DEEP Approves $1.59M In Pollution-Reducing Grants

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) today announced the release of more than $1.59M in Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) grants to support the state’s efforts to reduce diesel pollution and advance electrification of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.

The 14 projects awarded will mitigate 82.2 tons of smog forming nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions over the lifetime of the projects. The projects will also remove over 3,908 tons of climate-warming carbon dioxide (CO2). Additionally, a total of 5.5 tons of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and 5.4 tons of fine particulate matter, which contributes to asthma and other bronchial conditions, will be removed from communities across Connecticut, some of which bear a disproportionate share of Connecticut’s air pollution.

“I applaud the efforts and foresight of the applicants under this program in recognizing the health and environmental benefits of reducing diesel emissions in the state through the improvement of transportation technology,” said DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes. “I am particularly pleased we were able to fund a number of projects that replaced diesel vehicles and equipment with electric equivalents in communities such as Hartford and New Haven that are overburdened by air pollution.”

DERA, which is funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), provides grants to states and other eligible entities to be leveraged for newer, cleaner equipment to improve air quality. DEEP administers the DERA grants on the EPA’s behalf, and is awarding these funds for a variety of diesel mitigation projects to achieve significant reductions in air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

Originally announced as $767,000 in available grants, the final amount awarded was increased to $1.59M with additional funding from Connecticut’s VW Mitigation funds. DERA funding covers 60 percent of a project cost, so the actual investments leveraged through this program total more than $2.6M.

Older diesel engines emit large amounts of pollutants such as NOx, CO2 and particulate matter. The fine particles in diesel exhaust pose serious health risks, including aggravated asthma and other respiratory symptoms. Children and the elderly are especially vulnerable to these effects and the Northeast has some of the highest asthma rates in the nation, including a childhood asthma rate above 10 percent in all six New England states^[1]. A recent national report, Asthma Capitals 2019, ranked New Haven (#11) and Hartford (#13) among the 100 largest U.S. cities where it is most challenging to live with asthma.

DEEP received 27 applications in the DERA grant round, requesting $3.96M in funding and 14 were selected to receive grants. Projects were ranked by a variety of criteria, including air pollution reduction and cost effectiveness.

These proposals highlight municipal and business leadership and motivation in the state to reduce emissions associated with medium- and heavy-duty vehicles and that cleaner options are available.

“We are excited to move forward with this project to provide our students in the Greater New Haven Area with a safe, clean and efficient ride to and from school every day,” said Timothy Howes, Deputy Executive Director of the Area Cooperative Educational Services or ACES. “This project will enable us to replace one of our older school buses with a new electric equivalent and the associated charging. The project advances our goals of reducing emissions and modernizing our fleet. ACES is committed to implementing this project to benefit our children and our environment in the Greater New Haven community.”

DERA is one of several efforts DEEP is prioritizing that will enable more investment in cleaner vehicles going forward, complimenting the state’s commitment in July to work collaboratively with 15 other jurisdictions to advance and accelerate the market for electric medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, and in December to join the Transportation and Climate Initiative Program (TCI-P).

Together, these efforts will result in substantial reductions to emissions from the transportation sector, which is responsible for approximately 70 percent of smog forming air pollution and 38 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in Connecticut.

The projects awarded under the 2020 DERA State Grant Program include:

Area Cooperative Educational Services (ACES)

• Project Description: Replacement of one MY 2005 Class 5 school bus with an electric MY 2020 equivalent (EVSE included).
• Amount Awarded: $213,750.00
• Cost Share: $261,250.00
• Annual Reductions: 0.084 tons NOX, 0.007 tons PM2.5
• Project Location: Greater New Haven

Blue Earth Compost, Inc.

• Project Description: Replacement of one MY 2007 Class 5 compost collection stepvan truck with an electric MY 2020 equivalent.
• Amount Awarded: $69,862.00
• Cost Share: $85,388.00
• Annual Reductions: 0.114 tons NOX, 0.001 tons PM2.5
• Project Location: Hartford & Statewide

Cariati Developers, Inc.

