Diesel Emissions Reduction Grants


​NOTES:
FYFiscal Year, the federal fiscal year runs from October 1 to June 30
DERADiesel Emissions Reduction Act, an EPA program that funds grants and rebates to protect human health and improve air quality by reducing harmful emissions from diesel engines​

Maryland Cle​an​ Diesel Vehicle In​itiative + Baltimore Port Clean Diesel Initiative

​EPA DERA FY2​023-2024​
​EPA Grant Amount
​FY2023  TBD
FY2024  TBD
Other Funding​VW Mitigation Trust  $1,480,000
Vehicles Replaced
4 ​Electric school buses
38 Dray trucks
Status​In grant application process
​Estima​ted Lifetime Emissions Reductions (in tons)​
​TBD


Maryland plans to use its DERA State Grants for two projects: first, for both FY2023 and FY2024, to continue its successful Maryland Clean Vehicle Initiative, with an updated goal of replacing older diesel school buses with new electric buses, providing financial assistance of up to 45 percent, with the owner providing the remainder of the purchase price. Charging infrastructure for this is allowed to be funded under DERA for the first time and may be considered as proposed by grantees to power their new vehicles. The second part, for the FY2023 grant only, is to fund the Baltimore Port Clean Diesel Initiative with VW Mitigation Trust Funds using the DERA option, which will continue to provide financial assistance for the replacement of older drayage trucks operating at the Port of Baltimore with newer trucks. The prog​ram will pay for up to half the price of a truck with a MY2017 or newer EPA compliant engine, to a maximum of $35,000.

Replacing older, higher emission school buses with zero-emission electric school buses enhances children’s health by reducing their exposure to in-cabin diesel emissions. Newer buses also decrease emissions on the school grounds, in the immediate vicinity, and in neighborhoods and roads where the buses travel. The dray truck replacement project helps address emissions reductions and air quality goals at the Port of Baltimore and in its surrounding communities.


​​Maryland Clean Diesel Vehicle Initiative
​EPA DERA FY2021-2022​

​EPA Grant Amount​FY2021  $348,903
FY2022  $363,474
Vehicles Replaced
35 ​School buses
Status​In progress
​Estimated Lifetime Emissions Reductions (in tons)​FY2021  NOx 3.25, PM 0.011, HC 0.12, CO 0.45
FY2022  NOx 3.46, PM 0.09, HC 0.16, CO 1.5​

MDE’s FY2021 and FY2022 DERA State Grant funds are being used to replace aging diesel school buses in the state with new cleaner diesel buses, providing financial assistance of 25 percent up to $20,000 with the owner providing the funding for the remainder of the purchase price. Each vehicle is replaced with a diesel fueled vehicle having a 2019 or newer model year engine certified to EPA emissions standards. Replacing older, higher emission school buses helps enhance children’s health by reducing their exposure to in-cabin diesel emissions. Newer buses also decrease emissions on the school grounds, in the immediate vicinity, and in neighborhoods and roads where the buses travel.

Maryland Clean Diesel Vehicle Initiative
EPA DERA FY2019-2020

​EPA Grant Amount
​FY2019  $323,184
FY2020  $345,008
Vehicles Replaced
31 ​School Buses
2 Electric zoo tram shuttles
Status​Completed
​Estimated Lifetime Emissions Reductions (in tons)​​FY201​9  HC: 1.01, CO: 3.04, NOx: 5.84, PM: 0.59
FY2020  HC: 1.3, CO: 5.22, NOx: 11.4, PM: 1.24, CO2: 202.5

Maryland used the State Clean Diesel FY2019 and 2020 funds to replace aging diesel vehicles in the state--16 school buses for FY2019, and 15 school buses plus two diesel zoo shuttles for FY2020. This project was developed to address emissions reduction and air quality goals for the State of Maryland for areas having poor air quality, such as the Baltimore and Washington DC ozone nonattainment areas, and the surrounding regions. 

​The Maryland Clean Diesel Vehicle Initiative provided financial assistance of 25%, up to $20,000, for the replacement of older diesel public school buses with new diesel buses. Counties and school districts that had previously applied unsuccessfully for federal or state grants were considered first. The Initiative also contributed toward the replacement of older diesel passenger trams serving the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore with new battery-powered electric models. These vehicles have onboard charging technology and are eligible for 45% DERA funding.

