$2.9 Million in State Grants Awarded to Replace Old Diesel Trucks and Buses

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has announced $2.9 million in grant funding to replace old diesel trucks and school buses with zero- and low-emission vehicles.

To date, the Wolf Administration has awarded more than $64 million statewide. The program, called Driving PA Forward Truck and Bus Fleet Grants, is DEP’s way of helping school districts, municipalities, and businesses switch to cleaner transportation. The initiative was established in 2016 as part of a national settlement with Volkswagen Group of America and provides grant funding to replace older, polluting vehicles with zero- and low-emission vehicles.

DEP Acting Secretary Ramez Ziadeh stated that the Driving PA Forward Truck and Bus Fleet Grants will help school districts, municipalities, and businesses switch to cleaner transportation. He continued by saying that this will let Pennsylvania’s kids, employees, and communities breathe healthier air. The switch to zero- and low-emission vehicles lowers carbon dioxide emissions and helps to lessen climate change.

The new Driving PA Forward Truck and Bus Fleet Grant-funded projects will take 42 old diesel trucks and buses off the road, replacing them with electric, propane, compressed natural gas, and new clean diesel vehicles. DEP is hoping that this comprehensive approach to reducing vehicle emissions will help improve Pennsylvanians’ health while also helping to slow climate change.

Two school districts, one municipality, and one business received funding:

  • City of Pittsburgh: $1,374,000 to replace eight old diesel garbage trucks with four electric recycling trucks and chargers and four compressed natural gas garbage trucks. Annually, the project will remove 1.38 tons of nitrogen oxides (NOx), 314 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), and other pollutants from the air.
  • School District of Philadelphia: $936,000 to replace six old diesel school buses with six electric school buses and charging equipment. Annually the project will remove one-third ton of NOx, 51 tons of CO2, and other pollutants from the air.
  • Sysco Leasing: $463,050 to replace 21 old diesel freight trucks with 21 new clean diesel freight trucks at two company sites, one in Philadelphia and one in Jackson Township, Butler County. Annually the project will remove 5.6 tons of NOx, 423 tons of CO2, and other pollutants from the air.
  • North Penn School District, Montgomery County: $199,435 to replace seven old diesel school buses with seven new propane school buses at North Penn High School in Lansdale. Annually the project will remove 3.9 tons of NOx and other pollutants from the air.

Mor information can be found here.

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