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Diesel Emissions Reduction Act Grants

The Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA), contained within the Energy Policy Act of 2005, provides grants and loans to states and other eligible entities to achieve significant reductions in diesel emissions. DEEP receives funds from EPA through the State DERA Program. From time to time, project proposals have been solicited from municipalities, organizations, and individuals for diesel reduction projects that are environmentally and economically beneficial.

Current DERA and Diesel Related Funding Opportunities

To the extent resources are available, DEEP can provide assistance to entities and individuals seeking to apply for these grants:

Fiscal Year 2019 State DERA Program

Proposal period closed on November 25, 2019

Up to $728,000 is being made available for Connecticut’s FY19 State DERA Program. A portion of the funding for this year is available to us through the "DERA Option" under Connecticut's Volkswagen Diesel Emissions Mitigation Program.

For detailed information, see the guidance documents below:

Commissioner's Invitation to Participate
2019 Guidance for State DERA Project Proposals
State DERA Application Form: Word | PDF

National Clean Diesel Campaign Grants

Requests for proposals for the National Clean Diesel Campaign and related information are posted on EPA's Clean Diesel Website. The program solicits applications nationwide for projects that achieve significant reductions in diesel emissions and exposure, particularly from fleets operating in areas designated by EPA as poor air quality areas.

In September 2019, EPA awarded the City of Stamford $546,610 to replace seven-diesel powered garbage trucks with new trucks that meet 2019 EPA emissions standards. For more information on how your municipality, state, or business can participate, please visit EPA's Clean Diesel Website.

National DERA School Bus Rebate Program

The National DERA School Bus Rebate Program offers funding to public and private fleet owners for the replacement of old diesel school buses with new buses certified to EPA’s cleanest emission standards. EPA awards funding on a per bus basis and requires the scrapping and replacement old buses. To find out more about current and past funding under this program, please visit the program website.

VW Diesel Emissions Mitigation Program

In 2018, over $50 million became available for various nitrogen oxide (NOx) mitigation projects, including diesel reduction projects. While incentives under the VW Program are potentially more generous, many clean diesel projects that are eligible for the State DERA Program, are not eligible for VW funding. Please visit Connecticut's VW Settlement webpage for more information on current grant opportunities.

Other EPA Grant opportunities

EPA’s Boston office provides information regarding grants and funding in New England on its website.

In addition, EPA maintains a listing of open announcements for grants, fellowships and other funding for environmental projects.

Clean Cities Grant Programs

Your organization may be able to take advantage of incentive and financial opportunities for reducing petroleum use in your fleet of vehicles.

Ongoing DERA Projects

2019-2020 State DERA Grant

In October of 2019, DEEP received a new year of funding from EPA's State DERA program. DEEP's activities under the program are subject to the terms of the agreement below.

2019 State DERA Cooperative Agreement between DEEP and EPA – August 13, 2019

The 2019 FY State DERA projects are being funded by a combination of DEEP's 2019 State DERA allocations, "DERA Option" matching funds from the Volkswagen Diesel Emissions Environmental Mitigation Trust (VW Trust), and an EPA match incentive. DEEP conducted an open and competitive solicitation in the fall of 2019 after which the following nine projects were selected for 2019 State DERA funding:

  • Town of Burlington: up to $48,614.35 toward the replacement of a Class 8 diesel dump truck;

  • Town of Canaan: up to $41,276.73 toward the replacement of a Class 8 snowplowing dump truck;

  • F&F Concrete Corporation: up to $172,181.32 toward the replacement of three Class 8 concrete trucks; the funds will come from the "DERA Option" under VW NOx Mitigation Trust Agreement;

  • Kay’s Trucking: up to $57,733.69 toward the replacement of two Class 8 tractors; the funds will come from the "DERA Option" under VW NOx Mitigation Trust Agreement;

  • Town of New Milford: up to $108,602.98 toward the early replacement of three Class 8 snowplowing dump trucks;

  • City of Stamford: up to $144,591.41 toward the replacement of four, Class 6 utility trucks;

  • Target Enterprises: up to $37,885.74 toward the replacement of a flatbed truck with crane; the funds will come from the "DERA Option" under VW NOx Mitigation Trust Agreement;

  • Town of West Hartford: up to $33,485.04 toward the replacement of a maintenance dump truck; and

  • Town of Weston: up to $83,287.74 toward the replacement of two Class 8 dump trucks; the funds will come from a combination of State DERA funds ($52,049.25) and the "DERA Option" under VW NOx Mitigation Trust Agreement ($31,238.49).

2017-2018 State DERA Grant

In October of 2017, DEEP received a new year of funding from EPA’s State DERA program. DEEP received a second year of funding to support projects that must be completed in the 2018 fiscal year. In 2019, EPA granted DEEP a no-cost extension to the end of FY 2019 to allow completion of existing projects and additional projects selected in 2019. DEEP’s activities under the program are subject to the terms of the agreements below.

