The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that the Utah Division of Air Quality (UDAQ), part of the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, will receive a $60 million grant. This funding is intended to support the purchase of 171 zero-emission vehicles under the EPA's Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program.
The allocation will be divided between two UDAQ programs. The Vocational Vehicles program will receive $18 million to replace internal-combustion engine box trucks and step vans with electric versions and install charging units. Meanwhile, the School Bus program will receive $42 million to replace traditional school buses with electric ones and set up necessary charging infrastructure.
The grant program, established by President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, aims to transition heavy-duty vehicles from internal combustion engines to zero-emission alternatives while promoting clean vehicle infrastructure development. "EPA continues to support the comprehensive investments Utah is making in cleaner transportation and vehicles," said Regional Administrator KC Becker.
Bryce Bird, Director of UDAQ, emphasized the importance of this investment: "This significant investment in zero-emission vehicles and infrastructure is yet another transformative step toward cleaner air and healthier communities across Utah."
Nationwide, over 3 million Class 6 and Class 7 vehicles are currently operational, many of which are older models emitting higher levels of pollutants like nitrogen oxides. These emissions contribute to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, impacting vulnerable populations such as children and older adults.
The Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program supports the Biden-Harris Administration’s initiatives for transportation decarbonization and aims to deliver benefits to disadvantaged communities affected by pollution. Approximately $523 million of today's announced funds target projects in areas not meeting national air quality standards.
EPA plans to finalize awards by early 2025 after fulfilling all legal requirements, with project implementation expected over two to three years depending on scope.
For more information on the Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program or updates on project implementation, visit their webpage or contact cleanhdvehicles@epa.gov.
