The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) has announced 24 entities to receive $9,379,161.50 in total grant funding to replace class 4-7 local freight trucks (medium trucks) and class 8 local freight trucks (large trucks) across the state. Click here to see a full list of the selected Grantees and their corresponding project information.
The total includes $3,772,646.05 for medium truck projects, and $5,606,245.45 for large truck projects. They include: City of Athens; BFI Waste Services; City of Chattanooga; Etowah Utilities; City of Franklin; City of Gallatin; Town of Greeneville; Hancock County Highway Department; Jefferson County; City of Johnson City; Karns Fire Department; Knoxville Utilities Board; City of Lebanon; City of Lenoir City; Maury County Fire Department; McNairy County Highway Department; City of Memphis; Millington Airport; Montgomery County; Morgan County; City of Pigeon Forge; City of Portland; Washington County/Johnson City EMS; and Waste Management of Tennessee, Inc.
The pair of competitive grant programs comprise the state’s third solicitation for projects under the Volkswagen Diesel Settlement Environmental Mitigation Trust (VW Settlement EMT). The purpose of the EMT is to execute environmental mitigation projects that reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx).
For the Medium Truck Grant Program, selected awardees will replace a total of 35 engine model year 1992-2009 diesel trucks with 10 new diesel, two all-electric, 14 hybrid, eight propane, and one compressed natural gas trucks. These selected medium truck replacement projects are expected to reduce 22,561.47 pounds, or 11.28 tons, of NOx emissions over the lifetime of the new vehicles, with a vehicle cost-effectiveness rating of $166.44 per pound of NOx reduced.
For the Large Truck Grant Program, selected awardees will replace a total of 42 engine model year 1992-2009 diesel trucks with 33 new diesel, one all-electric, one hybrid, and seven compressed natural gas trucks. These selected large truck replacement projects are expected to reduce 38,295.83 pounds, or 19.15 tons, of NOx emissions over the lifetime of the new vehicles, with a vehicle cost-effectiveness rating of $146.39 per pound of NOx reduced.
Of the funded vehicle replacements, 59 trucks will operate 70 percent or more of the time in former nonattainment areas for ozone and/or fine particulates (PM2.5) under National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Twenty-four funded trucks will operate in counties that bear a disproportionate share of the air pollution burden (determined by TDEC’s Disproportionate Burden Index). Additionally, six funded trucks will operate in two of the state’s economically distressed counties, supporting local government and business economies by offsetting the cost of new and cleaner vehicle and transportation technologies.
Medium and Large Truck Grant Programs materials are available in the tabs below, including the application and programs manuals, link to the application workshop recording, and a list of frequently asked questions (FAQ) regarding the funding opportunity.
For additional information on the VW Settlement, visit the TDEC website here: http://www.tn.gov/environment/VWSettlement. Interested persons and entities are advised to sign up for the TDEC VW email list at https://signup.e2ma.net/signup/1843437/1737620/.
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