Tuolumne County Offering Incentives To Replace Older Wood Stoves

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Sonora, CA — Tuolumne County is implementing a new $135,000 pilot program that will provide vouchers to help offset the costs of replacing old wood burning stoves and fireplaces.

The funding is via California Climate Investments, a state program that distributes money from cap-and-trade dollars collected. The state’s cap-and-trade program requires higher polluting companies to purchase carbon offset credits and the funding raised goes to programs that reduce carbon emissions. In Tuolumne County, basic vouchers in the amount of $1,000 are available to help offset costs and enhanced vouchers up to $3,500 are available for those that meet certain income requirements.

Air Pollution Control Officer Gary Stockel says wood stoves that were installed prior to 1988 do not comply with the particulate emission standards and therefore qualify for the program. For more details you can click here.

The cost to replace a wood stove can exceed $3,500, depending on the model. There is also a $345 permit fee in Tuolumne County, which the voucher can help cover.