The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has announced new funding opportunities to curb nitrogen oxide ​(NOx) emissions with clean transportation. The grants are available for public and private entities and match funds to help make clean transportation affordable.  The first funding opportunity, the Clean Truck, Bus & Airport Equipment Program, matches funds to replace older diesel trucks, buses or airport ground support vehicles with battery electric, alternate fuel or diesel vehicles. Examples of types of vehicles for this funding opportunity can include garbage trucks​, street sweepers, bucket trucks, buses​, or vehicles that service aircrafts between flights. Applications for this opportunity are due January 14​, 2022.

The second funding opportunity is the Clean School Bus Program that applies to school districts statewide and matches funds to replace older diesel school buses with newer diesel, gasoline, propane, low ​NOx certified or battery electric buses. This opportunity has funded 23 diesel buses and 8 propane buses at school districts across the state since January of 2020. Applications for this opportunity are due November 15, 2021 with project completion by August of 2022. 

The grants are funded through the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust Agreement and EPA’s Diesel Emissions Reduction Act, respectively.

DEQ is hosted a webinar on October 6 at 2 p.m. for those interested in learning more about the funding opportunities​, to register visit: Webinar Registration - Zoom.  For more information and to view the ​request for applications visit: Deq.mt.gov/energy/programs/fuels.

A third opportunity involves switcher locomotive engines.  DEQ has announced the Clean Engine Project, a new funding opportunity offered to repower unregulated or Tier 0 switcher locomotive engines with Tier 3 engines. A total of $800,000 is expected to be awarded for this program.  This funding opportunity has been supplemented with VW Trust Funds.  Applications are due January 14, 2022.