EPA Awards over $11 Million to Pacific Southwest States and Territories for Diesel Emissions Reduction Projects

 U.S. EPA News Release:

EPA Awards over $11 Million to Pacific Southwest States and Territories for Diesel Emissions Reduction Projects

SAN FRANCISCO (December 27, 2021) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced over $14 million in Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) grants awarded to projects that reduce diesel emissions from the nation’s existing fleet of older, dirtier engines and vehicles. Of this, over $11 million was awarded to projects throughout the Southwestern U.S. and Pacific Island territories.

“The DERA grant program helps states and U.S. territories target funds towards projects that align with local priorities,” said Martha Guzman, Regional Administrator for EPA’s Pacific Southwest. “The projects will reduce diesel pollution and benefit communities. Reducing diesel use is a central strategy to environmental justice.”

In selecting projects for award, priority was given to projects that:

• are in areas designated as having poor air quality;
• reduce emissions from ports and other goods movement facilities;
• benefit local communities;
• incorporate local communities in project planning; and
• demonstrate an ability to continue efforts to reduce emissions after the project has ended. 

This year’s grants to the Southwestern U.S. and Pacific Island territories will fund the following projects:

• The American Samoa Power Authority (ASPA) received over $126,000 to replace an old 2002 Diesel Vacuum Truck with a new 2021 model. The funds will be combined with $40,731 in voluntary cost-share from ASPA.
   
• Columbia-Willamette Clean Cities Coalition (CWCCC) received $1,380,770 to replace one diesel yard truck and seven diesel insulated refrigerated trailers and truck transport refrigeration units (TRU) with all electric equipment, and install 108 electrified parking spaces to allow TRUs to be plugged in when parked. These projects will be implemented throughout Maricopa County via a partnership between CWCCC, McLane Company, KeHE Distribution, and Papa John’s. The funds will be combined with $1,960,128 in leveraged funds from CWCCC and participating partners. 
   
• Maricopa County Air Quality Department (MCAQD) received $525,392 to replace six old diesel school buses with model year 2021 alternative fuel buses, one old diesel school bus with a model year 2021 battery-electric bus, and nine old diesel trucks with model year 2021 diesel trucks. These projects will be implemented through a partnership between MCAQD, Yuma Union High School District, Madison School District, Sysco Foods, and White Water II, LLC. The funds will be combined with $350,261 in matching funds from MCAQD, and $1,745,550 in leveraged funds from public and private partners. 
   
• San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD) received $2,789,518 to replace 73 older diesel-powered agricultural tractors with new, cleaner equipment. The funds will be combined with $7,845,519 in leveraged funds from participating partners. SJVAPCD will also replace 33 trucks made prior to 2016 with new vehicles that emit less nitrogen oxide, or “NOx,” pollution. The funds will be combined with $4,886,226 in leveraged funds from participating partners. These projects will be implemented through a partnership between SJVAPCD and participating fleets. 
   
• South Coast Air Quality Management District received $2,349,995 to replace 14 diesel yard hostlers with all-electric hostlers at four distribution centers and replace 5 diesel Intermodal Box Connector carts with all-electric carts at the Long Beach Container Terminal. These projects will be implemented through a partnership between SCAQMD, Albertsons, McLane, and Port of Long Beach. The funds will be combined with $2,719,900 in leveraged funds from participating partners.
   
• Cajon Valley Unified School District (CVUSD) received $304,500 to replace five old diesel trucks, with three battery electric trucks. These projects will be implemented through a partnership between CVUSD, a California school district serving El Cajon and Rancho San Diego, First Priority Group, San Diego Gas & Electric, and Nuvve. The funds will be combined with $542,659 in cost-share funds from CVUSD including $119,211 in voluntary cost-share funds.
   
• City of Los Angeles, Harbor Department received $2,025,000 to replace an old switcher locomotive with a battery electric locomotive that will operate at railyards in the South Coast Air Basin. These projects will be implemented through a partnership between Los Angeles Harbor Department and Union Pacific. The funds will be combined with $2,475,000 in leveraged funds from participating partners.
   
• California Air Resources Board (CARB) received $627,035 to replace 10 school buses with all-electric and internal combustion engine alternatives throughout California. These projects will be implemented through a partnership between CARB, the North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District, and participating fleets. The funds will be combined with $442,008 in matching funds from CARB, and $1,633,500 in leveraged funds from public and private partners. 
   
• The Guam Environmental Protection Agency received $126,609 to replace two older and higher polluting nonroad yard tractors with new, cleaner emission tractors. This project will be implemented through a partnership between the Guam Environmental Protection Agency and the Port Authority of Guam. The funds will be combined with $113,391 in voluntary cost-share from the Port.
   
• The Hawaii Department of Health (HDOH) received $508,820 to replace three old, high-polluting diesel transit buses with all-electric vehicles. This project will be implemented through a partnership between HDOH and the Hawaii State Energy Office. The funds will be combined with $339,213 in Volkswagen mitigation matching funds, and $912,107 in leveraged funds from participating fleets.
   
• The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) received $513,234 to replace four older diesel school buses with battery-electric buses. These projects will be implemented through a partnership between NDEP, Carson City School District and participating fleets. The funds will be combined with $342,156 in matching funds from NDEP’S Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust allocation, and $981,932 in leveraged funds from participating partners.

In addition to DERA funding, following the passage of the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA will be making significant investments in the health, equity, and resilience of American communities. EPA will offer a total of $5 billion between fiscal years 2022 and 2026 to fund the replacement of dirtier school buses with low- or no-carbon school buses. Each year, $500 million will be available exclusively for electric school buses and $500 million will be available for electric buses and multiple types of cleaner alternative fuel school buses. In line with the President’s commitment to Justice40, EPA is actively working to ensure DERA funding, including Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding, maximizes the benefits that are directed to underserved communities. 

The DERA Program funds grants and rebates that protect human health and improve air quality by reducing harmful emissions from diesel engines. Since the start of the DERA program in 2008, EPA has awarded over $1 billion in grants and rebates to modernize the nation’s diesel fleet and speed the turnover to cleaner on- and off-road heavy-duty trucks and equipment. 

For details on additional nation-wide recipients, funding amounts, and projects, please visit, https://www.epa.gov/dera.

More information on DERA state grants:  https://www.epa.gov/dera/state-allocations.

For more information on the EPA West Coast Collaborative and DERA grant projects please visit, https://westcoastcollaborative.org.

Learn more about EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region.