Federal Funding Program Updates:

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (aka BIL or IIJA) & Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)

EPA's Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicle Program

*Listening Session December 13th at 1 PM ET*

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) wants to hear from YOU on how to build its Clean Heavy-Duty (Class 6 or 7) Vehicle Program. Click here to read the legislative text that enables this funding program.

The Inflation Reduction Act provides $1 billion to replace heavy-duty vehicles with zero-emission vehicles, support zero-emission vehicle infrastructure, and train and develop workers. EPA will distribute this $1 billion to eligible applicants via grants, rebates, and/or contracts to purchase clean, heavy-duty vehicles, with $400 million allocated to communities in nonattainment areas. 

All are encouraged to attend and provide feedback.

Questions to consider:

• How do you see this program working in conjunction with the existing Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA), the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Clean School Bus Program, and programs at other agencies given the overlap in vehicles that could be funded?
• For which significant Class 6/7 vehicle sectors should EPA prioritize funding?
• How can EPA ensure the benefits of this program reach low-income and disadvantaged communities?
• What should EPA consider in the design of the program to encourage grantees to support high quality jobs and adhere to best practices for labor standards, consistent with guidance such as Executive Order 14063 on the Use of Project Labor Agreements and the Department of Labor's Good Jobs Principles?
• What metrics should this program use for measuring success and ensuring accountability?

Other Engagement & Input Opportunities:

EPA Transportation & Clean Energy Programs

EPA has published a Request for Information (RFI) seeking public input on core design aspects for a subset of new and existing programs supported by the IRA. The RFI provides background information on each program and a series of questions for the public to consider. Public input and information will be gathered and organized through six non-regulatory public dockets that correspond to the provisions in IRA. A new webpage, that provides a one-stop shop for information on implementation of IRA programs managed by EPA's Office of Air and Radiation, including links to the non-regulatory public dockets, can be accessed here.

EPA is also launching a stakeholder listening session series to enable key stakeholders including environmental justice communities, state and local governments, clean energy advocates, labor, and others to provide input directly to EPA staff. Register here for a Clean Ports Listening Session scheduled for December 6th at 1PM on the $3 billion in grants available for zero-emission equipment and climate plans at ports.

A separate RFI and non-regulatory public docket on the IRA funded Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund also is open and can be accessed here. The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund will provide competitive grants to mobilize financing and leverage private capital for clean energy and climate projects with an emphasis on projects that will benefit low-income and disadvantaged communities.

Resource: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Guidebook

The White House established an online guide to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), including a program-by-program breakdown of funding availability, general project eligibility, and upcoming milestones.

The guidebook and accompanying spreadsheet are designed to help stakeholders navigate the more than 375 individual programs and will be periodically updated with key timelines and links to relevant resources.

The Guidebook to the BIL is available here.

The accompanying spreadsheet, which includes more details on next steps for each program, is available for download here.

Stay Up To Date with Federal & State

Funding Notices + Resources:

Sign up for these Email Distribution Lists!

• Joint Office of Energy & Transportation (JOET) is a federal office that has been specially formed to support and promote funding and incentives coming through the BIL and IRA. Click here, scroll to bottom of page, and “sign up for news alerts"

• New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, which hosts our Granite State Clean Cities Coalition, uses several distribution lists for promoting targeted transportation-related funding opportunities and resources. Click here to sign up.

Technical Assistance & Resources

Article: A Common Sense Approach to Moving the Needle

Toward Energy Security

Todd Mouw with ROUSH CleanTech shared the following:

“Did you know that the founder of ROUSH CleanTech and motorsports icon, Jack Roush, always includes USA in his signature? This is a telling symbol of his dedication to our nation and the products his company designs, engineers, manufactures and installs at its headquarters in Livonia, Michigan.

ROUSH CleanTech’s advanced clean transportation solutions aim to decrease the use of imported gasoline and diesel so that Americans can rely on American-made energy, like propane autogas. With more than 90% of the U.S. propane autogas supply being produced domestically, and an additional 7% from our neighbors up north, it’s a stable fuel that’s readily available. Propane’s distribution process — which creates 80,000 American jobs — doesn’t fall victim to global supply chain issues since propane doesn’t have to cross an ocean to reach its destination.

Another growing domestic resource that will help move the needle toward energy independence is renewable propane. Interest in this fuel is expanding due to its near-zero emission levels, reduced greenhouse gases, and ability to help meet the need for cleaner products without compromising range, performance or available payload.

Renewable propane supply is increasing due to substantial investment by industry stalwarts, such as Suburban Propane and AmeriGas Propane. Several U.S. refineries in California, Texas and Louisiana have existing capacity to produce renewable propane as part of their renewable diesel production systems. And, the demand is tangible. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, renewable propane in California alone could surpass 200 million gallons by 2030.



Every year, the U.S. exports billions of gallons of propane to other countries to use in their vehicles that we, instead, should be using in our own. By adopting fleet vehicles and school buses powered by propane, we can further cut the ties to foreign oil and rely on domestically produced, all-American energy like propane autogas."

To learn more about ROUSH CleanTech’s advanced clean transportation fleet solutions, visit their website!

Thank you for reading – if there’s something you’d like to see, say, or share,

drop me a line: Jessica.L.Wilcox@des.nh.gov