Michael S. Regan, EPA Administrator | https://en.wikipedia.org/
On December 11, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that three Florida entities will receive a total of $16,194,726 in funding to support the purchase of 53 zero-emission vehicles. This funding comes from the EPA's Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program, which was established under President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act.
The City of Miramar is set to receive $853,000 to replace two Class 6 shuttles and one Class 7 street sweeper with electric versions and install three DC fast charging units. The School Board of Miami-Dade County will get $7,754,226 for replacing 25 diesel school buses with electric ones and installing corresponding charging infrastructure. Duval County Public Schools has been awarded $7,587,500 to replace 25 diesel buses with zero-emission buses (ZEBs), aiming to improve air quality and reduce transportation costs through a partnership with Highland Electric Fleets.
Michael S. Regan, EPA Administrator, commented on the initiative saying, “Thanks to President Biden, we are accelerating American leadership in developing clean technologies that address the impacts of climate change.” Acting Regional Administrator Jeaneanne Gettle added that this program focuses on communities with poor air quality.
Nationwide, over 3 million Class 6 and Class 7 vehicles are currently operational. These older vehicles contribute significantly to pollution associated with various health issues. The grant program seeks to mitigate these effects by supporting the transition to cleaner vehicle options.
In totality, the EPA announced that 71 applicants across various states and territories will receive approximately $739 million for purchasing over 2,000 zero-emission vehicles. The proposed replacements include a wide range of vehicle types such as battery-electric trucks and school buses.
A significant portion of this funding—70%—will be allocated towards clean school buses. This aligns with ongoing efforts under President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law which has already facilitated nearly $3 billion for similar purposes.
The Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program also aligns with President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative by prioritizing disadvantaged communities that face environmental challenges due to air pollution. Around $523 million from today's announcement is earmarked for projects serving areas not meeting national air quality standards.
The EPA plans to work closely with selected applicants over the coming weeks to finalize awards by early 2025 once all requirements are met. Project implementation is expected within two to three years depending on project scope.
For more information or updates on this program or other initiatives related to clean heavy-duty vehicles, interested parties can visit the EPA's dedicated webpage or contact them via email at cleanhdvehicles@epa.gov.
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