According to Mike Gilroy, deputy air pollution control officer, the district has $125,000 in grant funds to give to residents to help them switch their heating systems from standard woodstoves to pellet-burning stoves, gas heaters or EPA-certified woodstoves.
The program was well-received in its first year in 2011, with the allotted $75,000 scooped up in a matter of days — much of it by residents of the San Lorenzo Valley.
This year, however, with the Smoke Sensitive Area designation, SLV residents are not eligible for subsidies to switch to EPA-certified woodstoves.
“We have to take this approach, because it’s the only way we can be assured to reduce emissions in the San Lorenzo Valley,” Gilroy said.
Residents who qualify based on income can apply Oct. 11 and 12 for extra financial help from the district to make the switch — up to $2,500, Gilroy said.
Others will be able to apply for the grant funds Oct. 16, he said.
“We’re going to create the ability for people who are income-qualified to qualify for funds first,” he said.
He added that some of the grant money would be set aside so that higher-income families would have a chance to participate.
Prospective applicants can learn about whether their income qualifies by calling 888-728-3637 or visiting the website URL below.
For information: http://www.mbuapcd.org/component/content/article/24-grants-incentives/271-2012-wood-stove-change-out-program.
You pretty much guaranteed the worst sources of smoke pollution--wood stoves--will continue to belch out particulate matter indefinitely, thanks for nothing.
So, are there going to be provisions for us who do have EPA stoves and wood under 20% moisture? I suppose we are going to have to pay for a representaitve to come to our homes inspect the stove and measure the moisture in the firewood.I doubt it.. Just a no burn days are more feasible... So, on Christmas, New Years and the coldest nights of the year. No burn days per MBAQ Board!
After this, they go after your generators and gasoline powered garden equipment and will hit us with enhanced smog requirements on our vehicles!
We just unleashed a power tripping beast in our neck of the woods. This should be a fun next few years with meetings only during business hours in Monterey..
And then there's that slippery slope thing that someone mentioned. It's going to create far more problems than it resolves.
An education program should have been the first step.
Where is the money going to go, then? Propane is $4 a gallon and pellets aren't much cheaper.
If the low income folks have no access to a subsidized wood burner stove, then it won't happen!
An EPA stove is about $3000 uninstalled and add a about another $2000 for the double wall stainless piping required for the EPA certification. With installation and disposal of the old stove people are looking at about $5000 to $6000!
Plus, these idiots in Monterey get to make all our decisions for us...wonderful.
I believe the idea is that they wish to eliminate wood stoves entirely and have us switch to propane and pellet stoves.