North Texas Diesel Emissions Reduction 2023 Call For Partners

• School buses
• Transit buses
• Class 5 - Class 8 medium-duty and heavy-duty highway vehicles
• Nonroad engines, equipment or vehicles used in construction, handling of cargo (including at ports or airports), agriculture, mining, or energy production (including stationary generators and pumps)
• Transport Refrigeration Units
• SmartWay verified idle reduction technology for on-road highway vehicles
• Locomotive engine replacement and locomotive shore power connections systems 

Partners included in the proposal must submit an application, letter of commitment and other required documents for grant-required matching funds that will range from 0 to 75 percent of total project cost, depending upon individual projects submitted.  More requirements are outlined in the CFP guidelines.  
  
Application, letter of commitment and other required documents must be received in-hand no later than 5 p.m. Central Time, on Friday, October 27, 2023, to attention AQ Grants-NTDER 2023 CFP, North Central Texas Council of Governments, 616 Six Flags Drive, Arlington, Texas 76011.  

Call for Partners Details

Eligible Applicants: 

Eligible applicants include private sector fleets and public fleets including public agencies for high-use diesel vehicles and equipment operating at goods movement facilities like airports, rail yards, terminals, and distribution centers.   

Eligible applicants must adopt a policy consistent with the Regional Transportation Council (RTC)  Clean Fleet Policy  or similar policy prior to receiving the rebate.   

Eligible Projects & Funding Levels: 

All existing vehicles,  equipment, and engines must be diesel. The new replacement vehicle,  equipment, or engine may be diesel, gasoline, or alternative fuels, covered at the following funding levels: 

*Eligible fuel cell projects are limited to hydrogen fuel cell engine replacements for eligible urban transit buses, shuttle buses and drayage trucks, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicle replacements for eligible urban transit buses, shuttle buses, and drayage trucks. 

**Eligible costs for battery electric powered vehicle, equipment and engine replacement projects can include the purchase and installation of one charging unit per vehicle, including the unit and charging cable, mount and/or pedestal. These costs are subject to the mandatory cost share requirements. 

***CARB=California Air Resources Board; Please see the Low-NOx Engine Factsheet found on the DERA National Grants website for guidance on identifying engines certified to meet CARB’s Optional Low NOx Standards - https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPDF.cgi/P10119PZ.PDF?Dockey=P10119PZ.pdf 

****EPA=Environmental Protection Agency; a list of currently available engines certified to EPA’s standards are available at: https://www.epa.gov/emission-standards-reference-guide/all-epa-emission-standards   

*****Tier 3 engines may be used for engine replacement only if Tier 4 is demonstrated to not be available or feasible through a best achievable technology analysis.  Locomotive engine replacements must commit to using Tier 4 engines if Tier 4 engines with the appropriate physical and performance characteristics are available. Applicants anticipating the use of Tier 3 or Tier 4i engines should discuss their rationale for proposing Tier 3 or Tier 4i engine replacements. Tier 3 is not eligible for locomotive replacement.  Fuel cell engine and locomotive replacements are not eligible. 

Eligible Locations: 

Projects will be located and operate in any of the ten counties (Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant, and Wise counties) currently classified as nonattainment for the pollutant ozone under either the 2008 or 2015 ozone standards and/or within the counties identified as area of air toxics concern which includes Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant counties. Projects operating within the above counties as well as within environmental justice areas and freight-oriented development areas are most desirable and will receive higher scoring evaluation.  See the map for locations in priority areas. 

See Call for Partner Guidelines for more specific eligibility information in the 'How to Apply' section below.