Biden-Harris Administration Announces Over $12 Million to Texas Organizations to Upgrade Older Diesel Engines to Cleaner and Zero-Emission Solutions
DALLAS, TEXAS (October 21, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced five Texas organizations to receive a total of $12,177,255 million under the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) National Grants Program. Grants to the Texas Department of Transportation, Fort Bend County, the Coalition for Sustainable Initiatives Inc, the North Central Texas Council of Governments, and the Port of Houston Authority will incentivize and accelerate the upgrade or retirement of older diesel engines to cleaner and zero-emission solutions, leading to significant emission reductions and air quality and public health benefits. The DERA program prioritizes projects in areas that face air quality impacts, especially those that benefit disadvantaged communities and other areas that face particular public health or environmental justice risks or impacts.
“Every community deserves to breathe clean air, but too many communities are still over-burdened by pollution from older diesel equipment,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “With the latest round of funding, EPA’s successful DERA program will upgrade these sources of harmful pollution, and accelerate real progress toward a cleaner, more just, and healthier future for all Americans.”
“DERA grants improve air quality for everyone, and especially for workers and other people who are directly exposed to harmful fumes from diesel vehicles. New, cleaner-burning vehicles will keep these benefits coming for years to come,” said Regional Administrator Dr. Earthea Nance. “I would like to thank the selected applicants for their commitment to reducing harmful emissions and contributing to cleaner, healthier air.”
Below is a breakdown of each organization’s funding and purpose:
- The Texas Department of Transportation will receive $535,850 to replace six heavy-duty on road legacy diesel short haul dump trucks with six 2023-2024 ultra-low sulfur diesel trucks.
- Fort Bend County will receive $2,956,500 to replace 22 diesel heavy-duty, on-road trucks with 22 electric, heavy-duty, on-road trucks.
- The Coalition for Sustainable Initiatives Inc will receive $2,685,750 to replace 57 eligible trucks with compressed natural gas trucks.
- The North Central Texas Council of Governments will receive $2,999,155 to replace two diesel Class 7 short-haul trucks with two new diesel Class 7 short-haul trucks; replace four diesel Class 8 refuse haulers with four new low nitrogen oxides certified Class 8 utility refuse haulers; and replace one diesel Class 8 refuse hauler with one new all-electric powered Class 8 utility refuse hauler.
- The Port of Houston Authority will receive $3,000,000 to retrofit eight diesel rubber tire gantry cranes with hybrid diesel-electric motors.
In total, EPA has tentatively selected approximately 70 national DERA projects to reduce diesel emissions across a range of transportation sectors including the engine replacements and upgrades to school buses, port equipment, and construction equipment. In addition to funding new 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 provide shore power to marine vessels. All selected projects will reduce diesel pollution and benefit local communities, including disadvantaged communities and other areas facing environmental justice concerns. A small number of awards are still under processing. Once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied and additional selections are finalized, the 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 (CARB) certified engine configurations and verified retrofit and idle reduction technologies. Reducing emissions from diesel engines is one of the most important air quality challenges facing the country. New diesel engines must meet tight standards, however, nearly eight million legacy diesel engines across transportation sectors remain in service and emit higher levels of harmful nitrogen oxides and particulate matter than newer diesel engines. These pollutants are linked to a range of serious health problems including asthma, lung and heart disease, other respiratory ailments, and premature death.
DERA advances environmental justice by prioritizing emissions reductions in areas particularly affected by health and environmental impacts from diesel fleets. EPA is committed to ensuring the DERA Program delivers on the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative, which set a goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.
Read more information on the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) program.
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