SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The California Air Resources Board (CARB) will award AB 118 Advanced Technology Demonstration Project funding to Kings Canyon Unified School District and the San Diego Air Pollution Control District (APCD).

The purpose of Advanced Technology Demonstration Projects is to help accelerate the next generation of advanced technology vehicles, equipment or emission controls that are not yet commercialized, according to CARB. Local air districts and other public agencies are eligible to apply for these projects to demonstrate promising technologies to reduce emissions in their regions.

Kings Canyon Unified School District, based in Reedley, Calif., will receive $496,696 for a central valley hybrid-electric school bus demonstration project.

The funding will enable the school district to receive two additional Trans Tech bus all-electric eTrans school buses. 

“Our project will involve the deployment of two additional eTrans school buses and use of our existing eTrans, plus our new IC Bus hybrids to track performance data while loaning several of these new technology school buses out for trial operations in other public school districts throughout the San Joaquin Valley,” Director of Transportation John Clements said.

District officials anticipate that the two eTrans units will arrive by Sept. 1.

The San Diego ACPD will receive $503,304 for an economical electric school bus project.

For more information about the AB 118 Advanced Technology Demonstration Projects, see CARB’s Air Quality Improvement Program fiscal year 2011-12 funding plan, or contact Earl Landberg at (916) 323-1384 or elandber@arb.ca.gov.