Title
Environmental Protection Agency Grant for Clean Fuel Funding Assistance Program Fiscal Year 2021 (Ordinance S-47445)
Description
This report requests the City Council to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to retroactively apply for; accept; enter into an agreement; and disburse a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant, under the Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program Fiscal Year 2021. Further request to authorize the City Treasurer to accept, and the City Controller to disburse, all funds related to this item.
Report
Summary
The Solid Waste refuse fleet includes some older diesel vehicles with emissions that exceed those achieved by the most current emission control technologies. Emissions from diesel engines contribute to production of ground level ozone, a pollutant for which Maricopa County region is not currently meeting federal health standards. The intent of the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) grant program is to provide grant funding to help subsidize vehicle costs to replace higher polluting diesel emission engines with cleaner operating units to reduce harmful emissions. Solid Waste is seeking to replace up to 11 refuse trucks with alternative fuel powered units. Reducing vehicle emissions from the municipal fleet will demonstrate the City's commitment to lead by example toward the 2050 sustainability goal of clean air.
EPA Region 9 will administer the Federal DERA Grant Program. If awarded, funding will be provided to purchase new ultra-low NOx fleet vehicles to replace old, higher polluting fleet vehicles with 2022 models or newer.
Staff anticipates obtaining grant funding for up to 45 percent of the new vehicle cost for replacement. The Public Works Department has been awarded over $2 million of grant monies under the same DERA grant program the last two fiscal years.
The application to EPA Region 9 was due March 16, 2021. The granting agency anticipates notifying applicants on or about July 1, 2021 with an expected project completion date of September 2023.
Contract Term
Up to two years beginning on or about July 1, 2021.
Financial Impact
The federal amount requested for this proposal is $1,815,000. If grant funds are awarded in full, the City would need to match up to $3,030,000. Funding is available in the Public Works Department’s Solid Waste vehicle replacement fund.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Karen Peters and the Public Works Department.