• Project Description: Replacement of five (5) EMY 1996-2002 Class 8 Dump Trucks with MY 2022 diesel equivalents.
• Amount Awarded: $256,187.50
• Cost Share: $768,562.50
• Annual Reductions: 38.980 tons NOX, 2.488 tons PM2.5
• Project Location: Meriden & Statewide

Coastal Carriers of CT, LLC

• Project Description: Replacement of one EMY 1999 diesel fuel delivery truck with a MY 2021 diesel equivalent.
• Amount Awarded: $34,200.75
• Cost Share: $102,602.25
• Annual Reductions: 6.713 tons NOX, 0.431 tons PM2.5
• Project Location: Ansonia & Statewide

CWPM, LLC

• Project Description: Replacement of one MY 2005 diesel-powered Class 6 truck with a MY 2021 diesel-powered equivalent.
• Amount Awarded: $24,664.35
• Cost Share: $73,993.08
• Annual Reductions: 0.311 tons NOX, 0.030 tons PM2.5
• Project Location: Plainville, New Haven, Essex, Bridgeport & Hartford

D. Brake Marine, LLC

• Project Description: Replacement of two (2) unrated diesel-powered marine propulsion engines on MV Tug Empire with Tier 3 diesel engines.
• Amount Awarded: $91,748.00
• Cost Share: $137,622.00
• Annual Reductions: 7.849 tons NOX, 0.094 tons PM2.5
• Project Location: Groton

E.A. Quinn Landscape Contracting, Inc.

• Project Description: Replacement of one MY 2005 diesel-powered Class 5 box truck with a MY 2022 diesel-powered equivalent.
• Amount Awarded: $16,462.00
• Cost Share: $49,386.00
• Annual Reductions: 0.510 tons NOX, 0.065 tons PM2.5
• Project Location: Glastonbury & Statewide

Elate Moving, LLC

• Project Description: Replacement of one MY 2005 diesel-powered Class 6 moving truck with a MY 2020 battery-electric-powered equivalent.
• Amount Awarded: $95,818.00
• Cost Share: $117,110.00
• Annual Reductions: 3.846 tons NOX, 0.309 tons PM2.5
• Project Location: Greenwich & Statewide

Joel Lizza, Commercial Fishing

• Project Description: Replacement of one diesel-powered MY 1994 marine Tier 1 propulsion engine on FV Lovely Lady with a MY 2020 diesel-powered Tier 3 marine engine.
• Amount Awarded: $27,239.46
• Cost Share: $40,859.19
• Annual Reductions: 5.873 tons NOX, 0.114 tons PM2.5
• Project Location: Guilford

Murphy Road Recycling, LLC

• Project Description: Replacement of one MY 2005 diesel-powered yard tractor with a MY 2021 Orange EV equivalent (includes EVSE).
• Amount Awarded: $126,966.30
• Cost Share: $155,181.03
• Annual Reductions: 12.611 tons NOX, 0.822 tons PM2.5
• Project Location: New Haven

Town of North Stonington

• Project Description: Replacement of one MY 1997 diesel refuse truck with a zero emissions EV equivalent.
• Amount Awarded: $167,942.38
• Cost Share: $205,262.62
• Annual Reductions: 0.262 tons NOX, 0.017 tons PM2.5
• Project Location: North Stonington

Ryder Systems, Inc.

• Project Description: Replacement of four (4) MY 2012 diesel transport refrigeration units (TRUs) on existing trailers with EV equivalents (includes EVSE).
• Amount Awarded: $427,050.00
• Cost Share: $521,950.00
• Annual Reductions: 4.424 tons NOX, 0.890 tons PM2.5
• Project Location: Statewide

Town of West Hartford

• Project Description: Replacement of one MY 1996 diesel-powered commercial mower with an EV equivalent.
• Amount Awarded: $11,924.10
• Cost Share: $14,573.90
• Annual Reductions: 0.588 tons NOX, 0.133 tons PM2.5
• Project Location: West Hartford

Town of Windsor

• Project Description: Replacement of one MY 2008 commercial mower with a MY 2020 diesel-powered equivalent.
• Amount Awarded: $27,500.00
• Cost Share: $82,500.00
• Annual Reductions: 0.068 tons NOX, 0.028 tons PM2.5
• Project Location: Windsor

^[1]https://www.cdc.gov/asthma/brfss/2018/child/tableL1.html