The latest effort to mitigate the environmental impacts of diesel vehicles has been launched by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), drawing funds from the Volkswagen Diesel Settlement Environmental Mitigation Trust. As announced recently, TDEC is calling for applicants to vie for a share of $19.4 million earmarked to support the replacement or upgrade of aging medium- and heavy-duty vehicles throughout the state—a move geared towards reducing nitrogen oxide emissions.
"Replacing older diesel vehicles and engines with new, alternative-fueled options will reduce air pollutants that threaten public health and the environment," declared TDEC Commissioner David Salyers, in a statement made by TDEC. This initiative underscores Tennessee's ongoing commitment to bolstering air quality, with eyes set on projects that deliver tangible improvements. The grant program, as outlined, will back public, non-profit, and private fleet operators in their transition to greener alternatives such as propane, natural gas, hybrid, or all-electric vehicles.
Application mandates dictate submission procedures and supporting documents be relayed electronically through TDEC’s online grants management system before the June 13, 4 p.m. CDT deadline. Post-evaluation, TDEC anticipates announcing the grant awardees, with subsequent contracting efforts slated to follow suit. For those in need of a roadmap through the application landscape, TDEC is hosting an application workshop via webinar on April 11. Attendance, whether live or through reviewing the recorded session, is compulsory for those submitting applications. More details, including project eligibility and reporting requirements, can be found on the Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Page.
