The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $6.36 million in grants to the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District to improve air quality.

The funding will be used to replace 144 older diesel trucks with newer trucks that run 80-90 percent cleaner, according to an EPA press release.

The funds will also be used to replace 237 older tractors with those that meet the latest emission standards.

The district covers eight counties from San Joaquin to the north to Kern to the south, and includes Fresno, Kings, Madera and Tulare counties.

“We greatly appreciate EPA’s attention and care for the health of Valley residents,” said SJVAPCD Pollution Control Officer and Executive Director Seyed Sadredin. “This grant from EPA will help us with our enormous challenge to reduce emissions from mobile sources, which make up 85% of the pollution in the San Joaquin Valley.”

The funding was part of a total of $12.75 million in Targeted Airshed Grants, used to support local clean air projects in areas facing the highest levels of ground-level ozone and fine particulate matter.