Santa Barbara APCD Clean Air Grant: Save Up to 80% on EV Charging Projects

Properties in California’s Santa Barbara County can apply to receive anywhere between $10,000 and $250,000 toward an eligible EV charging installation.

Installing electric vehicle (EV) chargers on your property can offer a variety of benefits, especially when financial incentives are available to help offset expenses. Public, private, and nonprofit entities in Santa Barbara County are now able to apply for a Clean Air Grant to support their EV charging projects.

The Santa Barbara Air Pollution Control District (APCD) is in charge of awarding the funds, which total $3 million. Applications will be accepted from July 28 through September 5, 2025 only, so now is the time to determine your eligibility for this highly competitive program.

About the Santa Barbara APCD Clean Air Grant Program

The Clean Air Grant program is focused on Level 2 and DC Fast Chargers and their associated equipment.

While public, private, and nonprofit entities are eligible for funding, a competitive ranking process will be used to assess applications. The highest funds will be given to entities deemed "sensitive receptors,” which include schools, hospitals, and retirement homes.

The program also gives priority to publicly accessible charger installations, as well as those located in low-income and disadvantaged communities or sited at multi-unit dwellings.

Awards are limited to one infrastructure grant per corporate entity or tax ID. If you have an interest in placing equipment at multiple sites but within a single census tract, you can include all that equipment in a single project application.

Funding Structure

While the pool of available funds totals $3 million, individual grant amounts are at the discretion of the APCD and will range between $10,000 and $250,000.

The funds are estimated to cover 60–80% of project costs and are “stackable” (combined) with other incentive programs for which you might be eligible. It’s important to note that you'll need to finance the project yourself upfront and then receive a reimbursement.

Eligibility Requirements

Part of the challenge of securing funding for EV charging infrastructure is simply understanding the various program eligibility requirements. Below is a summary of the Clean Air Grant program’s criteria, which PowerFlex’s incentive experts would be happy to discuss with you in further detail.

Project & Equipment Eligibility

In terms of equipment, Level 2 and DC Fast Chargers qualify for the program as long as they adhere to certain requirements. For example, they must comply with the California Type Evaluation Program (CTEP), which mandates that chargers clearly display billing rates to drivers. Chargers must also carry at least a one-year warranty.

As far as project eligibility, the program stipulates your EV charging installation must be in Santa Barbara County. (Companies headquartered outside the area but whose projects are located within the county can still apply).

You'll also have to commit to the required timeline. Santa Barbara APCD approves projects only if they can be installed, operational, and inspected by the District within 180 days. The timeline starts with the signing of the grant agreement.

Additionally, your project will need to meet Carl Moyer program guidelines provided by the California Air Resources Board. While there are a variety of components to this program, they involve incentivizing the purchase of equipment that will progress toward California's air quality goals.

Other requirements include:

  • All labor must be at the prevailing wage
  • Projects must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
  • Grantees must operate and maintain the equipment for at least 3 years
  • All infrastructure must exceed applicable rules and regulations, like the California CALGreen Building Code

Publicly Accessible & Multi-Unit Requirements

In order for your project to receive priority consideration for public accessibility, chargers must be usable by the general public 24 hours a day. A station that has restricted access must still demonstrate it is publicly accessible during the facility's regular business hours, even if the facility is gated or otherwise restricted.

Similarly, if you want to receive preferred ranking as a multi-unit dwelling, your chargers must be accessible to all residents, not just a subset of them.

PowerFlex Helps You Secure Santa Barbara APCD Funds

PowerFlex has worked with the County of Santa Barbara in the past and is trusted by companies with large-scale charging needs in California like DHL. We’ve secured $40 million in incentives for customers to date and manage a network of 40,000+ chargers across the United States.

If you’re considering an EV charging project that might be eligible for the Santa Barbara APCD Clean Air Grant, now is the time to act. Our team will guide you through the application process as well as handle all aspects of installation from design to ongoing asset management.

Funding is limited and the program ends soon, so connect with a PowerFlex incentives expert today and make the most of this opportunity before it’s gone.