The 2024 Mobile Sources Emissions Reduction Grants, administered by the North Carolina Division of Air Quality (DAQ), provide funding for replacing older diesel vehicles and equipment with cleaner alternatives to reduce diesel emissions such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and greenhouse gases. This initiative is supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) program, and approximately $1,128,489 is available for the 2024 grant cycle. The program aims to help North Carolina achieve significant reductions in diesel emissions by encouraging the adoption of cleaner technologies.

Eligible projects include repowering or replacing on-road and non-road diesel equipment with newer, lower-emission engines, converting vehicles to run on alternative fuels, and expanding the use of medium and heavy-duty electric vehicles across the state. Both private and public sector entities with a physical presence in North Carolina are eligible to apply. Original equipment or vehicles must have been operational within the past two years, and the new or repowered equipment must be used at least 70% of the time in North Carolina for the next five years.

The grant application process opens on October 15, 2024, and will close on December 31, 2024. To support applicants, DAQ will hold a series of webinars, including a Request for Proposals (RFP) webinar on October 24, 2024, and a How to Apply webinar on November 4, 2024. These sessions will provide detailed guidance on the RFP requirements, application procedures, and best practices. Registration is required to participate in the webinars.

Applications must be submitted electronically through the DAQ Grant Management System (GMS), including all required attachments and supporting documentation. Incomplete applications will not be considered, so applicants should ensure their submissions are thorough. The review and selection process will take place from January to February 2025, with award notifications expected in March 2025. Contract processing will follow in April and May, and all projects must be completed by September 30, 2026.

For further information, applicants can refer to the 2024 Mobile Sources Emissions Reduction RFP or contact NCDEQ at daq.NC_VWGrants@deq.nc.gov with the subject "Community and Destination ZEV Infrastructure RFP" for any questions well before the deadline.