The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy will receive $4,405,187 to purchase 15 zero-emission vehicles. This funding is part of the Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program, which aims to replace internal combustion engine vehicles with zero-emission alternatives.
This initiative is a component of President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act and seeks to reduce emissions from heavy-duty vehicles while creating infrastructure for clean transportation and training workers in new technologies. EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan stated, "Thanks to President Biden, we are accelerating American leadership in developing clean technologies that address the impacts of climate change."
EPA Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore emphasized the importance of clean air for all Americans: "Thanks to the Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant program, communities throughout the Great Lakes region are receiving critical funding to improve local air quality and transition their vehicle fleets towards a cleaner and more sustainable future."
The project in Michigan involves replacing 15 diesel recycling trucks with electric ones and installing corresponding charging units. The broader national effort includes over 3 million Class 6 and Class 7 vehicles currently in use, many of which are older models emitting higher levels of pollutants linked to health issues like respiratory disease.
In total, the EPA selected 70 applicants across various states and territories to receive over $735 million for purchasing more than 2,400 zero-emission vehicles. These include battery-electric trucks and buses as well as hydrogen fuel cell transit buses. The program also funds infrastructure such as charging stations and workforce development.
Approximately 70% of today's funding will go toward purchasing clean school buses, complementing EPA’s Clean School Bus program under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This supports President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative aiming to benefit disadvantaged communities disproportionately affected by pollution.
The EPA plans to finalize awards by early 2025 after meeting legal requirements, with project implementation expected over two to three years.
For further details on this program or related inquiries, visit the Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program webpage or contact cleanhdvehicles@epa.gov.
