DOE announces $18.6 million for projects to advance clean transportation across America

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced $18.6 million for 15 projects that will drive innovation in equitable clean transportation and provide first responders with the tools they need to properly respond to calls involving zero emission vehicles. The funding will expand DOE’S Clean Cities and Communities work to make clean transportation options more available, accessible, and affordable nationwide.

Projects will partner with over 45 of DOE’s Clean Cities and Communities across more than 30 states to implement clean transportation projects in urban, suburban, and rural communities. The new investments support partnerships with local coalitions to provide outreach and technical assistance training to local communities, safety training and resources for emergency responders transitioning to zero-emission and electric vehicles, and support for demonstration and deployment of innovative clean transportation technologies.

“It is critical to address energy justice at every step of the way along our national transition to clean energy, especially in transportation, where the financial burden is disproportionately high for many households,” said Jeff Marootian, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. “These investments support national strategies to ensure we are building communities that can provide clean, safe, affordable transportation options for everyone.”

This funding through DOE’s Vehicle Technologies Office aligns projects with the National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization plans and strategies to address energy justice, fuel the economy, create good paying jobs, and expand access to cutting-edge technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create healthier communities.

The selected projects for each of the three funding topics are:

Topic 1: Clean Cities Outreach, Engagement, and Technical Assistance. Projects in this topic provide Innovative training and capacity building to fleets to support transition to zero-emission vehicles (ZEV), including at ports and within Tribal communities.

Engaging Neighborhood Diesel‐operators: Healing Air and Reducing Disparities with New Opportunities and Expediency (St. Paul, MN): $1 million

Clean Cities and Communities Clean Ports Academy: Outreach, Education and Technical Assistance Training on Equitable Port Electrification (Harrisonburg, VA): $1 million

Clean Cities Fleet Coaching Program (New York, NY): $1 million

Northern Mountain West Collaborative Expansion Project (Jackson, WY): $1 million

Electric Vehicle Opportunities for the Northeast (New Haven, CT): $1 million

Alternative Fuels Education and Outreach for Marine Community Stakeholders (Tualatin, OR): $1 million

Topic 2: Training for Critical Emergency Response Workers. Projects in this topic provide emergency first-responders with tools, training, and resources to support safe deployment of ZEVs, including medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicles (EVs).

National Fire Protection Association’s National ZEV Critical Emergency Responder Training (Quincy, MA): $2.5 million

Building a Safe and Resilient Clean Transportation Sector: Supporting States and Communities with Training on Zero Emission Vehicle Technologies for Emergency Responders (Arlington, VA): $2.5 million

Immersive and Interactive Training on Medium and Heavy‐Duty Zero‐Emission Vehicles and Infrastructure Technologies for Critical Emergency Response Workers (State College, PA) $2.5 million

Topic 3: Clean Transportation Demonstration and Deployment. Projects in this topic demonstrate and deploy innovative clean transportation technologies in coordination with Clean Cities and Communities coalitions through approaches including hydrogen, rail, and non-grid tied EV charging infrastructure within a disadvantaged community.

Topic 3: Sustainable Advancements in Vehicle Operations and Refrigeration (St. Paul, MN): $1 million

rEVitalize Trucking (Richmond, VA): $1 million

Hydrogen Fleet Vehicle Demonstration in Colorado (Arvada, CO): $900,000

Charging Tennessee: Advancing Public Vehicle Fleet Electrification (Cookeville, TN): $1 million

Clean Freight Future: Deploying battery electric railcars for emissions reduction of in-plant transportation (St. Louis, MO): $600,000

Resilient EV Charging and Renewable Grid‐Friendly Electricity (Washington, DC): $500,000

Clean Cities and Communities coalitions will play a significant role in the success of these projects. More than 75 DOE-designated coalitions work to advance clean transportation and strengthen the nation’s environment, energy security, and economic prosperity.