(AGENPARL) – gio 12 dicembre 2024 Issued: Dec 12, 2024 (2:42pm EST)
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EPA Announces Over $125 Million for Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles in New York
State
NEW YORK (Dec 12, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has
announced that New York agencies have been selected to receive $125.1 million
to assist in the purchase of 263 zero-emission vehicles through its first-ever
Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program. These projects will reduce harmful
air pollution, improve air quality, and deliver significant health benefits
for communities across New York State, especially those historically
overburdened by air pollution. 
“EPA’s investments in clean heavy-duty vehicles prove that protecting public
health and supporting economic growth can, and do, go hand in hand,” said EPA
Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “By transitioning to zero-emission
buses and trucks, we’re not only improving air quality for New York
communities, but also creating sustainable jobs in manufacturing, maintenance,
and infrastructure development.” 
“I’m proud to announce more than $78 million in federal grants for New
York to deploy hundreds of zero-emission school buses and other vehicles,
install charging equipment, and train workers for new green jobs. This
substantial federal investment will help reduce harmful carbon emissions in
New York’s communities and promote good-paying union jobs,” said Senator
Chuck Schumer. “I fought hard to secure funding via the Inflation Reduction
Act for this new EPA program to replace existing heavy-duty vehicles with
zero-emission vehicles while supporting clean vehicle infrastructure and the
training of workers to deploy these new zero-emission technologies.” 
“A clean, zero-emission transportation sector in New York will support
good-paying jobs and protect communities overburdened by air pollution,”
said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. “This over $78 million investment will help
New York transition to cleaner electric school buses and vehicles while also
expanding charging infrastructure. I am proud to have helped secure this
federal funding, made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act that I fought to
pass. I will continue to fight for federal resources to support New York’s
infrastructure.” 
“For decades, communities across Brooklyn have historically suffered from
disproportionate rates of asthma and certain cancers, related to hazardous air
pollution exposure,” said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08).
“I am grateful for the work the EPA has done to establish the Clean
Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program, made possible by the Inflation Reduction
Act, which was passed by House and Senate Democrats partnered with the
Biden-Harris administration. This grant funding will enhance New York City’s
efforts to modernize our municipal vehicle fleet and electrify our city school
buses to deliver cleaner, safer air for the communities I am privileged to
represent.” 
“The IRA created this meaningful grant program that allows for heavy-duty
vehicles to be properly maintained and equipped with the latest
emissions-reduction technologies that lower harmful pollutants,” said U.S.
Representative Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05). “By adopting stricter emissions
requirements this improves air quality for New Yorkers and contributes to
mitigating climate change. The program is also beneficial because it will
educate and train workers to effectively operate these modern vehicles.” 
“I am thrilled that New York City and other areas across our state have been
awarded funding through this crucial grant program,” said U.S.
Representative Grace Meng (NY-06). “These clean heavy-duty vehicles will
combat pollution in our communities to help ensure a cleaner and healthier
future for us and future generations. Once again, the Inflation Reduction Act
that I helped to pass in Congress is delivering for New York, and as New
York’s representative on the Regional Leadership Council – which works to
promote and implement legislation signed by President Biden – I’m proud
that this important federal funding is being used to preserve and protect the
environment here in our state.” 
“The EPA funding announced today for clean heavy-duty vehicles, particularly
zero-emission school buses in New York State, is putting healthier
transportation for students on our roadways and we congratulate all awardees,”
said New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)
President and CEO Doreen M. Harris. “NYSERDA is proud to see this federal
investment which complements the State’s historic Environmental Bond Act
support for clean, electric buses.” 
The selected projects in New York State include: 
Haverstraw-Stony Point CSD (North Rockland CSD): $7,450,380 to replace 15
diesel school buses with zero-emission electric school buses and build
charging infrastructure, reducing emissions and improving air quality for
students and surrounding neighborhoods. 
