The Environmental Protection Agency this spring will kick off the $1-billion Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program, which will be open for replacing Class 6 and 7 vehicles, including school buses.

The program will earmark at least $400 million to fund projects in areas that haven’t yet met the National Ambient Air Quality Standards under the Clean Air Act. The funding can be used for:

• Zero-emission vehicle infrastructure.

• Workforce development and training.

• Project implementation costs.

No launch date is set yet, but a Notice of Funding Opportunity should be released soon.

What Clean Vehicles are Eligible?

Per statute, Class 6 and 7 vehicles are eligible under the Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program, including:

• School buses.

• Refuse haulers/dump trucks.

• Transit buses.

• Deliver trucks.

• Utility trucks.

• Bucket trucks.

• Other box trucks.

Other activities approved for EPA funding:

• The incremental cost of replacing a non-zero-emission Class 6/7 heavy-duty vehicle with a Class 6/7 zero-emission vehicle.

• The purchase and installation of fueling infrastructure that will support vehicles replaced under this program.

• Driver/mechanic training related to the maintenance and operation of new vehicles and supporting fueling infrastructure, and vehicle warranties.

• Costs directly related to the implementation, management, and oversight of the project, including recipient and subrecipient personnel and benefits, contractual services, consulting on vehicle deployments, travel, supplies, and indirect costs.

How Fleets Can Prepare for the Application Process

The EPA recommends preparing for the funding opportunity ahead of time. Steps you can take include:

• Starting discussions with utilities, school boards, and other potential project stakeholders.

• Seeking to replace school buses? The EPA will provide a School Board Awareness Certification template. You’ll need an authorized representative from the school district, such as the superintendent, to sign the form and demonstrate that the board knows the application is in process.

• Converting to battery-electric vehicles? The EPA offers a Utility Partnership template to show your fleet operation is coordinating with a utility.

• Registering with grants.gov and SAM.gov.