Replacing older, higher emission school buses helps enhance children’s health by reducing their exposure to in-cabin diesel emissions. Newer buses also decrease emissions on the school grounds, in the immediate vicinity, and in neighborhoods and roads where the buses travel. The electric trams provide zero-emission transportation to zoo visitors, reducing health hazards for visitors as well as zoo animals and employees.​


Port of Baltimore Dray Truck Replacement Program
​EPA DERA FY2017-2018

​EPA Grant Amount​FY2017  $368,039
FY2018  $414,476
Other Funding​VW Mitigation Trust  $521,676
Vehicles Replaced
​42 Dray trucks
Status
​Completed
​Estimated Lifetime Emissions Reductions (in tons)

​FY2017  HC: 13.4, CO: 22.6, NOx: 94.6, PM: 3.9
FY2018  HC: 4.5, CO: 67.9, NOx: 283.9, PM: 11.7

As part of the continuing Port of Baltimore Dray Truck Replacement Program, MDE partnered with Maryland Environmental Service (MES), working for the Maryland Port Administration. The program paid for up to half the price of a MY2012 or newer truck with an EPA 2010 compliant engine, to a maximum of $30,000. Over the DERA FY2017-2018 grant period 42 older dray trucks, which had less-advanced emissions control systems, were replaced with the same number of clean newer ones. All the replaced trucks were destroyed, and any scrappage income received for the trucks being replaced was used by the owner toward their share of purchase price. This project helped address emissions reductions and air quality goals at the Port of Baltimore and in its surrounding communities.

Port of Baltimore Dray Truck Replacement Program

​EPA DERA FY2014-2016

​EPA Grant Amount

​FY2014  $88,946
FY2015  $136,886
FY2016  $217,788
Vehicles Replaced
​16 Dray trucks
Status​Completed
​Estimated Lifetime Emissions Reductions (in tons)​FY2014  HC: 0.74, CO: 5.6, NOx: 31.1, PM: 1.22
FY2015  HC: 1.03, CO:11.1, NOx: 43.5, PM: 1.7
FY2016  HC: 5.7, CO: 31.3, NOx: 100.4, PM: 6.0

During the Port of Baltimore Dray Truck Replacement Program, MDE partnered with Maryland Environmental Service (MES), working for the Maryland Port Administration (MPA), to continue a dray truck replacement program at the Port of Baltimore. The program paid for up to half the price of a newer truck with an EPA 2010 compliant engine, to a maximum of $30,000. In FY2014, $88,946 was made available and three older trucks were replaced. In FY2015, with $136,886, five trucks were replaced. In FY2016 with $217,788, eight trucks were replaced. The total for the grant was the replacement of 16 older trucks which had less-efficient emissions control systems for the same number of cleaner newer ones. All the replaced trucks were destroyed, and any scrappage income received was used by the owner toward their share of purchase price.

A Voluntary Agreement between the Maryland Department of the Environment, the Maryland Port Administration, and the Maryland Department of Transportation was signed in December 2015 to continue to reduce emissions from cargo handling equipment, drayage trucks, locomotives, and marine vessels. The signing was conducted as a press event at the Port to promote to the public the partnership and the work being done. The partners meet regularly with community groups to keep residents up to date with the latest actions and conditions at the port.


Maryland Truck Idle Reduction Program

​EPA DERA FY2012-2013

​EPA Grant Amount
​FY2012  $142,149
FY2013  $121,344
​Additional Funding
​Maryland Energy Administration $80,896
​Vehicles Retrofitted
​92 Trucks
Status
​Completed
​Estimated Lifetime Emissions Reductions (in tons)
​FY2012  NOx: 382.36, PM: 8.92, CO2: 16,178.7
FY2013  NOx: 406.57, PM: 9.49, CO2: 17,528.3

MDE, Maryland Energy Administration (MEA), and Maryland Motor Truck Association (MMTA) developed the program to providefinancial assistance for the labor and equipment costs of idle reduction technology installation on Class 6-8 on-highway trucks. MDE provided program oversight and technical support. MEA administered the program including managing the program website, processing all applications, and making reimbursements. It was designed to improve regional air quality by reducing idling emissions from diesel engine trucks. Additional benefits include greenhouse gas (CO2) reductions and diesel fuel savings. The program grants were issued for up to 50% of the total cost with maximum of $3,000 per truck. 92 vehicles received either auxiliary power units, battery air conditioning systems or fuel operated heaters.

Contact​

For additional information, call Tim Shepherd at (410) 537-3270 or email tim.shepherd@maryland.gov.