Queensbury Union Free School District: $5,810,966 to replace 12 diesel school
buses with electric models, supporting the district’s commitment to cleaner
transportation. 
NYC School Bus Umbrella Services, Inc.: $54,945,312 to replace 133 diesel
school buses with zero-emission models, directly improving air quality for
students, staff, and communities while advancing New York’s mandate for fully
electric school bus fleets. 
New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS):
$30,361,175 to replace 55 internal combustion engine heavy-duty vehicles used
by municipal departments with zero-emission models and install 10 Direct
Current fast chargers. 
Village of New Square: $26,559,597 to replace 48 diesel school buses with
electric buses, install 48 fast chargers, and provide training and outreach to
the community. 
Across the nation, over 3 million Class 6 and Class 7 vehicles are currently
in use, spanning a wide variety of vehicle types and vocations. Many of these
are older vehicles that emit higher levels of harmful pollutants like nitrogen
oxides, fine particulate matter, and greenhouse gases than newer vehicles.
This pollution is associated with respiratory and cardiovascular disease,
among other serious health problems. Children, older adults, those with
preexisting cardiopulmonary disease, and those of lower socioeconomic status
are particularly vulnerable to these health impacts. Cleaning up pollution
from heavy-duty vehicles helps protect the health of 72 million people living
near truck freight routes in America. 
EPA’s Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program will accelerate the adoption
and deployment of eligible Class 6 and 7 zero-emission vehicles. Vehicles
eligible for replacement include older vehicles powered by internal combustion
engines that pre-date recent EPA emission standards.  
In total, EPA announced 70 applicants across 27 states, 3 Tribal Nations, and
1 territory have been selected to receive over $735 million to assist in the
purchase of over 2,400 zero-emission vehicles through its first-ever Clean
Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program.
Proposed replacement vehicles include battery-electric box trucks, cargo
trucks, emergency vehicles, refuse/recycling haulers, school buses, shuttle
buses, step vans, transit buses, utility vehicles, and other vocational
vehicles, as well as a small number of hydrogen fuel cell transit buses. In
addition, the Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program also funds zero-emission
vehicle fueling infrastructure (e.g., electric vehicle charging stations), as
well as workforce development and training. These investments support the
implementation of the Biden-Harris Administration’s National Blueprint for
Transportation Decarbonization and the National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor
Strategy.
Approximately 70% of the funding awarded today will support the purchase of
clean school buses, helping provide clean air for children on their ride to
school. These awards complement EPA’s Clean School Bus program through the
President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which has awarded nearly $3
billion for nearly 9,000 clean school buses to date. 
The Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program advances President Biden’s
Justice40 Initiative, which aims to deliver 40% of the overall benefits of
certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized
by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. 
EPA prioritized disadvantaged communities facing air quality challenges,
including nonattainment with EPA’s fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ozone
(O3) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) or high levels of ambient
diesel PM. Applications were evaluated on engagement with affected
communities, especially local residents, to ensure their meaningful
participation with respect to the design, planning, and performance of the
project. Approximately $523 million of the funds announced today will be used
to fund projects serving communities located in areas in nonattainment with
the NAAQS. 
In addition to the funding for the replacement of existing internal combustion
engine Class 6 and 7 heavy-duty vehicles with eligible Class 6 and 7
zero-emission vehicles, funding may also be used to support zero-emission
vehicle adoption and deployment by providing: 
Zero-emission vehicle refueling infrastructure. 
Workforce development and training. 
Project implementation costs. 
EPA will work with selected applicants over the coming weeks to finalize
awards. EPA currently anticipates finalizing awards in early calendar year
2025 once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied. Project
implementation will occur over the next two to three years depending on the
scope of each project. 
Please visit the?Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program webpage for
additional information and updates as EPA works with tentatively selected
applicants to finalize awards and implement their projects. 
For further information and to stay up to date on matters related to our
office, sign up for the Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles?listserv.