County held a clean machine demonstration at Allan Hancock College.
This is part of a state effort to urge folks in the agriculture industry to go electric.
“They can come today try out the equipment and see which equipment that they like talk to different vendors,” says Lyz Bantilan, Santa Barbara County APCD. “Then they can talk to the agencies that are here about funding opportunities.”
The APCD is encouraging folks to switch-over from gas and diesel powered industrial equipment to electric.
The state of California aims to be running on 100% clean electricity by 2045, with 60% achieved by 2030.
But the agricultural industry faces unique challenges, chiefly up-front cost.
“Ag is starting to get some pressure on using newer emission technology to further air quality,” says Jim Biltz, representative of Warrior Machinery based in Rialto.
The APCD is offering grants from $10,000 to $250,000 for “eligible clean air projects across Santa Barbara county.”
“With the funding opportunities that we have available today, people can make that switch to cleaner equipment with having other agencies help them pay for it,” says Bantilan.
The professional consumers in attendance have standards for what they’re looking for in their equipment that are evolving as much as the technology is itself.
“You’re buying an electric alternative that produces no emissions for less money than you can buy a diesel alternative,” says Biltz.
This year’s event had higher attendance than last year, indicating more interest in switching to electric machinery.
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