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State and Federal Incentives and Laws

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Colorado

Idle Reduction Requirement - Denver

Idling of any vehicle for more than five minutes in any one-hour period is prohibited within the city and county of Denver. Exemptions apply for the following: when ambient outside air temperatures have been less than 20 degrees Fahrenheit for the previous 24 hours; current ambient outside air temperature are less than 10 degrees Fahrenheit. This requirement does not apply to emergency vehicles, vehicles engaged in traffic operations, vehicles being serviced, vehicles that must idle to operate auxiliary equipment, and vehicles that are idle due to traffic congestion. (Reference Revised Municipal Code, City and County of Denver, Section 4-43)

Idle Reduction Requirement - Aspen

Idling of any vehicle for more than five minutes within any one-hour period is prohibited in the City of Aspen. Exemptions apply for safety reasons and to maintain specified engine temperatures. Violators are subject to a penalty of up to $1,000 and/or one year imprisonment. (Reference City of Aspen Municipal Code 13.08.110)

Truck Emissions Reduction and Fuel Efficiency Grants

The Green Truck Grant Program was established by the Colorado Governor's Energy Office to provide grants to owners of commercial trucks used in interstate commerce to reduce emissions and energy usage. Reimbursements of up to 25% of overall costs may be made to qualified recipients who purchase or install fuel-efficient technologies and emission-control devices approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) SmartWay Transport Partnership, or any successor program, to reduce fuel consumption and emissions of greenhouse gases and other harmful air pollutants from trucks. Individual recipients may not receive more than $50,000, and the total of all reimbursements under this program may not exceed $500,000 per fiscal year.

Additionally, grants of up to $5,000 per qualified recipient are available for retiring and scrapping 1989 or older model year trucks that have been documented to have been in use for at least 10,000 miles during the calendar year preceding the recipient's grant application, and which are donated to an established auto parts or scrap metal recycler that meets state and U.S. EPA recycling requirements. The total of all reimbursements under this program may not exceed $250,000 per fiscal year. (Reference House Bill 1298, 2009, and Colorado Revised Statutes 42-1-301 to 42-1-305)

Idle Reduction Requirement - Arapahoe County

The Arapahoe County Engine Idling Policy applies to all local government vehicles and requires that drivers do not allow any engine to idle for more than one minute (or 30 seconds for off-road equipment) at any time or for more than five minutes in any one-hour period. This requirement does not apply to vehicles for which idling is necessary, including official traffic control devices or signals, traffic or other required stops, safety or health, engine testing, or at the direction of law enforcement personnel. (Reference Arapahoe County Resolution 090-502, 2009)