Lower Emissions Equipment at Seaports and Intermodal Yards Program.

Existing law, upon the appropriation of funds by the Legislature, requires the State Air Resources Board to allocate funds on a competitive basis for projects that are shown to achieve the greatest emission reductions from each emission source identified, as specified, from activities related to the movement of freight along California's trade corridors, commencing at the state's airports, seaports, and land ports of entry. This bill would, until January 1, 2032, enact the Lower Emissions Equipment at Seaports and Intermodal Yards Program. The program would be administered by the state board and would require the state board to approve as covered equipment applicable cargo handling equipment that will reduce cumulative emissions at seaports and intermodal yards in the state. The bill would require a covered equipment application to be approved by the state board if the applicant demonstrates that the total surplus emissions from covered equipment are lower cumulative emissions than the emissions resulting from compliance with the current applicable cargo handling equipment statute, regulation, or rule, as determined by the state board pursuant to the methodology established by the bill, or that the covered equipment meets the standards and definitions for zero emissions set forth under a specified European Union regulation. The bill would require the state board to establish and certify the useful lifespan of each item of covered equipment, and to certify cargo handling equipment as covered equipment if the applicant seller, reseller, distributor, or manufacturer of the cargo handling equipment demonstrates to the state board that the equipment satisfies specified criteria. The bill would require the state board to establish an application fee, as specified, and would require the application fees to be deposited in the Air Pollution Control Fund and made available to the state board upon appropriation by the Legislature. The bill would require a covered equipment application to be provided to the state board for approval before December 31, 2025. The bill would require the state board, by January 1, 2027, and January 1, 2031, to evaluate the impact of the program on state and local clean air efforts to meet state and local clean air goals and to hold at least one public workshop before completing the evaluation.