Diesel Emissions Reduction Act Brings Funding to Upgrade the Nation's Diesel Fleets

Diesel powered trucks are becoming cleaner and more efficient than ever.

If someone were to write a history of the last half century of the transportation industry, it really has been a remarkable era of change. Emerging technologies of all kinds have been and are being incorporated into our vehicles of today and tomorrow. How many sensors were there in a first generation F-Series pickup? Considering where things were at the end of the muscle car era, when some clattering over-the-road trucks were still spewing black contrails, it's remarkable how far the industry has come.

It's not that the automakers are opposed to making adjustments, but the technical hurdles have been many. Nevertheless, as the saying goes, "We've come a long ways, baby." And EPA incentivizing doesn't hurt any.

As everyone knows, incentives matter. So it was gratifying to see a story this past week about the EPA announcing 46 million dollars in grant money to implement projects that reduce emissions from our nation's existing diesel fleets.

Key points are summarized in this blog article but you can find the official EPA announcement here: EPA Announces $46 Million Available to Reduce Emissions from Diesel Engines.

The January 15 announcement is titled the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) with grant funding to be awarded to eligible applicants. The initial focus will be on "areas facing air quality challenges."

According to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler the EPA has provided nearly $300 million in grants and rebates over the past few years to help fleets modernize with cleaner heavy duty trucks and equipment.

The announcement goes on to acknowledge that "Diesel-powered engines move most  of the nation’s freight tonnage, and today nearly all highway freight trucks, locomotives, and commercial marine vessels are powered by diesel engines." 

Deadline for Applications

The deadline for applications is March 26, 2021.

Stipulations

Applicants may request funding to upgrade or replace diesel-powered buses, trucks, marine engines, locomotives and nonroad equipment with newer, cleaner technologies. Priority for funding will also be given to projects that engage and benefit local communities and applicants that demonstrate their ability to promote and continue efforts to reduce emissions after the project has ended.

  

Eligibility

Eligible applicants include regional, state, local or tribal agencies, or port authorities with jurisdiction over transportation or air quality. Nonprofit organizations may apply if they provide pollution reduction or educational services to diesel fleet owners or promote air quality and clean transportation.

 

Applicants must request funding from the EPA regional office which covers the geographic project location. The maximum amount of federal funding that may be requested per application varies by Region:

• Region 1 (Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont) will accept applications requesting up to $1,000,000 in grant funds.
  
• Region 2 (New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands) will accept applications requesting up to $2,500,000 in grant funds.
  
• Region 3 (Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia) will accept applications requesting up to $2,500,000 in grant funds.
  
• Region 4 (Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee) will accept applications requesting up to $2,000,000 in grant funds.
  
• Region 5 (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin) will accept applications requesting up to $3,000,000 in grant funds.
  
• Region 6 (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas) will accept applications requesting up to $2,500,000 in grant funds.
  
• Region 7 (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska will accept applications requesting up to $1,500,000 in grant funds.
  
• Region 8 (Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming) will accept applications requesting up to $2,600,000 in grant funds.
  
• Region 9 (Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands) will accept applications requesting up to $4,000,000 in grant funds.
  
• Region 10 (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington) will accept applications requesting up to $1,000,000 in grant funds.
  

Background
Since the first year of the DERA program in 2008, EPA has competitively awarded over 850 grants and 450 rebates across the country. Many of these projects funded cleaner engines that operate in economically disadvantaged communities whose residents suffer from higher-than-average instances of asthma, heart and lung disease.

For more information and to access the Request for Applications, visit www.epa.gov/dera/national.

For more information on the DERA Funding Program, visit www.epa.gov/dera.