Biden-Harris Administration Announces Over $12 Million to Livingston and Jefferson Parish for Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles as Part of Investing in America Agenda
DALLAS, TEXAS (January 8, 2025) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that Livingston Parish and Jefferson Parish have been selected to receive a combined total of $12,700,000 to assist in the purchase of 45 zero-emission vehicles through its first-ever Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program.
“Thanks to President Biden, we are accelerating American leadership in developing clean technologies that address the impacts of climate change,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Together, the Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant projects announced today will slash air pollution and enhance the country’s infrastructure for cleaner transportation solutions, creating good-paying jobs along the way.”
“Because of federal funding being provided through Clean Heavy Duty Vehicle grants, air quality will improve in communities as we replace diesel-engine vehicles with cleaner alternatives,” said Regional Administrator Dr. Earthea Nance. “We are grateful to see the selectees share EPA’s concern regarding air pollution and believe in the importance of accelerating environmental justice initiatives in overburdened communities.”
“I’m proud to announce this funding for my district that will help combat climate change and enhance environmental justice in our community. By replacing high-polluting vehicles with 25 zero-emission school buses, we will improve air quality for everyone in Jefferson Parish. When I supported the Inflation Reduction Act, these were the kinds of investments that I was excited about,” said Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (LA-02)
Jefferson Parish will receive $7,100,000 to dispose of a total of 25 Class 7 diesel school buses (5 of which will include wheelchair lifts) from Louisiana and replace them with 25 Class 7 zero-emission, battery electric school buses. They will install DCFC charging station units and perform the necessary charging infrastructure work to accommodate the DCFC charging stations.
Livingston Parish will receive $5,600,000 to dispose of a total of 20 Class 7 diesel school buses from Louisiana and replace them with 20 Class 7 zero-emission, battery electric school buses. The Parish will install 20 DCFC charging station units and perform the necessary charging infrastructure work to accommodate DCFC charging stations.
EPA’s Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant program, created by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, will replace existing internal combustion engine heavy-duty vehicles with zero-emission vehicles, while also supporting the build out of clean vehicle infrastructure, as well as the training of workers to deploy these new zero-emission technologies. Together, the selected projects announced will reduce harmful emissions from heavy-duty vehicles, support good-paying jobs, and improve air quality in communities across the country, particularly in those that have been overburdened by air pollution. those that have been overburdened by air pollution. those that have been overburdened by air pollution.
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 28 states, 3 Tribal Nations, and 1 territory have been selected to receive over $735 million to assist in the purchase of over 2,000 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.
Roughly 70% of the funding awarded 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 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 cleanhdvehicles@epa.gov.
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