When it comes to the environmental impact of food trucks, one might be surprised by the amount of carbon dioxide released. A single food truck running on a gas-powered generator for eight hours is equivalent to burning 83 pounds of coal. This significant emission contributes to climate change and dirties the air in Colorado. Now, imagine multiplying this by the 10 food trucks that typically set up at a farmers market on a summer weekend in metro Denver. An event aimed at promoting sustainability might actually be causing more harm than good.

Expensive Air Pollution Solutions

Installing equipment to eliminate the air pollution created by gas generators is costly. That's why Colorado's Regional Air Quality Council has rolled out a new program called "Engines Off for Food Trucks." This program will provide up to $20,000 in grants to help food truck owners purchase power systems that run on electricity to operate their refrigerators, coffee bean grinders, griddles, and microwaves. It is one of two new programs aimed at reducing air pollution along the Front Range.

The Cafe Alejandro Story

Alex Maloof, the owner of the Cafe Alejandro coffee truck in Boulder, received one of the first grants to buy a $16,000 Joule Case battery. When he started the food truck 15 months ago, he couldn't afford the battery, so he had to use a gas generator. "I hated it every single day, every single time I used it," he said. "It was a noisy thing. A gaseous, terrible thing." But after receiving the grant, Maloof now charges his battery pack overnight and runs his equipment off the battery the next day. His customers can enjoy their Mexican mochas without the noise and fumes of a loud engine.The Regional Air Quality Council estimates that Cafe Alejandro will reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 23,400 pounds over the next year. The electrical system will also reduce volatile organic compound emissions by 153 pounds and nitrogen oxides emissions by 105 pounds per year. "By leveling up the technology, I could have the same business, but remove one of the negative things about it - the generator," Maloof said. "I want to be the poster boy for the Engines Off program."

Expanding the Program

In addition to helping food trucks, the Engines Off program will also work with schools to encourage parents to turn off their cars while waiting in pick-up and drop-off lanes. It will also coordinate with local governments to launch anti-idling campaigns. This shows the council's commitment to reducing air pollution in various aspects.The Regional Air Quality Council also recently announced another new grant program called "Clean Auto Repair." This program provides free repairs for catalytic converters, oxygen sensors, fuel line leaks, and other malfunctions that lead to increased emissions for people who drive old cars that cannot pass emissions inspections. Low-income people whose cars fail emissions inspections can apply for hardship waivers.The air quality council ran a smaller test and found that the cars repaired through this program reduced nitrogen oxides by 94% by getting the needed repairs. Jacob LaBure, the program coordinator, said, "Colorado is all-in for EV conversion, but that transition will take a generation. In the meantime, we need to minimize emissions from older gas and diesel cars as much as possible. This program is repairing some of the highest polluting passenger vehicles on the roads, improving air quality and protecting the health of those around high polluting cars."

Funding and Availability

The two new grant programs are funded through federal highway dollars and distributed through the Colorado Department of Transportation and the Denver Regional Council of Governments. Grants are available through 2027 for residents in Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson counties. Applications can be found online at raqc.org/our-programs.While these programs alone are not enough to solve the Front Range's air pollution problem, environmentalists believe every little step counts. That's why they are also pushing for increased use of electric lawn and garden equipment and electric vehicles. The state has until 2027 to lower its ground level ozone pollution to acceptable federal standards, and so far, it is falling short."We're looking into new, creative ways to reduce emissions, and while these two programs won't fix the problem alone, of course, they are another new avenue we're pursuing because we see the potential for real emissions reductions, and the initial numbers are showing great results," Sabados said.