§16071 Pilot Program

Summary

Creates a competitive pilot grant program, run through the Department’s Clean Cities Program, to give no more than 30 grants across the country to State governments, local governments, or metropolitan transportation authorities. Grants can pay for buying cleaner vehicles (like alternative-fuel, hybrid, fuel-cell, passenger cars, buses, delivery vehicles, airport ground vehicles, and some law-enforcement bikes), buying ultra-low sulfur diesel vehicles, installing fueling and support equipment, and operating and maintaining the vehicles and equipment. One applicant cannot get more than $15,000,000. The Federal share can cover at most 50% of a project’s costs. Grants last no more than 5 years. The program must try to fund projects in many different places and share what is learned with other participants. Applications must be sent by the head of a qualifying government or transit agency that is a registered Clean Cities participant. Applications must explain the project, estimate use and emissions reductions and fuel displaced, describe how environmental data will be collected and shared, show long-term sustainability without Federal help, list full life-cycle costs and which costs the grant would cover, and prove diesel with sulfur at not more than 15 parts per million is available and will be used. Partnerships with public or private groups are allowed. The Secretary must publish the application notice within 90 days after August 8, 2005; applications are due within 180 days after that notice; and winners must be chosen within 180 days after the application deadline. The Secretary will set any needed definitions and rules and will favor applicants with relevant experience and strong plans to protect the environment and keep projects going after the grant ends.