The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) Program provides grants and rebates for replacing or retrofitting diesel engines, vehicles and equipment to reduce air pollution.
Local Funding Available Now
VCAPCD was awarded $1.97 million in funding from the DERA Program to help replace heavy-duty diesel trucks with equivalent battery-electric models and install charging stations. Recipients will need to adhere to the guidelines described in EPA's DERA Notice of Funding Opportunity.
If you have a heavy-duty trucking replacement project that may qualify for DERA funds, please contact Holly Galbreath at holly@vcapcd.org or 805-303-3666.
Background
Reducing emissions from diesel engines is one of the most important air quality challenges facing the country. From transportation to energy generation, diesel engines power almost every sector of the American economy.
Due to more stringent EPA emission standards for new diesel engines, the ones coming off the manufacturing line today are 60 times cleaner than those built 20 years ago. But because diesel engines can operate for 30 years or more, there are still nearly 8 million old ones releasing large amounts of dangerous pollutants. Launched in 2005, the DERA program accelerates the transition to cleaner engines.
Health Effects
Old diesel engines emit large amounts of fine particulate matter and nitrogen oxides. These air pollutants contribute to asthma, lung disease and other cardiac and respiratory illnesses that result in thousands of premature deaths, millions of lost workdays and many other serious public health problems every year in the U.S.
More Information
Visit the EPA’s DERA Funding page.