Wednesday, November 16, 2011 10:45 AM
More state rebates are available for owners of Class 8, on-road trucks with sleeper berths who installed approved idle reduction devices after Jan. 1, 2009.
The N.C. Division of Air Quality Auxiliary Power Unit (APU)/Idle Reduction Devices Rebate Program began accepting applications on Oct. 24 for the additional $273,000 in stimulus money available for the rebates. Environmental Specialist Anne S. Galamb, who is overseeing the program, said she had received 10 applications as of Nov. 15.
"Some of them asked for multiple rebates," she said. Companies are allowed up to six APU/Idle Reduction Devices Rebates, though priority is given to companies or individuals who have not already received one.
Galamb said she had also received a lot of calls from people interested in the program. She is allowing truckers to reserve rebates for two weeks so they have time to inquire about a certain potential APU for their truck and then install it. So far, Galamb said five have been reserved.
Funds – which are being provided through a United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant – are available on a first-come, first-served basis as long as they last or until the Sept. 30, 2012 deadline for the program.
Requirements for the rebate funds have changed slightly since the program was offered before. While trucks with fuel-operated auxiliary heaters are eligible, she said trucks with fuel-operated auxiliary power units are not.
"One reason is for idling violations," she said. North Carolina is one of more than 20 states to set idle-reduction rules for heavy-duty vehicles in an effort to reduce air pollution, protect public health and meet more stringent federal air quality standards.
The rule, which went into effect in July of 2010, prohibits truckers from idling their vehicles more than five consecutive minutes in any 60-minute period except for instances dealing with safety, health and economic concerns. It applies to on-road gasoline and diesel-powered motor vehicles with a loaded weight greater than 10,000 pounds.
Truckers, shipping companies and other stakeholders in the trucking industry were allowed to give input on the rule, which was adopted by the state Environmental Management Commission.
Rebate amounts are as follows:
Battery-Operated APU - $2,500;
Fuel-Operated Heater - $1,000 or 50 percent of unit plus installation, whichever is less;
Battery-Operated Air Conditioning - $2,500 or 50 percent of unit plus installation, whichever is less;
Thermal Storage Systems - $2,500 or 50 percent of unit plus installation, whichever is less.
All idle reduction units must be approved by the EPA or California Air Resource Board. Galamb will help companies and independent truck owners determine which units qualify for a rebate.
When the rebates were first offered with funding from stimulus money, she said 160 were awarded. There was also an additional rebate offered to truckers or companies purchasing 2010 trucks as an incentive for them to get rid of the older, less fuel-efficient trucks.
A total of $391,000 in rebates was awarded at that time.
Applications for the APU/Idle Reduction Device Rebate program are available online at http://daq.state.nc.us/motor/Rebates/.
Galamb will answer questions about the application and can be reached at 919-707-8423 or by email at anne.galamb@ncdenr.gov. Her mailing address is: Anne S. Galamb, NCDENR, Division of Air Quality, 1641 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, N.C. 27699-1641.
