The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) National Clean Diesel Campaign recently opened a new grant competition to solicit applications for approximately $32 million in funding for clean diesel activities. The Request for Proposal (RFP) - RFP# EPA-OAR-OTAQ-11-01 - will remain open until January 13, 2011. Private construction companies cannot apply, on their own, for an EPA diesel retrofit grant. However, AGC members can partner with "eligible applicants" (including AGC Chapters; other nonprofit organizations or institutions; regional, state or local government agencies) to propose cost-effective clean diesel projects. Interested AGC members should also contact their local equipment dealers to begin assessing their fleets to determine what machines can potentially be cleaned up.
EPA awards grants via its National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program on a HIGHLY competitive basis to fund the implementation of diesel retrofit projects that will significantly reduce engine emissions from in-use diesel (e.g., construction equipment). The fiscal year (FY) 2011 RFP# EPA-OAR-OTAQ-11-01 contains details regarding eligibility, program guidelines and submission instructions for the current grant competition. EPA will select project "winners" using the criteria outlined in the new RFP and award grants in May 2011.
For questions and support, contact the clean diesel hotline at 1-877-623-2322 (1-877-NCDC-FACTS) or you can email cleandiesel@epa.gov (type "National RFP Question" in the subject line of your e-mail). EPA currently is collecting and responding in writing to all Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) (PDF) regarding the grant competition. All questions and answers will be posted in the FAQ document above.
Summary At-A-Glance
EPA's National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program is soliciting proposals nationwide 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 Administrator as poor air quality areas.
Eligible diesel emission reduction solutions include but are not limited to: add-on emission control retrofit technologies; idle reduction technologies; cleaner fuel use; engine repowers; engine upgrades; and/or vehicle or equipment replacement; and the creation of innovative finance programs to fund diesel emissions reduction projects. Under this grant program, funding is restricted to the use of EPA- and California Air Resources Board (CARB)-verified and certified diesel emission reduction technologies.
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 entities include regional, state, local or tribal agencies or port authorities with jurisdiction over transportation or air quality, and nonprofit organizations or institutions that a) represent or provide pollution reduction or educational services to persons or organizations that own or operate diesel fleets or b) have, as their principal purpose, the promotion of transportation or air quality.
Get Started
Anyone interested in applying for federal funds to clean up older diesel equipment should contact their local equipment dealers right away. The CAT and John Deere representatives below will point you in the right direction and help you to strategize and refine project proposals, assemble partners, provide data and perform calculation, and potentially even find an eligible applicant to apply on your behalf.
Also, EPA has posted useful information such as a "sample project narrative" and "sample fleet description" online at http://www.epa.gov/otaq/diesel/prgnational.htm; click on "Tools and Resources" to also access EPA's diesel emissions quantifier and EPA's list of the steps you should take to for a successful retrofit project
John Deere Construction and Forestry Division
Joe Mastanduno, Product Marketing Manager, Engine/Drivetrain
Cell: 563-508-2534
Email: MastandunoJosephR@JohnDeere.com
Online: http://www.deere.com/emissions
Cat Emissions Solutions (CES)
Steve Igoe, Commercial Manager
Office: 309-578-8321
Cell: 309-256-0935
Email: igoe_steven_a@cat.com
Online: http://www.cat.com/emissionssolutions
AGC Successes
Over the past few years, AGC has worked with its Chapters and members to prepare applications for National Funding Assistance Program grants and together have been reasonably successful, considering the extremely fierce competition. In recent grant competitions, the amount of money requested has exceeded the amount of money available by seven fold. Congratulations to the following AGC winners-
- Constructors Association of Western Pennsylvania (AGC) partnered with Allegheny Cty Health Dept., awarded $925,000 grant
- AGC of Greater Florida members sharing in $1.6M grant awarded to Florida Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors Assoc.
- AGC of Kentucky awarded $50,000 and $2M grants
- AGC of Minnesota members sharing in $3M and $977,243 grants awarded to Minn. Environmental Initiative
- Oregon- Columbia AGC was awarded $120,000 grant
- AGC of Greater Milwaukee selected to receive $500,000 grant
- AGC members also have benefited from funds awarded by EPA to state/local agencies - indicating many public-private partnerships at play!!