The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced nearly $125 million in selections under the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) National Grants program, with over $5.5 million allocated to selectees in Missouri. This funding aims to encourage and speed up the upgrade or retirement of older diesel engines, transitioning them to cleaner and zero-emission alternatives.
These projects are currently undergoing final workplan negotiations with the selected applicants. The DERA program focuses on areas heavily impacted by air quality issues, prioritizing projects that benefit disadvantaged communities and those facing specific public health or environmental justice challenges.
"Every community deserves to breathe clean air, but too many communities are still over-burdened by pollution from older diesel equipment," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "With the latest round of funding, EPA’s successful DERA program will upgrade these sources of harmful pollution, and accelerate real progress toward a cleaner, more just, and healthier future for all Americans."
Approximately 70 national DERA projects have been tentatively selected by the EPA to reduce diesel emissions across various transportation sectors. These include engine replacements and upgrades for school buses, port equipment, and construction machinery. More than half of these selections involve replacing older equipment with zero-emission technologies such as all-electric school buses and terminal tractors.
Missouri selectees may have projects extending into additional Region 7 states:
- The American Lung Association was chosen to receive $1,715,131 for several replacements involving zero-emission vehicles and compressed natural gas refuse haulers benefiting Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska.
- The Metropolitan Energy Center Inc. will receive $2,832,804 for replacing school buses with propane models and delivery vans with battery-electric models benefiting Kansas and Missouri.
- The Southeast Missouri Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission was awarded $117,164 for new diesel engine dump trucks.
- The Leonardo Academy Inc. received $912,017 to replace diesel school buses with propane-powered ones in Missouri.
All selected projects aim to reduce diesel pollution while benefiting local communities facing environmental justice concerns. A few awards are still being processed; updates will be provided once all legal requirements are met.
Reducing emissions from diesel engines is crucial due to their link to serious health problems like asthma and heart disease. Newer engines meet stricter standards compared to the approximately 8 million legacy engines still in service.
Priority was given to projects located in areas with poor air quality that also benefit local communities through planning efforts towards reducing climate impact vulnerabilities.
DERA supports environmental justice by focusing on emission reductions in areas significantly affected by health impacts from diesel fleets. The EPA is dedicated to fulfilling the Biden-Harris administration's Justice40 Initiative goals through this program.
