School districts have until June 25 to submit proposals to fund school-bus, emissions-reduction projects tied to the National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program, part of the Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA).
The RFP stage for $9 million in FY2013 funds opened on Thursday. EPA said grantees are expected to be notified in July, with funds being awarded this fall.
Eligible projects include verified emission control technologies such as exhaust controls; cleaner fuels and engine upgrades; verified idle-reduction technologies; verified aerodynamic technologies; low-rolling resistance tires; certified engine repowers; and/or certified vehicle or equipment replacement.
EPA said it will fund 100 percent of projects that install eligibie and verified exhaust control technologies as well as idle-control technologies and low-rolling-resistant tires. The agency will fund up to 40 percent of other projects including labor and equipment for alternative-fuel conversions, certified engine re-power and certified engine updates.
School districts operating school buses and other fleet vehicles must compete with commercial truck companies and operators of locomotives, agricultural equipment, cargo vehicles and mining or energy production providers. Regional, state, local or tribal agencies may also apply for funds.
Last month, President Obama’s FY2014 proposed budget included a 70-percent reduction in DERA funds. Several weeks later, the EPA published a report for Congress that highlights the improvements DERA projects have had on air quality and fuel savings over the 10-year life of the program. The report states that 6,000 school buses were retrofitted in 2008, and the first ARRA project a year later included 1,000 retrofitted school buses in Colorado. In 2010, Mississippi retrofitted or replaced more than 2,000 school buses.
