Summary
– EPA launches a $1 billion Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program to fund zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles
– Program aims to reduce climate and air pollution, advance environmental justice, and create jobs
– Focus on replacing polluting heavy-duty vehicles with zero-emission vehicles and supporting infrastructure
– Program supports the President’s commitment to environmental justice and aims to improve health outcomes
– Two separate sub-program competitions for school buses and non-school bus Class 6 and 7 vehicles, with funding available for eligible applicants
Article
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the launch of the Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program, a nearly $1 billion initiative aimed at funding the replacement of polluting heavy-duty vehicles with zero-emission vehicles. This program, funded through the Inflation Reduction Act under President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda, will support projects that reduce climate and air pollution, create good-paying jobs, and improve air quality in communities across the country. The goal is to address climate change issues and advance environmental justice by promoting the deployment of zero-emission vehicles and supporting infrastructure.
The Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program will focus on the adoption and deployment of eligible Class 6 and 7 zero-emission vehicles, as well as funding zero-emission vehicle fueling infrastructure and workforce development and training. These vehicles include school buses, garbage trucks, and delivery vans, among others. The program is designed to help advance the President’s commitment to environmental justice and the Justice40 Initiative, which aims to ensure that 40% of the benefits of federal investments in climate and clean energy flow to disadvantaged communities that are disproportionately affected by pollution.
In the United States, the transportation sector is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions and health-harming pollution. Most of the vehicles eligible for replacement under this program are powered by internal combustion engines that emit harmful pollutants. These pollutants are linked to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, particularly affecting vulnerable populations such as children, older adults, and individuals with preexisting health conditions. By transitioning to zero-emission vehicles, the program aims to reduce air pollution, improve health outcomes, decrease noise pollution, and create clean energy jobs.
To encourage participation in the Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program, EPA is providing two separate sub-program competitions: the School Bus Sub-Program for applicants replacing school buses and the Vocational Vehicles Sub-Program for applicants replacing non-school bus Class 6 and 7 vehicles. Eligible applicants include States, municipalities, Indian Tribes, territories, and nonprofit school transportation associations, with a focus on serving communities that are dealing with significant pollution as defined by EPA’s air quality standards. The program builds on previous successful initiatives like the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) program.
The deadline to apply for the 2024 Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program is July 25, 2024, and EPA expects to announce awards by the end of the year. This program aligns with the Biden administration’s efforts to promote clean energy and address climate change, while also advancing environmental justice and creating opportunities for clean energy jobs. By supporting the transition to zero-emission vehicles and reducing air pollution, the program aims to enhance public health, improve air quality, and contribute to a more sustainable transportation sector in the United States.
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