EPA Announces Over $125 Million for Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles in New York State
NEW YORK - 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 $125 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.
Questions may also be directed to [email protected].
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