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DALLAS, TEXAS (January 8, 2025) — The U.S. Environmental Safety Company (EPA) introduced that Livingston Parish and Jefferson Parish have been chosen to obtain a mixed whole of $12,700,000 to help within the buy of 45 zero-emission automobiles by way of its first-ever Clear Heavy-Responsibility Automobiles Grant Program.
“Thanks to President Biden, we are accelerating American leadership in developing clean technologies that address the impacts of climate change,” stated EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Together, the Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant projects announced today will slash air pollution and enhance the country’s infrastructure for cleaner transportation solutions, creating good-paying jobs along the way.”
“I’m proud to announce this funding for my district that will help combat climate change and enhance environmental justice in our community. By replacing high-polluting vehicles with 25 zero-emission school buses, we will improve air quality for everyone in Jefferson Parish. When I supported the Inflation Reduction Act, these were the kinds of investments that I was excited about,” stated Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (LA-02)
Jefferson Parish will obtain $7,100,000 to get rid of a complete of 25 Class 7 diesel college buses (5 of which can embrace wheelchair lifts) from Louisiana and exchange them with 25 Class 7 zero-emission, battery electrical college buses. They are going to set up DCFC charging station items and carry out the required charging infrastructure work to accommodate the DCFC charging stations.
Livingston Parish will obtain $5,600,000 to get rid of a complete of 20 Class 7 diesel college buses from Louisiana and exchange them with 20 Class 7 zero-emission, battery electrical college buses. The Parish will set up 20 DCFC charging station items and carry out the required charging infrastructure work to accommodate DCFC charging stations.
EPA’s Clear Heavy-Responsibility Automobiles Grant program, created by President Biden’s Inflation Discount Act, will exchange current inner combustion engine heavy-duty automobiles with zero-emission automobiles, whereas additionally supporting the construct out of fresh car infrastructure, in addition to the coaching of staff to deploy these new zero-emission applied sciences. Collectively, the chosen initiatives introduced will scale back dangerous emissions from heavy-duty automobiles, assist good-paying jobs, and enhance air high quality in communities throughout the nation, significantly in these which were overburdened by air air pollution. these which were overburdened by air air pollution. these which were overburdened by air air pollution.
Throughout the nation, over 3 million Class 6 and Class 7 automobiles are presently in use, spanning all kinds of auto varieties and vocations. Many of those are older automobiles that emit greater ranges of dangerous pollution like nitrogen oxides, high quality particulate matter, and greenhouse gases than newer automobiles. This air pollution is related to respiratory and heart problems, amongst different severe well being issues. Youngsters, older adults, these with preexisting cardiopulmonary illness, and people of decrease socioeconomic standing are significantly weak to those well being impacts. Cleansing up air pollution from heavy-duty automobiles helps defend the well being of 72 million folks residing close to truck freight routes in America.
EPA’s Clear Heavy-Responsibility Automobiles Grant Program will speed up the adoption and deployment of eligible Class 6 and seven zero-emission automobiles. Automobiles eligible for alternative embrace older automobiles powered by inner combustion engines that pre-date latest EPA emission requirements.
In whole, EPA introduced 70 candidates throughout 28 states, 3 Tribal Nations, and 1 territory have been chosen to obtain over $735 million to help within the buy of over 2,000 zero-emission automobiles by way of its first-ever Clear Heavy-Responsibility Automobiles Grant Program.
Proposed alternative automobiles embrace battery-electric field vans, cargo vans, emergency automobiles, refuse/recycling haulers, college buses, shuttle buses, step vans, transit buses, utility automobiles, and different vocational automobiles, in addition to a small variety of hydrogen gas cell transit buses. As well as, the Clear Heavy-Responsibility Automobiles Grant Program additionally funds zero-emission car fueling infrastructure (e.g., electrical car charging stations), in addition to workforce growth and coaching. These investments assist the implementation of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Nationwide Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization and the Nationwide Zero-Emission Freight Hall Technique.
Roughly 70% of the funding awarded will assist the acquisition of fresh college buses, serving to present clear air for youngsters on their experience to high school. These awards complement EPA’s Clear College Bus program by way of the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation, which has awarded practically $3 billion for practically 9,000 clear college buses to this point.
The Clear Heavy-Responsibility Automobiles Grant Program advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiativewhich goals to ship 40% of the general advantages of sure federal investments to deprived communities which can be marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by air pollution.
EPA prioritized deprived communities dealing with air high quality challenges, together with nonattainment with EPA’s high quality particulate matter (PM2.5) and ozone (O3) Nationwide Ambient Air High quality Requirements (NAAQS) or excessive ranges of ambient diesel PM. Functions had been evaluated on engagement with affected communities, particularly native residents, to make sure their significant participation with respect to the design, planning, and efficiency of the venture. Roughly $523 million of the funds introduced shall be used to fund initiatives serving communities positioned in areas in nonattainment with the NAAQS.
Along with the funding for the alternative of current inner combustion engine Class 6 and seven heavy-duty automobiles with eligible Class 6 and seven zero-emission automobiles, funding might also be used to assist zero-emission car adoption and deployment by offering:
- Zero-emission car refueling infrastructure.
- Workforce growth and coaching.
- Undertaking implementation prices.
EPA will work with chosen candidates over the approaching weeks to finalize awards. EPA presently anticipates finalizing awards in early calendar yr 2025 as soon as all authorized and administrative necessities are glad. Undertaking implementation will happen over the following two to a few years relying on the scope of every venture.
Please go to the Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program webpage for added data and updates as EPA works with tentatively chosen candidates to finalize awards and implement their initiatives.
Questions might also be directed to cleanhdvehicles@epa.gov.
For additional data and to remain updated on issues associated to our workplace, join the Clear Heavy-Responsibility Automobiles listserv.
From the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
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