US EPA soliciting proposals for 2011 clean diesel grants

4 November 2010

The US EPA's National Clean Diesel Campaign (NCDC) opened a grant competition to solicit applications for approximately $32 million in funding for clean diesel activities. The Request for Proposal (RFP) posted on the NCDC website contains details regarding eligibility, program guidelines and submission instructions.

Proposals are solicited for projects that achieve significant reductions in diesel emissions in terms of tons of pollution produced and diesel emissions exposure, particularly from fleets operating in areas designated by the EPA as poor air quality areas.

Eligible diesel emission reduction solutions include verified emission control technologies such as retrofit devices, cleaner fuels, and engine upgrades, verified idle reduction technologies, verified aerodynamic technologies and low rolling resistance tires, certified engine repowers, and/or vehicle or equipment replacement.

Eligible diesel vehicles, engines and equipment may include buses, medium-duty or heavy-duty trucks, marine engines, locomotives and non-road engines, equipment or vehicles used in construction, handling of cargo (including at a port or airport), agriculture, mining or energy production (including stationary generators and pumps).

Eligible applicants include regional, State, local or tribal agencies or port authorities with jurisdiction over transportation or air quality, and nonprofit organizations or institutions that (1) represent or provide pollution reduction or educational services to persons or organizations that own or operate diesel fleets or (2) have, as their principal purpose, the promotion of transportation or air quality.

The RFPs will be open for approximately 70 days, closing on January 13, 2011. EPA plans to award the grants resulting from this competition in May 2011. Three information sessions on the program will be held on November 9 and 10, 2010.

Source: US EPA