Santa Barbara APCD board approves participation in state heat-response grant program

The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District board voted unanimously March 19 to authorize the district to participate in the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) Climate Heat Impact Response Program (CHRP), delegate authority to the air pollution control officer to execute CHRP grant agreements, and allocate $400,000 from the district’s clean air fund for fiscal year 2026–27.

The action authorizes the district to pursue CHRP funding awards and permit the air pollution control officer to sign grant agreements substantially similar to the CARB sample agreement, subject to review by district counsel, the auditor-controller and risk management. The CHRP program was created after statewide extreme heat events and is funded through allocations established under Assembly Bill 205 to support cleaner backup assets and other mitigation projects.

Mike McCay, an air quality specialist who led the presentation, told the board that CARB and district staff reconciled local emissions data and that the district’s allocation was adjusted upward by about $415,000. McCay said the district intends to combine the CARB allocation with the board’s $400,000 contribution, "bringing the total funding for this program to more than $890,000," and that eligible projects will include replacement of old diesel backup generators as well as any projects eligible under Carl Moyer and Community Air Protection guidelines.

Directors questioned staff about how the district will prioritize projects, whether units near housing will be prioritized, and what typical replacement costs might be. Staff said the district’s interactive permitted facilities map includes address-level information to help prioritize replacements near residences and disadvantaged communities, and noted that large replacement projects can be costly (for example, a previously proposed hydrogen fuel-cell generator project exceeded $400,000). Staff also said retrofits such as particulate filters or control devices could be considered to extend benefits to more sources when full replacement is not feasible.

A board member moved to approve staff recommendations A, B and C; the motion was seconded by Director Lee and passed unanimously in a roll call vote.

Next steps described by staff include developing program policies and procedures, launching outreach coincident with the district’s late-summer clean air grant round, and returning with implementation details and potential project proposals.