Diesel emissions make up a significant portion of the mobile source air pollution in South Carolina. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administers four components of the DERA grants through its National Clean Diesel Campaign:

• The State Clean Diesel Grant Program funded through DERA has provided an opportunity to help reduce diesel emissions. The federal funding for the State Clean Diesel Grant Program funds projects that provide cost-effective diesel emission reduction strategies. This funding is intended for county, city, or other local government entities, private organizations, businesses, and universities. Grants are awarded to eligible applicants for implementation of diesel emission reduction projects across the state to achieve public health and air quality goals.
• The National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program awards competitive grants to fund projects that implement EPA or CARB verified and certified diesel emission reduction technologies.
• The National Clean Diesel Tribal Grants award competitive grants to U.S. tribal agencies or intertribal consortia with jurisdiction over transportation or air quality to fund projects that implement EPA or CARB verified and certified diesel emission reduction technologies.
• The Clean Diesel Rebates offer rebates in addition to grants for specific opportunities to implement clean diesel technology.

Please visit the STRIDE Collaborative's website for more information on these grant opportunities and clean diesel strategies. This group is a partnership between leaders from federal, state and local government, the private sector and other stakeholders in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

For more information or questions, email DERA@des.sc.gov and DERA staff will reach back out to you.