2017 State DERA Cooperative Agreement between DEEP and EPA - September 13, 2017
2018 State DERA Assistance Amendment between DEEP and EPA - October 1, 2018
2018 State DERA Assistance Amendment between DEEP and EPA - March 14, 2019
2018 State DERA Assistance Agreement between DEEP and EPA - March 28, 2019
2018 State DERA Assistance Agreement between DEEP and EPA - August 01, 2019
2018 State DERA Assistance Agreement between DEEP and EPA - December 17, 2019

The 2017-2018 FY State DERA projects are being funded by a combination of DEEP’s 2017 and 2018 State DERA allocations, “DERA Option” matching funds from the Volkswagen Diesel Emissions Environmental Mitigation Trust (VW Trust), an additional voluntary match from DEEP Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) funds and an EPA match incentive. DEEP conducted an open and competitive solicitation in the fall of 2019 after which two new projects were selected for 2017-2018 State DERA funding. In total, the projects to be funded under Connecticut’s 2017-2018 State DERA Program are:

  • 2019: Gateway Terminal, LLC: up to $367,372.48 toward early replacement of six, Class 8 drayage trucks; $285,637.60 will come from the "DERA Option" under VW NOx Mitigation Trust Agreement, $66,675.73 from FY 2017-2018 State DERA allocation and bonus, and $15,059.15 is from State SEP funds added as an increase to the 2017-2018 voluntary match.

  • 2019: Tirollo Bus Company, LLC: up to $39,429.47 for early replacement of two diesel-powered school buses with gasoline-powered equivalents.

  • 2018: Atlas Concrete Products: up to $76,280.79 toward the early replacement of a Class 8 flatbed truck with hydraulic crane; the funds will come from the "DERA Option" under VW NOx Mitigation Trust Agreement;

  • 2018: BART Mansi, d.b.a. the Guildford Lobster Pound: up to $44,857.88 toward the replacement of a marine engine for the FV Erica Paige;

  • 2018: Donald J. King, d.b.a. King Lobster: up to $27,258.73 toward the replacement of a marine engine for the FV Kory Alexander;

  • 2018: Savino Transportation, Inc: up to $43,311.22 toward the early replacement of two diesel-powered school buses with propane-powered equivalents, beginning the transition of its rural school bus fleet from diesel to propane;

  • 2018: State Line Propane, LLC: up to $31,035.62 toward the early replacement of a Class 8 tractor;

  • 2018: Sysco Leasing, LLC: up to $149,233.61 toward the early replacement of five Class 8 and two Class 7 diesel freight trucks; the funds will come from the "DERA Option" under the VW Mitigation Trust Agreement;

  • 2018: Thimble Islands Ferry Company: up to $13,679.80 toward repowering its boat, the MV Adriaen B, replacing a Tier 0 marine engine with a Tier 3 marine engine;

  • 2018: Tirollo Bus Company, LLC: up to $19,249.43 toward the early replacement of a diesel-powered school bus with a gasoline-powered equivalent;

  • 2018: Town of Beacon Falls: up to $40,905.04 toward the early replacement of a snowplowing dump truck;

  • 2018: Town of Burlington: up to $42,029.59 toward the early replacement of a dump truck;

  • 2018: Town of Coventry: up to $49,326.66 toward the early replacement of a heavy-duty dump truck;

  • 2018: Town of East Hartford: up to $90,231.70 toward the early replacement of one backhoe and two agricultural mowers;

  • 2018: Town of West Hartford: up to $63,237.62 toward the early replacement of a maintenance dump truck;

  • 2017: Metropolitan District (MDC) in Hartford: $137,628.23 toward the early replacement of a Vactor truck for pumping sewers; and

  • 2017: Town of Coventry: $45,115.77 toward the early replacement of a heavy-duty, snow-plowing dump truck.

Archive of Completed DERA Projects

The following is a compilation of all projects completed utilizing DERA funding. For information on some of DEEP's other diesel initiatives, please visit our Diesel Emissions Reduction Projects webpage.

2014-2016 State DERA2 Grant
Summary of Funded Projects
Final Report - December 18, 2017

2012-2013 State DERA2 Grant
Summary of Funded Projects
Final Report - October 20, 2015

CT Recovery Program
Summary of Funded Projects

2009 CT Clean School Bus Program
Program Summary

2008-2012 State DERA Grant
Summary of Funded Projects
Final Report - April 20, 2012
2011-2012 State DERA Workplan
Agreement between DEEP and EPA under 2008 State DERA Program

2008 NEDC/DERA Grant
Summary of Funded Projects
Final Report - April 15, 2011
Agreement between DEEP and EPA under 2008 NEDC-DERA Funding

National DERA Program Projects
A complete list of all projects funded by the DERA National Funding Assistance Program can be found on EPA's National Clean Diesel Campaign web page. Projects funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act are included.
Summary of Funded Projects

Content last updated March 17, 2020