EPA Grants $135M to California for Diesel Truck Phase-Out – AgriNews

TL/DR –

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is gifting California with $135 million in grants to support 13 projects that aim to transition away from fossil fuels and eliminate diesel-fueled big rigs. The funds, sourced from the 2022 climate law Inflation Reduction Act, will be used to buy 455 zero-emission vehicles as part of a nationwide EPA initiative that is putting $735 million towards 70 projects. The grant money, due to be dispersed in 2025, will help reduce air pollution and mitigate climate change.

California’s Green Transition Boosted with $135 Million EPA Grant

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is set to award $135 million in grants for 13 green projects in California, aiding the state’s retraction from fossil fuels and the phasing out of diesel-run big rigs.

This funding, earmarked for the state transportation department, cities, and school districts, will purchase 455 zero-emission vehicles to replace diesel-powered trucks and other large vehicles. This initiative is part of an expansive EPA program, allocating a total of $735 million to 70 projects nationwide.

Sponsored by the 2022 climate law ratified by congressional Democrats, known as the Inflation Reduction Act, this initiative will infuse nearly $400 billion in tax credits and spending to bolster clean energy solutions like wind and solar power, accelerating the nation’s shift away from climate-changing fossil fuels.

EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator, Martha Guzman, declared that the funding, due in early 2025, will “reduce air pollution, improve health outcomes in nearby communities, and propel the fight against climate change.”

California and local agencies will be executing these grants for zero-emission trucks over a span of two to three years.

According to the EPA, the transportation sector is the largest contributor to annual greenhouse gas emissions, with medium and heavy-duty trucks constituting nearly a quarter of these emissions.

In California, heavy-duty vehicles comprise about 3% of cars on the roads, but they generate over half of nitrogen oxides and fine-particle diesel pollution. These vehicles have diesel engines that, while more powerful, emit more pollution than gasoline engines and traverse more miles than most passenger vehicles.

The state has been striving towards fossil fuel independence, implementing new regulations to phase out fossil fuel-powered vehicles and equipment, requiring waivers from the EPA. Last month, Governor Gavin Newsom traveled to Washington to urge the Biden administration to grant waivers for eight climate rules, including zero-emission vehicles and emission standards.

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