U.S. EPA Announces $125M To Upgrade Older Diesel Engines To Zero-Emission Solutions

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) recently announced selections totaling nearly $125 million under the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act National Grants Program which will incentivize and accelerate the upgrade or retirement of older diesel engines to cleaner and zero-emission solutions. According to the U.S. EPA, this will lead to significant emission reductions and air quality and public health benefits.

“These awards are in final workplan negotiations with the tentatively selected applicants. The DERA program prioritizes projects in areas that face air quality impacts, especially those projects that benefit disadvantaged communities and other areas that face particular public health or environmental justice risks or impacts,” according to a press release.

In total, EPA has tentatively selected approximately 70 national DERA projects to reduce diesel emissions across a range of transportation sectors including engine replacements and upgrades to school buses, port equipment, and construction equipment. In addition to funding new and cleaner diesel technologies, more than half of these selections will support replacing older equipment and vehicles with zero-emission technologies, such as all-electric school buses, terminal tractors, drayage trucks and shore power to marine vessels.

Once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied and awards are finalized, EPA will update the DERA National Awards webpage. Eligible activities include the retrofit or replacement of existing diesel engines, vehicles, and equipment with EPA and California Air Resources Board certified engine configurations and verified retrofit and idle reduction technologies. Read more information on the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act program.