EPA announced that it tentatively selected 70 awardees of $735 million across 27 states, 3 tribal nations, and one territory to purchase zero-emissions heavy-duty vehicles through the Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles program. Awardees will be able to purchase over 2,400 clean vehicles through the program. During the selection process, EPA “prioritized disadvantaged communities facing air quality challenges” and allocated $523 million of the funds to projects serving communities in areas in nonattainment with the NAAQS under the Clean Air Act.
Funding for the Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles program comes from IRA section 60101, which appropriated funds to EPA to provide grants and rebates to states, municipalities, Indian tribes, and nonprofit transportation associations to expand their use of zero-emission vehicles.