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Jan 24, 2008

$500,000 in grants to help three companies demonstrate clean air

SACRAMENTO - Today the California Air Resources Board approved
nearly $500,000 in grants to bolster the commercialization of
three cutting-edge clean air technologies.

The projects, funded under the ARB's Innovative Clean Air
Technologies program, include demonstrations of a solar water
heating system, a mobile greenhouse gas measurement platform and
an advanced particulate filter.


"The leap from idea to commercialization is often the biggest
roadblock," said ARB Chairman Mary D. Nichols. "These grants
offer a chance to demonstrate budding new technologies and
underscore California's entrepreneurial spirit in finding
forward-thinking solutions to air quality challenges."

Three projects were selected for their potential to support ARB
programs and initiatives, and facilitate emission reductions in
California:

* Davis Energy Group (Davis, Calif.) will receive $235,000
to demonstrate its SunCache residential solar water heating
system that is expected to cost less than half as much as
current systems while reducing smog-forming and climate change
emissions;
* Los Gatos Research (Mountain View, Calif.) will receive
$77,996 to demonstrate in a mobile laboratory their
state-of-the-art laser-based instruments for real-time
measurements of greenhouse gases and other pollutants; and
* GEO2 (Woburn, Mass.) will receive $185,000 to apply
advanced particulate filter systems on large off-road diesel
engines and small hand-held engines, such as those used in lawn
and garden applications, with the potential to cut the cost of
filter use.

At least 50 percent of a project's total cost must come from
matching funds;10 percent must be committed by the grantee.
Criteria for project selection include: the potential air
quality benefit, readiness for commercialization in California,
project quality and synchronicity with ARB's existing programs.

ARB staff review proposals looking for technologies and projects
that promote emission reductions in California by introducing a
new prevention or control technology, augmenting the degree of
control provided by an existing technology, reducing the cost or
other practical impediment, or increasing scope of application.
Proposals that meet these and other criteria are then
recommended to the Board for its approval.

Since its inception in 1993, the Innovative Clean Air
Technologies program has provided 60 grants, for a total of $12
million, including today's grants. Any new, technically
challenging technology or application that supports ARB's
programs and goals, while benefiting the state's economy, may be
considered for a grant.

Examples of particularly successful past demonstration projects
include:

* An electric school bus with integrated fast-charge
capability; $140,000 granted to the Sacramento Municipal Utility
District in 2001;
* Solar crop drying system for farm products such as nuts,
prunes and herbs; $150,000 granted to Conserval Engineering in
2000; and
* Electric diesel particulate filter for in-use diesel
engines; $71,400 granted to Cleaire Advanced Emission Controls.


For more information about the Innovative Clean Air Technologies
program, and projects it supports, see:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/research/icat/icat.htm

The Air Resources Board is a department of the California
Environmental Protection Agency. ARB's mission is to promote and
protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources through
effective reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and
considering effects on the economy. The ARB oversees all air
pollution control efforts in California to attain and maintain
health based air quality standards.

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