Oregon Funds 43 Clean Transportation Projects in Major Push to Replace Diesel With Zero-Emission Vehicles

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality yesterday awarded $11.5 million to projects focused on reducing diesel emissions.

According to a DEQ news release, 43 of the 60 applications for funding have been awarded to Oregon businesses, government agencies, and equipment owners.

The projects receiving the cash injection fall into three categories:

The Diesel Emissions Mitigation Grants Program, funded by the Volkswagen Diesel Emissions Environmental Mitigation Trust, supports replacing older diesel vehicles, engines, or equipment with cleaner technologies, which include zero-emissions options.

The Oregon DEQ Clean Trucks Grant Program, supported by the Climate Equity and Resilience Through Action (CERTA) Grant, encourages the replacement of diesel vehicles with zero-emission alternatives.

Oregon Zero-Emission Fueling Infrastructure Grants, also funded via CERTA, which supports the planning and installation of charging infrastructure for medium-to-heavy-duty fleets.

DEQ Assists Businesses Committed to Transitioning to Cleaner and More Efficient Transportation

The director of DEQ, Leah Feldon, states in a news release that the funding brings beneficial resources to those committed to transitioning to cleaner, more efficient medium- and heavy-duty transportation. She says the beneficiaries of yesterday’s funding allocation are enhancing infrastructure beneficial to surrounding communities.

Examples of the projects the funding will assist include:

• Prineville Crook County Library – Will use $650,000 to replace its medium-duty diesel bookmobile with an electric vehicle.
• Corvallis Disposal Co. – Will apply $130,000 to replace its heavy-duty diesel garbage truck with an electric, heavy-duty vehicle.
• Central Electric Cooperative, Inc. (in Bend) – Will apply $82,796 to install a DCFC charger for Class 3 utility fleet vehicles.
• Pacific Lumber (in Donald) – Will apply $244,530 to install two DCFC chargers.

Other grant beneficiaries include projects in Eugene, Hood River, Lakeview, Philomath in Benton County, Portland, Salem, Sherwood, and other areas across the state.

Together, these projects will remove more than 25 tons of harmful pollution, including oxides of nitrogen and fine particulate matter, from Oregon’s air.

The DEQ protects human health and the environment by controlling air and water pollution. The department involves the public in decision-making and assists communities in solving problems that are environmentally and economically sustainable.