New Jerseyans and New Yorkers will Benefit from $15 Million to Upgrade Older Diesel Engines to Cleaner and Zero-Emission Solutions that are Better for Our Communities

New Jerseyans and New Yorkers will Benefit from $15 Million to Upgrade Older Diesel Engines to Cleaner and Zero-Emission Solutions that are Better for Our Communities

October 17, 2024

NEW YORK - Today, Oct. 17, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced selections totaling nearly $125 million under the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act National Grants Program which will incentivize and accelerate the upgrade or retirement of older diesel engines to cleaner and zero-emission solutions leading to significant emission reductions and air quality and public health benefits. Entities in New Jersey, New York and the tri-state area were selected to receive about $15 million from the total for projects. The DERA program prioritizes projects in areas that face air quality impacts, especially those projects that benefit disadvantaged communities and other areas that face particular public health or environmental justice risks or impacts.

"This infusion of EPA funding will create jobs, improve air quality, and help move our country into a clean energy future," said Lisa F. Garcia, Regional Administrator. "In addition to helping create and retain jobs, reducing diesel pollution helps to reduce premature deaths, asthma attacks and other respiratory ailments, lost workdays, and many other health impacts every year."

"For almost 20 years now, the competitive grants administered through the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act program have taken inefficient and old diesel engines off the road and replaced them with cleaner, American-made technology," said Senate Environment and Public Works Chairman Tom Carper. "This $125 million award will help the nation transition to a cleaner economy while also protecting vulnerable communities. This program is a testament to the kind of public-private partnerships that drive environmental and economic progress by reducing air pollution, creating American jobs, and making communities safer and healthier."

The following are brief descriptions of the projects benefiting New Jersey and New York:

1. New York City and Lower Hudson Valley Clean Communities - Zero-Emission Non-Road Equipment Replacement Project of Delta Air Lines Ground Support Equipment at John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport: This project will replace 30 non-road airport ground support equipment with new zero emission battery electric non-road airport ground support equipment vehicles for Delta at JFK airport, one of the nation's busiest airports.

2. Connecticut Maritime Foundation - Maritime Engine Replacement Project: This project will replace older, less efficient propulsion engines and auxiliary generator set engines with 26 newer and more efficient certified propulsion engines and four auxiliary generator sets on three ferries and two sightseeing cruise lines that operate in New York waters. Additionally, the Foundation will replace existing propulsion engines and auxiliary generator set engines with two certified propulsion engines and two powered auxiliary generator sets on one tugboat.

4. Leonardo Academy, Inc. - Diesel Emission Reduction for the benefit of the communities in Essex County and adjacent Hudson County via the replacement of diesel Straddle Carriers with Hybrid Electric Straddle Carriers: This project will replace nine diesel straddle carriers at port facilities with electric-hybrid straddle carriers. Straddle carriers are freight carrying vehicles that help move around large containers at ports without the use of forklifts or cranes.

5. South Jersey Port Corporation - Acquisition of a New Zero-Emission Port Forklift: This selectee will replace one diesel forklift with a zero-emission forklift.

6. The Port Authority of NY & NJ - Truck Replacement Program: This project will replace 100 older port drayage trucks with 100 newer port drayage trucks.

7. Leonardo Academy, Inc. - Diesel Emission Reduction for the benefit of the communities of Union County and the adjacent Essex County via the replacement of 20 Yard Trucks with EV Yard Trucks: This project will replace 20 diesel yard trucks with 20 electric vehicle yard trucks and install corresponding conductive charging.

In total, EPA has tentatively selected approximately 70 national DERA projects to reduce diesel emissions across a range of transportation sectors including the engine replacements and upgrades to school buses, port equipment, and construction equipment. In addition to funding new cleaner diesel technologies, more than half of these selections will support replacing older equipment and vehicles with zero-emission technologies, such as all-electric school buses, terminal tractors, drayage trucks and shore power to marine vessels. All selected projects will reduce diesel pollution and benefit local communities, including disadvantaged communities and other areas facing environmental justice concerns. Once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied and awards are finalized, EPA will update the DERA National Awards webpage.

Eligible activities include the retrofit or replacement of existing diesel engines, vehicles, and equipment with EPA and California Air Resources Board certified engine configurations and verified retrofit and idle reduction technologies. Reducing emissions from diesel engines is one of the most important air quality challenges facing the country. New diesel engines must meet tight standards, however, nearly 8 million legacy diesel engines across transportation sectors remain in service and emit higher levels of harmful nitrogen oxides and particulate matter than newer diesel engines. These pollutants are linked to a range of serious health problems including asthma, lung and heart disease, other respiratory ailments, and premature death.

In selecting projects for award, priority was given to projects that:

• Are in areas designated as having poor air quality.

• Reduce emissions from ports and other goods movement facilities.

• Benefit local communities.

• Incorporate local communities in project planning. 

• Demonstrate planning or action towards reducing vulnerabilities to climate impacts.

• Illustrate preparation for workforce development.

• Demonstrate an ability to continue efforts to reduce emissions after the project has ended.

DERA advances environmental justice by prioritizing emissions reductions in areas particularly affected by health and environmental impacts from diesel fleets. EPA is committed to ensuring the DERA Program delivers on the Biden-Harris Administration's Justice40 Initiative, which set a goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.

Read more information on the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act program. 

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