The Port of Los Angeles, in an ongoing effort
to improve the air and water quality in and around the San Pedro Bay, has made
additional funding available for its Marina Engine Exchange Program, which
incentivizes boat owners to replace their older, high-polluting outboard motors
with California Air Resources Board (CARB)-certified, ultra-low emission-rated
engines of up to 10 horsepower.
The port is offering boat owners 75 percent
of the total cost, up to $2,000, to replace old outboard motors with new
motors, which includes purchase price, labor for replacement and recycling of
the old motor. The new motors meet CARB’s most recent exhaust emission
standards and produce 65 percent fewer emissions than 2001 model year engines.
In order to qualify, an applicant’s boat must
have an operational, two-stroke outboard motor no greater than 10 horsepower
and be located in a Port of Los Angeles marina. Upon engine replacement, the
boat must remain in a Port of Los Angeles marina for at least a year.
Since first offering this program in 2012, the
port says that nearly 30 outboard motors have received funding, resulting in
the reduction of about 3,300 pounds of hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen
annually.
For more information or to obtain an
application form, email the Marina Engine Exchange Program at engineexchange@portla.org
or call (310) 732-0312. Application deadline is July 31, 2013, or until
available funds have been distributed.
