21.28.040 Voluntary removal, replacement, repair, and bounty program

21.28.040 Voluntary removal, replacement, repair, and bounty program.

This section was recently amended by Ordinance 2023-54, codified in November 2023.

The Fairbanks North Star Borough shall, to the extent funds are available and appropriated by the Assembly, offer a voluntary removal, replacement, repair, and bounty program to help offset the costs of removing, replacing or repairing a solid fuel burning appliance (SFBA). This program shall be subject to the following eligibility requirements, conditions, and criteria:

1. Application. An application approved by the division and signed by all property owner(s) must be submitted along with any documentation required by the division.

2. Priority Ranking. Applications may be prioritized and may be limited by the division in its discretion based on geographical location, the overall air quality benefit and the type of SFBA being removed, replaced or repaired.

3. Eligibility. The program is limited to properties within the nonattainment area in which a qualifying SFBA is installed. An SFBA that was purchased with federal funds is not eligible for repair, replacement, removal, or bounty programs. If an application is approved for the program, the applicant will be given up to 90 days to meet all of the requirements. Applicants must have no delinquent property tax or penalty or interest owing at the time of application and at completion of the program requirements.

4. Additional Requirements. In addition to the general requirements set forth in this section, applicants must also meet the following requirements:

a. For the removal, replacement, repair, and bounty programs:

i. Fully comply with the inspection process required by the division that shall ensure that the existence of the qualifying appliance to be removed, replaced or repaired is properly documented.

ii. Removal of appliance, if applicable.

iii. Delivery of appliance to an authorized decommission station, if applicable.

iv. Certificate of destruction delivered to the division, if applicable.

v. Comply with all applicable local, state, and federal regulations, and meet all requirements of the funding source.

b. Additional requirements that apply to the removal, replacement, and repair programs:

i. Final installation of a qualified appliance visually verified, if applicable.

ii. The qualified appliance must be properly installed or repaired by a Borough-listed installer attesting to proper installation of the device based on manufacturer’s installation manual, compliance with any building code requirements, and that the device is properly sized for the building in question.

iii. The applicant will be required to demonstrate proper wood storage, if applicable.

iv. The applicant will be required to complete training with the vendor, ensuring that they understand how their particular device operates, including education on proper wood burning techniques, if applicable.

v. The applicant(s) shall sign a recordable document restricting future installations of SFBAs on the property and requiring appropriate notice to purchasers in the seller’s disclosure statement if required by the terms and conditions of the funding source.

c. All aspects of this section may be performed by Borough-approved personnel or a Borough-listed installer.

5. Payments. Applicants will be eligible for reimbursements or, at the option of the applicant, payment may be made directly to a Borough-listed installer. Reimbursements and payments shall be available as follows:

a. Replacement of a hydronic heater:

i. With a Borough-listed wood or pellet stove, or an emergency power system, up to $10,000 per eligible hydronic heater for purchase and installation of the new appliance, including parts, labor, and other associated fees.

ii. With an appliance designed to use home heating oil (excluding waste or used oil), up to $12,000 per eligible hydronic heater replaced for purchase and installation of the new appliance, including parts, labor, and other associated fees.

iii. With an appliance designed to use natural gas, propane, hot water district heat, or electricity, up to $14,000 per eligible hydronic heater replaced for purchase and installation of the new appliance, including parts, labor, gas line, connection fees, and other associated fees.

b. Replacement of a non-EPA certified SFBA:

i. With a Borough-listed wood stove, up to $4,000 per eligible SFBA for purchase and installation of the new appliance, including parts, labor, permits, and other associated fees.

ii. With a Borough-listed pellet stove, up to $5,000 per eligible SFBA for purchase and installation of the new appliance.

iii. With an appliance designed to use home heating oil (excluding waste oil), hot water district heat, electricity, or an emergency power system, up to $6,000 per eligible SFBA replaced for the purchase and installation of the new appliance, including parts, labor, and other associated fees.

iv. With an appliance designed to use natural gas or propane, up to $10,000 per eligible SFBA replaced for the purchase and installation of the new appliance, including parts, labor, gas line, connection fees, and other associated fees.

c. Replacement of an EPA certified SFBA:

i. With a Borough-listed wood stove that achieves 50 percent emission reductions, up to $4,000 per eligible SFBA replaced for the purchase and installation of the new appliance, including parts, labor, and other associated fees.

ii. With a Borough-listed pellet stove that achieves 50 percent emission reductions, up to $5,000 per eligible SFBA replaced for the purchase and installation of the new appliance, including parts, labor, and other associated fees.

iii. With an appliance designed to use home heating oil (excluding waste oil), hot water district heat, electricity or an emergency power system, up to $6,000 per eligible SFBA replaced for the purchase and installation of the new appliance, including parts, labor, and other associated fees.

d. Up to a maximum of three SFBAs, or combinations thereof, may be replaced with a single non-solid fuel heating device or emergency power system that meets the requirements above. The reimbursement schedule for each individual device being replaced will be combined to determine the maximum possible final reimbursement amount, with final reimbursement not to exceed the actual purchase and installation cost of the new appliance.

i. Removal of a hydronic heater through a one-time payment of $14,000.

ii. Removal of other qualifying SFBAs through a one-time payment of:

(A) Ten thousand dollars for an SFBA excluding pellet fuel-burning appliances; and

(B) Two thousand dollars for pellet fuel-burning appliances.

i. The repair program will pay for the:

(A) Replacement of a wood stove’s catalytic converter that has exceeded its life span through the one-time payment of up to $750.00.

(B) Replacement of any emissions-reducing component of an EPA certified wood stove up to the maximum amount of $750.00.

ii. In addition to the general requirements set forth in this section, applicants must fully comply with any inspection process required by the division, which may be performed by a Borough-listed installer.

i. Removal of a qualifying SFBA heating appliance through a one-time payment of $500.00.

ii. Up to a maximum of three qualifying SFBA heating appliances per property may qualify for the one-time participation.

1. If allowable by the funding source, a combination of SFBAs and heating oil appliances (up to three appliances total) may be replaced with a single natural gas or propane heating appliance that meets the requirements as outlined by both programs. Applications for both programs must be submitted, and all requirements for both programs must be met.

2. The reimbursement and payment schedule for each individual device being replaced will be combined to determine the maximum possible final reimbursement amount, with final reimbursement not to exceed the actual purchase and installation cost of the new gas or propane heating appliance. (Ord. 2023-54 § 2, 2023; Ord. 2023-42 § 2, 2023; Ord. 2022-69 § 2, 2023; Ord. 2021-26 § 3, 2021; Ord. 2019-02 § 2, 2019; Ord. 2018-45 § 2, 2018; Ord. 2017-44 § 4, 2017; Ord. 2017-18 § 5, 2017; Ord. 2015-73 §§ 6 – 8, 2016; Ord. 2015-18 § 2, 2015; Ord. 2014-10 § 3, 2014. 2004 Code § 8.21.035.)