The Environmental Protection Agency announced the availability of almost $50 million in grant funding to encourage clean diesel projects in order to reduce emissions from diesel engines. This record sum, authorized by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, will be directed by the EPA’s National Clean Diesel Campaign and will be funded for the first time this fiscal year.
The grants will target school buses, transit buses and medium to heavy-duty trucks. Recipients of the grants may use a variety of emission reduction strategies to include EPA-verified retrofit and idle-reduction technologies, EPA-certified engine upgrades, vehicle or equipment replacements, cleaner fuels and the creation of innovative clean diesel financing programs.
Many EPA regional offices, as well as EPA headquarters, have already begun issuing requests for proposals, or requests for grant applications. The EPA will continue to offer requests for proposals throughout the spring.
State, local, regional and tribal governments may apply for the grants. Additionally, non-profit organizations, educational services, institutions with transportation and organizations with air quality responsibilities may also apply for the grants.
