Explanation
The Finance and Management Department, Fleet Management Division, is eligible to participate in a grant opportunity in partnership with Clean Fuels Ohio for a grant with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA). This funding opportunity is titled “Diesel Emissions Reduction Grant (DERG) Program for Equipment Replacement, Repower, Retrofit and Anti-Idle” and is intended to fund cost-shared projects that result in reductions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and/or fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions from pollutant sources. In order to be eligible for this grant opportunity, equipment must be operated in Ozone “nonattainment” areas of Ohio for at least 65% of the time. Franklin County is a nonattainment county and all City of Columbus equipment will be operated in Franklin County 100% of the time, thereby meeting the eligibility standard.
Clean Fuels Ohio is planning to partner with local governments, school districts, airport authorities, counties and non-profits around the state for the purpose of requesting funds. Evaluation of applications by the Ohio EPA is based on two criteria: total projected emission reductions and cost effectiveness of emission reductions. Higher emission reductions and greater cost effectiveness will result in higher ranking of an application, making multiple applications, bundled as a partnership, more competitive. Clean Fuels Ohio anticipates requesting the maximum award of $10 million. The Fleet Management Division’s portion of the funding request will be focused on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Refuse vehicles. Fleet Management anticipates requesting funding for up to 32 CNG Refuse vehicles, to be located in the Department of Public Service, in the Division of Refuse Collection. Refuse vehicles are eligible to receive funding for up to 80% of the total cost of a new alternatively fueled vehicle, less core or scrap value. Additional CNG Refuse vehicles support the city’s efforts to expand our CNG fueling infr...
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