The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of $26 million in grant funding to establish clean diesel projects aimed at reducing emissions from the nation's existing fleet of diesel engines.
Diesel-powered engines move approximately 90 percent of the nation’s freight tonnage, and today nearly all highway freight trucks, locomotives, and commercial marine vessels are powered by diesel engines.
EPA is soliciting proposals nationwide for projects that significantly reduce diesel emissions and exposure, especially from fleets operating in areas designated as having poor air quality. Priority for funding will 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.
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 have, as their principal purpose, the promotion of transportation or air quality. The applicants may apply until Tuesday, April 26, 2016.
Under this competition, EPA anticipates awarding between 10 and 40 awards. The top and bottom funding limits that will be considered for each proposal varies by region:
- Region 1 (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont): EPA is requesting proposals between $100,000 and $800,000.
- Region 2 (New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands): EPA is requesting proposals between $500,000 and $1,800,000.
- Region 3 (Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia): EPA is requesting proposals between $750,000 and $2,700,000.
- Region 4 (Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee EPA is requesting proposals between): EPA is requesting proposals between $300,000 and $1,900,000.
- Region 5 (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin): EPA is requesting proposals between $500,000 and $2,500,000.
- Region 6 (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas): EPA is requesting proposals between $400,000 and $2,700,000.
- Region 7 (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska): EPA is requesting proposals between $300,000 and $1,500,000.
- Region 8 (Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming): EPA is requesting proposals between $300,000 and $1,500,000.
- Region 9 (Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands): EPA is requesting proposals between $500,000 and $4,400,000.
- Region 10 (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington): EPA is requesting proposals between $300,000 and $800,000.
Tribes are welcome to apply under this RFP, although EPA anticipates releasing a separate Request for Proposals for Tribal applicants during March.
Since the first year of the DERA program in 2008, EPA has awarded nearly 700 grants across the U.S. Many of these projects fund cleaner diesel engines that operate in economically disadvantaged communities whose residents suffer from higher-than-average instances of asthma, heart and lung disease.
