Grant Funding Available For Propane Autogas Vehicles, School Buses

(January 21, 2020) — The Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) provides funding for private- and public-sector fleets to replace aging diesel trucks and vehicles in an effort to reduce harmful Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) and other harmful pollutants emitted by dirty diesel engines. Funding applies to vehicles Class 5 and up, including transit and school buses. Nationally, approximately $44 million will be available in grant funding. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 (Kan,, Mo, Neb., Iowa), predicts about $3.2 million in federal funding, with a limit of $1.5 million on any single application.

DERA allows a variety of approaches to cutting emissions and saving fuel. Participants can swap old for new diesel, but can also choose cleaner fuels, such as propane autogas, natural gas or all-electric options. Participating organizations can receive reimbursements of up to 25% for the costs of new diesel, CNG, or propane vehicle. However, choosing the Near Zero gaseous fuel engine certified by the California Air Resources Board increases reimbursement percentages to 35%, while fleets selecting zero-emission electric or fuel-cell options receive 45% of vehicle costs.

DERA also funds off-road equipment, stationary generators and pumps, and marine diesel engines, as well as engine retrofits, replacements and rebuilds, aerodynamics and shore power. Propane autogas vehicles and school buses qualify for grant funding with near-zero harmful emissions.

Application packages must be submitted electronically to EPA through Grants.gov (www.grants.gov) no later than Wednesday, February 26, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. (ET) to be considered for funding.

The deadline for submitting questions is February 14, 2020 at 4 p.m. ET. The final Questions and Answers document will be posted on February 19, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. All questions and answers, including those from all webinar information sessions, will be added to this document.

The following U.S. entities are eligible to apply for DERA National Grants:

• Regional, state, local or tribal agencies/consortia or port authorities with jurisdiction over transportation or air quality
• Nonprofit organizations or institutions that represent or provide pollution reduction or educational services to persons or organizations that own or operate diesel fleets or have the promotion of transportation or air quality as their principal purpose.
• School districts, municipalities, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), cities and counties are all eligible entities to the extent that they fall within the definition above.

Please refer to the

about this competition.

Eligible diesel vehicles, engines and equipment include:

• School buses
• Class 5 – Class 8 heavy-duty highway vehicles
• Locomotive engines
• Marine engines
• Non-road engines, equipment or vehicles used in construction, handling of cargo (including at ports or airports), agriculture, mining or energy production (including stationary generators and pumps).

• EPA verified technologies or certified engine configurations

• California Air Resources Board (CARB) Exit verified technologies or certified engines

• Idle-reduction technologies that are EPA verified

• Aerodynamic technologies and low rolling resistance tires that are EPA verified

• Early engine, vehicle, or equipment replacements with certified engine configurations

Funds awarded under this program cannot be used to fund emission reductions mandated by federal law. Equipment for testing emissions or fueling infrastructure is not eligible for funding.

Please refer to the

about this competition.