Search Federal and State Laws and Incentives

Clean Cities Coalition Network

The mission of Clean Cities Coalition Network is to foster the economic, environmental, and energy security of the United States by working locally to advance affordable, domestic transportation fuels and technologies. Nearly 100 volunteer coalitions carry out this mission by developing public/private partnerships to promote alternative and renewable fuels, idle-reduction measures, fuel economy, improvements, and emerging transportation technologies. The Clean Cities Coalition Network provides information about financial opportunities, coordinates technical assistance projects, updates and maintains databases and websites, and publishes technical and informational materials. For more information, see the Clean Cities Coalition Network website.

Ports Initiative

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Ports Initiative is an incentive-based program designed to reduce emissions by encouraging port authorities and terminal operators to retrofit and replace older diesel engines with new technologies and use cleaner fuels. EPA's Ports Initiative offers funding to port authorities and public entities to help them overcome barriers that impede the adoption of cleaner diesel technologies and strategies. For more information, see the Ports Initiative website.

Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) Program

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency established the DERA Program to reduce pollution emitted from diesel engines through the implementation of varied control strategies and the involvement of national, state, local, and tribal partners. DERA includes programs for existing diesel fleets, regulations for clean diesel engines and fuels, and regional collaborations and partnerships. For information on available grants and funding opportunities, see the DERA Funding website.

Advanced Biofuel Feedstock Incentives

The Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP; Section 9010) provides financial assistance to landowners and operators that establish, produce, and deliver biomass feedstock crops for advanced biofuel production facilities. Qualified feedstock producers are eligible for a reimbursement of 50% of the cost of establishing a biomass feedstock crop, as well as annual payments for up to five years for herbaceous feedstocks and up to 15 years for woody feedstocks. In addition, BCAP provides qualified biomass feedstock crop producers matching payments for the collection, harvest, storage, and transportation of their crops to advanced biofuel production facilities for up to two years. The matching payments are $1 for each $1 per dry ton paid by a qualified advanced biofuel production facility, up to $20 per dry ton. This program’s funding is subject to congressional appropriations.

For more information, see the Biomass Crop Assistance Program website. (Reference Public Law 113-79 and 7 U.S. Code 8111)

Public Transportation Research, Demonstration, and Deployment Funding

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration administers the Public Transportation Innovation Program. Financial assistance is available to local, state, and federal government entities; public transportation providers; private and non-profit organizations; and higher education institutions for research, demonstration, and deployment projects involving low or zero emission public transportation vehicles. Eligible vehicles must be designated for public transportation use and significantly reduce energy consumption or harmful emissions compared to a comparable standard or low emission vehicle. For more information, see the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Public Transportation Innovation fact sheet.

(Reference 49 U.S. Code 5312 and 5339, Public Law 114-94, Public Law 113-159, and Public Law 117-58)

Truck Emissions Reduction Study and Grant at Port Facilities

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), in consultation with the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, must establish a program to reduce idling at port and intermodal port facilities. Under this program, the Secretary must study how ports and intermodal port transfer facilities would benefit from emissions reductions opportunities, including port operations electrification, and study emerging technologies and strategies to reduce idling truck emissions.

DOT must then coordinate and provide grant funding to test, evaluate, and deploy projects to reduce idling truck emissions, including port electrification and efficiency improvements particularly from heavy-duty vehicles. Grant funding will be available for up to 80% of eligible project cost. Awards will be treated as Federal-aid Highway Program projects. Additional funding eligibility and considerations will apply.

DOT must submit a report detailing the status and effectiveness of the program, recommendations for workforce development and training opportunities with respect to port electrification, and policy recommendations, no later than one year after all funded projects are complete.

(Reference Public Law 117-58 and 23 U.S. Code 1)

National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) NEVI Formula Program will provide funding to states to strategically deploy electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and to establish an interconnected network to facilitate data collection, access, and reliability. Funding is available for up to 80% of eligible project costs, including:

• The acquisition, installation, and network connection of EV charging stations to facilitate data collection, access, and reliability;
• Proper operation and maintenance of EV charging stations; and,
• Long-term EV charging station data sharing.

EV charging stations must be non-proprietary, allow for open-access payment methods, be publicly available or available to authorized commercial motor vehicle operators from more than one company, and be located along designated FHWA Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs). If a state and DOT determine that all AFCs in the state have been fully developed, then the state can propose alternative public locations and roads for EV charging station installation.

FHWA must distribute the NEVI Program Formula Program funds made available each fiscal year (FY) through FY 2026, so that each state receives an amount equal to the state FHWA funding formula determined by 23 U.S. Code 104. To receive funding, states must submit plans to the DOT and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Joint Office for review and public posting by August 1, 2022, describing how the state intends to distribute NEVI funds. The FHWA will approve state plans on a rolling basis, and no later than September 30, 2022. FHWA announced approval of all state plans on September 27, 2022.

Additionally, DOT will establish a grant program by November 15, 2022, for states and localities requiring additional assistance to strategically deploy EV charging stations under this Program. Additional funding eligibility and considerations will apply.

For additional information, see the FHWA NEVI website and the Joint Office website.

(Reference Public Law 117-58 and 23 U.S. Code 165)

Environmental Justice Community Technical Assistance Program

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Communities Local Energy Action Program (LEAP) Pilot facilitates sustained, community-wide economic and environmental benefits through DOE’s clean energy deployment work. This technical assistance opportunity is specifically open to low-income, energy-burdened communities that are also experiencing either direct environmental justice impacts, or direct economic impacts from a shift away from historical reliance on fossil fuels. DOE will provide technical assistance services to support up to 36 communities to develop their own community-driven clean energy transition approach. For more information, visit the DOE Communities LEAP website.

Innovative Research and Development Competitive Prizes

The American-Made Challenges are a series of prize competitions, in partnership with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, that are designed to incentivize the nation’s entrepreneurs to reenergize innovation, reassert American leadership in the energy marketplace, and connect entrepreneurs to the private sector and U.S. Department of Energy’s national laboratories. These challenges seek to lower the barriers U.S.-based innovators face by spurring manufacturing, developing innovative solutions and products, and creating new domestic jobs and opportunities through public-private partnerships. For more information, including current prize challenges, visit the American-Made Challenges website.