Grants in Cuyahoga, Franklin, Hamilton, Lake, Montgomery, Portage, Stark, Summit counties to eliminate 6 tons of pollutants annually
The Ohio Diesel Emissions Reduction Grant (DERG) Program has awarded six grants totaling more than $9 million for replacing 25 aging diesel transit buses with newer, cleaner diesel or alternative fuel technology.
Ohio EPA estimates that these projects will result in reducing more than six tons of air pollutants annually. These benefits will continue to accrue each year the new buses remain in service.
Projects receiving funding include:
- Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) in Franklin County, is receiving $1.96 million to cover 80 percent of the cost to replace four 2009 diesel-powered buses with four new compressed natural gas-powered (CNG-powered) buses.
- Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) in Cuyahoga County, is receiving $1.97 million for 61 percent of the cost to replace six 2005-2006 diesel-powered buses with six new CNG-powered buses.
- Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority (GDRTA) in Montgomery County, is receiving $1.2 million for 80 percent of the cost to replace three 2010 diesel-powered transit buses with three new diesel-powered buses.
- METRO Regional Transit Authority (METRO) in Summit County, is receiving $855,000 for 80 percent of the cost to replace two 2010 diesel-powered buses with two new CNG-powered buses.
- Portage Area Regional Transportation Authority (PARTA) in Portage County, is receiving $1.1 million for 70 percent of the cost to replace three 2003-2005 buses with three new CNG-powered buses.
- Stark Area Regional Transit Authority (SARTA) in Stark County, is receiving $2 million for 80 percent of the cost to replace seven 2010-2016 diesel-powered buses with six new CNG-powered buses and one hydrogen fuel cell-powered bus.
Funding for the grants comes from the Federal Highway Administrations’ Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) program. The next DERG application deadline is expected to be in autumn 2022. Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact derg@epa.ohio.gov to receive email updates when the “Request for Proposals” is released. Applications may be submitted for projects in 35 eligible Ohio counties, and portions of three other counties. The Ohio program is administered jointly by the Ohio Department of Transportation and Ohio EPA.
More information is available online: https://epa.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/epa/divisions-and-offices/environmental-education/grant-programs/diesel-emission-reduction-grants.