The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) has released its second 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.
Under this solicitation, $16 million in EMT funding is available for eligible Class 4-8 transit and shuttle bus projects. The grant program, managed by the TDEC Office of Energy Programs, will provide financial assistance to public, non-profit, and private fleets in Tennessee that apply to replace eligible transit or shuttle buses with any new alternate fueled or all-electric transit or shuttle buses. Additionally, fleets may also apply to repower transit or shuttle buses with new all-electric transit or shuttle bus drivetrains.
"Replacing older diesel buses and engines with new, alternative-fueled options will reduce air pollutants that threaten public health and the environment," TDEC Commissioner David Salyers said. "We look forward to awarding projects that will reduce transit and shuttle bus emissions and improve air quality for Tennesseans."
Transit or shuttle buses eligible for replacement or repower include 2009 engine model year or older Class 4-8 diesel buses used for transporting people. For purposes of this solicitation, "transit buses" shall include all vehicles that provide public transportation, which shall mean regular and continuing shared-ride surface transportation services that are open to the general public. "Shuttle buses" shall include vehicles that provide transportation services for one or more specific entities, intra-terminal or intra-facility transportation services, or mobility-on-demand services.
Eligible applicants are limited to one application each. Applications may include a variety of vehicle and/or fuel types. All terms and conditions of the program, including maximum number of replacements or repowers and associated funding caps, are outlined in an application manual, accessible here: Transit and Shuttle Bus Grant Application Manual.
Applications and supporting documentation must be submitted electronically via the TDEC online grants management system, which may be accessed here: https://tdec.smartsimple.com/.
Applications must be received by 4 p.m. CST on Nov. 19, 2019. TDEC will announce awards after conducting a comprehensive review and evaluation of all complete and eligible grant applications. Grant contracting efforts will occur shortly thereafter. For more information, click here: Transit and Shuttle Bus Grant Program.
TDEC will host an associated application workshop on Sept. 17 in Nashville. Representatives of transit agencies, transit or shuttle bus contractors, and other interested persons are encouraged to attend and learn about the application process and program terms and conditions, including project eligibility, timelines for implementation, and reporting requirements.
The RSVP link for the application workshop can be accessed here. TDEC will also release additional solicitations in the coming months for Class 4-7 local freight truck projects, Class 8 local freight truck and port drayage truck projects, and light duty zero emission vehicle supply equipment projects. Interested persons are advised to sign up for the TDEC VW Settlement email list at https://signup.e2ma.net/
