EPA Announces More Than $3 Million to Upgrade Older Diesel Engines in Michigan to Cleaner and Zero-Emission Solutions that are Better for Our Communities 

CHICAGO – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced more than $3.2 million under the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) National Grants Program to Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision Project will incentivize and accelerate the upgrade or retirement of older diesel engines to cleaner and zero-emission solutions -- leading to significant emission reductions and air quality and public health benefits. The DERA program prioritizes projects in areas that face air quality impacts, especially those projects that benefit disadvantaged communities and other areas that face particular public health or environmental justice risks or impacts. 

“Every community deserves to breathe clean air, but too many communities are still over-burdened by pollution from older diesel equipment,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “With the latest round of funding, EPA’s successful DERA program will upgrade these sources of harmful pollution, and accelerate real progress toward a cleaner, more just, and healthier future for all Americans.” 

The Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision Project will replace one legacy diesel-powered marine tugboat with a Tier 3 diesel marine engine; replace nine short haul single units with liquified petroleum gas/propane units; and replace three long haul single units and forty-five long haul combination units with ultra-low sulfur diesel units. 

In total, EPA has tentatively selected approximately 70 national DERA projects to reduce diesel emissions across a range of transportation sectors including the engine replacements and upgrades to school buses, port equipment, and construction equipment. In addition to funding new cleaner diesel technologies, more than half of these selections will support replacing older equipment and vehicles with zero-emission technologies, such as all-electric school buses, terminal tractors, drayage trucks and provide shore power to marine vessels. All selected projects will reduce diesel pollution and benefit local communities, including disadvantaged communities and other areas facing environmental justice concerns. A small number of awards are still under processing. Once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied and additional selections are finalized, the EPA will update the DERA National Awards webpage. 

In selecting projects for award, priority was given to projects that: 

• in areas designated as having poor air quality; 

• reduce emissions from ports and other goods movement facilities; 

• benefit local communities; 

• incorporate local communities in project planning;  

• demonstrate planning or action towards reducing vulnerabilities to climate impacts; 

• illustrate preparation for workforce development; and 

• demonstrate an ability to continue efforts to reduce emissions after the project has ended. 

DERA advances environmental justice by prioritizing emissions reductions in areas particularly affected by health and environmental impacts from diesel fleets. EPA is committed to ensuring the DERA Program delivers on the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative, which set a goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. 

Read more information on the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) program.