SAN FRANCISCO — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a grant of $135 million aimed at funding 13 initiatives in California focused on reducing the reliance on fossil fuels and gradually eliminating diesel-operated large trucks from the roads.
The financial aid will be allocated to various entities including the state’s transportation department, municipalities, and school districts, which will use the funds to secure 455 zero-emission vehicles intended to replace diesel-powered trucks, school buses, and other bulky vehicles. This initiative is part of a broader EPA program distributing a total of $735 million for 70 projects nationwide, as stated by officials on Wednesday.
The funding stems from the climate legislation enacted in 2022 under the leadership of congressional Democrats. This law, known as the Inflation Reduction Act, encompasses nearly $400 billion in funding and tax incentives designed to boost clean energy sources like wind and solar, accelerating the shift away from fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and natural gas that are primary contributors to climate change.
Martha Guzman, the EPA’s Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator, remarked that these funds, which are anticipated to be available in early 2025, “will reduce air pollution, enhance health outcomes in local communities, and further efforts to combat climate change.”
California and its local agencies will have a time frame of two to three years to utilize the grants for the acquisition of zero-emission trucks.
As per EPA data, the transportation sector is responsible for the largest percentage of greenhouse gas emissions in the country, with medium- and heavy-duty trucks accounting for nearly 25% of these emissions each year.
While heavy-duty vehicles represent around 3% of the total vehicles operating on California roads, they are responsible for over half of nitrogen oxides and fine particulate diesel pollution, according to statistics from the California Air Resources Board. This discrepancy arises because diesel engines, despite their superior power, result in more pollution than gasoline engines and typically cover far greater distances than passenger vehicles.
To further its goal of eliminating fossil fuel use, California has enacted several regulations in recent years targeting the transition away from fossil-fuel-powered cars, trucks, trains, and lawn care equipment in what is now the most populous state in the nation. Nevertheless, these regulations still necessitate waivers from the EPA, which is the authority that usually sets emissions standards for passenger vehicles and larger transport vehicles.
In light of political developments, Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom recently traveled to Washington to appeal to the Biden administration for waivers concerning eight climate regulations, including those regarding zero-emission vehicles and pollutant emission standards, especially in anticipation of Donald Trump’s incoming presidency. Such matters have previously been addressed by President-elect Trump.
This report has been updated to clarify that the EPA is providing California with $135 million rather than $144 million and that the funding will facilitate the acquisition of 455 zero-emission vehicles specifically, not a quantity exceeding 480 vehicles.
