The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced the launch of a ~$1 billion Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program to fund the replacement of polluting heavy-duty vehicles with zero-emission vehicles. Funded through the Inflation Reduction Act. EPA said it will award competitive grants for projects that will reduce climate and air pollution from heavy-duty vehicles, support good-paying jobs and improve air quality for communities across the country, particularly those overburdened by air pollution.
“President Biden and his entire administration are working to ensure every community can breathe clean air. EPA’s Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program will slash climate, air pollution, and enhance the country’s infrastructure by funding the deployment of zero-emissions vehicles and installation of supporting infrastructure,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan.* “The program’s historic investment in zero-emission vehicles will secure our nation’s position as a global leader in clean technologies that address the impacts of climate change,” Regan claimed.
The 2024 Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program will support the adoption and deployment of eligible Class 6 and 7 zero-emission vehicles while also funding zero-emission vehicle fueling infrastructure and workforce development and training. Across the nation, more than 3,000,000 Class 6 and Class 7 vehicles are currently in use in a variety of vehicle types and vocations, including school buses, refuse haulers, and utility and delivery trucks.
In the United States, the transportation sector is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. It is also a prominent source of health-harming pollution. Most of the vehicles eligible for replacement are powered by internal combustion engines that pre-date recent EPA emission standards. These vehicles emit harmful pollutants such as nitrogen oxide, fine particulate matter, and greenhouse gases. “Pollution from these vehicles is associated with respiratory and cardiovascular disease, among other serious health problems. Children, older adults, those with preexisting cardiopulmonary disease, and those of lower socioeconomic status are particularly vulnerable and are at a higher risk for these health impacts,” EPA said.
To meet the needs of diverse potential recipients and encourage participation in this grant opportunity, EPA said it is providing two separate sub-program competitions under this single Notice of Funding Opportunity:
- The School Bus Sub-Program for applicants replacing school buses.
- The Vocational Vehicles Sub-Program for applicants replacing non-school bus Class 6 and 7 vehicles – including box trucks, refuse haulers, dump trucks, street sweepers, delivery trucks, bucket trucks, and utility trucks.
EPA forecasts ~70% of available funding will be for projects under the School Bus Sub-Program and ~30% of available funding will be for projects under the Vocational Vehicles Sub-Program. Eligible applicants for both competitions include States, municipalities (including school districts), Indian Tribes, territories, and nonprofit school transportation associations. EPA anticipates awarding at least 15 grants to eligible applicants from Tribes and territories. Additionally, the Inflation Reduction Act statute requires that at least $400 million of the program’s funding go to projects that will serve one or more communities dealing with significant pollution as defined by EPA’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
*Eligible Infrastructure
Electric Charging Infrastructure: Eligible electric infrastructure is limited to installations and upgrades behind the electric meter. This can include, but is not limited to, charging equipment (such as alternating current Level 2 charging equipment, direct-current fast charging equipment, or vehicle-to-grid enabled equipment); design and engineering; installation costs such as trenching, wiring, and electrical upgrades, labor, and permitting; and related intelligent equipment and software designed to monitor vehicle and infrastructure performance (such as telematics or charge management software). Build America, Buy America requirements apply to eligible vehicle charging infrastructure equipment.
Fueling Infrastructure: Eligible fueling infrastructure includes fueling infrastructure for new hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, including, but not limited to, storage tanks, liquid and gaseous pumps and vaporizers, compressors, heat exchangers, chillers, piping and pipelines within the relevant facility, and high-pressure dispensers (including hose, nozzles, and meters) needed to fuel the new hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles funded under the project. Build America, Buy America requirements apply to eligible vehicle fueling infrastructure equipment.
More about the Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program, applicant eligibility, selection process, and informational webinar dates is at Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program webpage.
Death of the Diesel – EPA Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grants
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced the launch of a ~$1 billion Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program to fund the replacement of polluting heavy-duty vehicles with zero-emission vehicles. Funded through the Inflation Reduction Act. EPA said it will award competitive grants for projects that will reduce climate and air pollution from heavy-duty vehicles, support good-paying jobs and improve air quality for communities across the country, particularly those overburdened by air pollution.
“President Biden and his entire administration are working to ensure every community can breathe clean air. EPA’s Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program will slash climate, air pollution, and enhance the country’s infrastructure by funding the deployment of zero-emissions vehicles and installation of supporting infrastructure,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan.* “The program’s historic investment in zero-emission vehicles will secure our nation’s position as a global leader in clean technologies that address the impacts of climate change,” Regan claimed.
The 2024 Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program will support the adoption and deployment of eligible Class 6 and 7 zero-emission vehicles while also funding zero-emission vehicle fueling infrastructure and workforce development and training. Across the nation, more than 3,000,000 Class 6 and Class 7 vehicles are currently in use in a variety of vehicle types and vocations, including school buses, refuse haulers, and utility and delivery trucks.
In the United States, the transportation sector is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. It is also a prominent source of health-harming pollution. Most of the vehicles eligible for replacement are powered by internal combustion engines that pre-date recent EPA emission standards. These vehicles emit harmful pollutants such as nitrogen oxide, fine particulate matter, and greenhouse gases. “Pollution from these vehicles is associated with respiratory and cardiovascular disease, among other serious health problems. Children, older adults, those with preexisting cardiopulmonary disease, and those of lower socioeconomic status are particularly vulnerable and are at a higher risk for these health impacts,” EPA said.
To meet the needs of diverse potential recipients and encourage participation in this grant opportunity, EPA said it is providing two separate sub-program competitions under this single Notice of Funding Opportunity:
EPA forecasts ~70% of available funding will be for projects under the School Bus Sub-Program and ~30% of available funding will be for projects under the Vocational Vehicles Sub-Program. Eligible applicants for both competitions include States, municipalities (including school districts), Indian Tribes, territories, and nonprofit school transportation associations. EPA anticipates awarding at least 15 grants to eligible applicants from Tribes and territories. Additionally, the Inflation Reduction Act statute requires that at least $400 million of the program’s funding go to projects that will serve one or more communities dealing with significant pollution as defined by EPA’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
*Eligible Infrastructure
Electric Charging Infrastructure: Eligible electric infrastructure is limited to installations and upgrades behind the electric meter. This can include, but is not limited to, charging equipment (such as alternating current Level 2 charging equipment, direct-current fast charging equipment, or vehicle-to-grid enabled equipment); design and engineering; installation costs such as trenching, wiring, and electrical upgrades, labor, and permitting; and related intelligent equipment and software designed to monitor vehicle and infrastructure performance (such as telematics or charge management software). Build America, Buy America requirements apply to eligible vehicle charging infrastructure equipment.
Fueling Infrastructure: Eligible fueling infrastructure includes fueling infrastructure for new hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, including, but not limited to, storage tanks, liquid and gaseous pumps and vaporizers, compressors, heat exchangers, chillers, piping and pipelines within the relevant facility, and high-pressure dispensers (including hose, nozzles, and meters) needed to fuel the new hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles funded under the project. Build America, Buy America requirements apply to eligible vehicle fueling infrastructure equipment.
More about the Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program, applicant eligibility, selection process, and informational webinar dates is at Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program webpage.