Title
El Dorado County Air Quality Management District (AQMD) recommending the Board, acting as the Board of Directors of the El Dorado County Air Quality Management District, approve AQMD's participation in the Driving Clean Assistance Program in Fiscal Year 2026-27 and authorize the Air Pollution Control Officer to execute a Memorandum of Understanding between AQMD and the Community Housing Development Corporation, which would provide up to $43,000 in funding to AQMD to perform outreach programs and to act as a local liaison for the program.
FUNDING: Community Housing Development Corporation (State).
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The Driving Clean Assistance Program (DCAP), in partnership with the California Air Resources Board (CARB), provides incentives statewide in California to assist low-income and disadvantaged communities in purchasing clean air vehicles. Administered by the Community Housing Development Corporation (CHDC), DCAP aligns with CHDC’s commitment to grassroots community development, ensuring equitable access to affordable housing and services. Through targeted support, DCAP empowers individuals with limited credit and financial challenges to secure reliable transportation, fostering financial stability and environmental responsibility.
The Community Housing Development Corporation’s DCAP, funded by CARB, helps income-qualified Californians access clean air vehicles and charging solutions. Eligible participants can receive up to $10,000 in incentives to purchase or lease a new or used electric vehicle (EV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV), or fuel cell vehicle (FCEV) if they retire an older, high-emission vehicle through the Scrap & Replace option. Those not scrapping a vehicle may receive up to $7,000. An additional $2,000 is available to help purchase Level 2 home charging equipment or to obtain a prepaid charging card for public charging. DCAP also offers affordable financing-loans up to $45,000 with interest rates capped at 8%-through CHDC’s trusted lender network, designed to support applicants with limited or no credit history.
Representatives from the CHDC contacted AQMD management in late 2024 inquiring whether AQMD would be interested in providing outreach and to act as a local liaison for the Driving Clean Assistance Program. Since AQMD already provides outreach for its in-house incentive and grant programs, staff was interested in adding the DCAP to its outreach efforts in order to provide more opportunities for residents of El Dorado County to decrease local emissions and improve local air quality. The Board approved AQMD's participation in this program in FY 2025-26 on April 29, 2025.
This new proposed MOU for FY 2026-27 provides up to $43,000 in funding to AQMD to perform this outreach effort. AQMD staff would advertise and provide outreach for the DCAP program as well as act as a liaison, providing initial assistance to interested low-income applicants in El Dorado County before handing them off to CHDC staff for application completion and review. All further program administration would be performed by CHDC staff.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose not to approve AQMD's participation in the DCAP program, in which case AQMD will continue to promote and administer only its local incentive and grant programs.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
April 29, 2025 - Legistar 25-0078 - Board approved AQMD's participation in the Driving Clean Assistance Program for FY2025/26.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
N/A
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
No General Fund or AQMD local funding impact - all AQMD activity related to advertising, promotion and outreach for the Driving Clean Assistance Program would be funded by this MOU.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Clerk of the Board shall provide a Minute Order to AQMD
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Rania Serieh, Air Pollution Control Officer