A new round of grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be awarded for projects to reduce emissions from diesel vehicles.

The agency is now accepting proposals for the Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program fiscal year 2015, which is funded through the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act program. The total estimated funding for the competitive opportunity is about $13.5 million.

The EPA will host informational webinars on Tuesday, May 12, and Thursday, May 21, both at 2 p.m. ET. The webinar link and call-in information can be found here.

The request for proposals (RFP) will close on June 15. The EPA expects to make awards in the fall.

The RFP has been updated from the most recent competition, so applicants are encouraged to review it carefully. Priority will be given to proposals that demonstrate, among other factors:

• Diesel emission reductions from engines involved in goods movement, including freight and/or ports;
• Diesel emission reductions in areas of poor air quality;
• Project outcomes that benefit the community; and
• Community engagement and partnerships in the development and implementation of the project.

School districts are among the eligible applicants, and buses are among the eligible vehicles.

For more information on the new funding opportunity, including the RFP, go here.

The EPA recently awarded $8 million in clean diesel grants for the program’s fiscal year 2014 allocation.