The Utah Clean Cities Board of Directors and staff welcomes inquiries from interested community members, businesses and organizations. You’ll find our team helpful and inclusive. We look forward to helping you get started with a Utah Clean Cities membership, and involved in one (or more) of our many programs or grants today!
Updated September 2023
EPA Environmental Justice Small Grants Program
Since its inception in 1994, the Environmental Justice Small Grants (EJSG) Program has awarded more than $37 million in funding to over 1500 community-based organizations, tribal governments, and Native American organizations working with communities facing environmental justice issues.
The Environmental Justice Small Grants Program supports and empowers communities working on solutions to local environmental and public health issues. The program is designed to help communities understand and address exposure to multiple environmental harms and risks. Environmental Justice Small Grants fund projects up to $100,000, depending on the availability of funds in a given year. All projects are associated with at least one qualified environmental statute.
To learn more, click here
Updated September 2023
Vehicle Repair and Replacement Assistance Program (VRRAP)
The Vehicle Repair and Replacement Assistance Program (VRRAP) provides funding assistance to individuals whose vehicles are failing vehicle emission standards to either replace their failing vehicle with a newer, cleaner one or to repair it. The programs are administered by local health departments and made possible through a grant sub-award to them from the Utah Division of Air Quality.
Eligible Region(s): Box Elder, Cache, Davis, Salt Lake, Tooele, and Weber Counties
Conversion to Alternative Fuel Grant Program
The Conversion to Alternative Fuel Grant Program allows businesses that convert vehicles to run on natural gas, propane, or electricity to apply for a grant of up to $2,500 per conversion. The conversion business is then required to pass along the savings to the owner of the eligible vehicle being converted.
There are two steps in the process of obtaining a grant.
Step 1: Preliminary Approval Application
The Preliminary Approval Application process will determine if the proposed project is eligible for an Alternative Fuel Grant and if there are adequate funds for the proposed conversion. All applicants must obtain preliminary approval. To obtain preliminary approval, one of the following applications for the alternative fuel must be submitted: Electric , Natural, and Propane
After submitting the Preliminary Application, the applicant will receive an email that will indicate the status of the application. If the Preliminary Application is approved, the applicant will have up to 60 calendar days from the date of the email to submit a complete Final Approval Application. If the Final Approval Application is not received within the 60 calendar days, the funding may no longer be available for the conversion.
Step 2: Final Approval and Payment Process
Once the vehicle has been converted, the applicant must complete the Final Approval Application (see below) and submit all the required documentation for the appropriate conversion. The final invoice must include a receipt signed by the vehicle owner that includes the itemized costs and demonstrates that the grant has been passed on to the vehicle owner.
Alternative Fuel Heavy-Duty Vehicle Tax Credit
Qualified taxpayers may claim a non-refundable tax credit for the purchase of a Category 7 or Category 8 natural gas, 100% electric, or a hydrogen-electric vehicle. These tax credits are limited.
The state provides an income tax credit for the qualified purchase of a natural gas, a 100% electric, or a hydrogen-electric heavy-duty vehicle which is defined in 59-7-618.1 and 59-10-1033.1 UCA as a commercial category 7 or 8 vehicle that has never been titled or registered. Class 7 and Class 8 vehicles are classified by the gross vehicle weight rating, which is also known as their GVWR. A Class 7 vehicle has a GVWR between 26,001 and 33,000 pounds. A Class 8 vehicle has a GVWR higher than 33,000 pounds. These vehicles usually have three axles, but some will have five axles in order to haul a trailer with substantial weight on it. Some examples would be a 5-axle tractor-trailer (Semi or 18-wheeler), cement trucks, dump trucks, and refuse haulers. Operators of Class 7 and 8 trucks must have a commercial driver’s license, also called a CDL.
The Utah Legislature authorized the credit during the 2021 General Session for tax year 2021 through 2030. The following table shows the tax credit for each tax year.
Eligible Region(s): Statewide
Uintah Basin Oil and Gas Engine Exchange
This program provides financial assistance for up to 40% off the cost to replace non-road, stationary, gas engines (engine model year 2008 or older) which support oil and gas production. New, replacement engines must meet the most recent new source performance standards required by Subpart JJJJ.
Eligible Region(s): Uinta County, UT; Duchesne County, UT
Utah Clean Diesel Program
Fleet owners can use this program to replace or upgrade old, dirty diesel vehicles with newer, cleaner options.
Eligible Region(s): Statewide, with preference given to PM2.5 and Ozone Non-attainment Areas
Workplace Electric Vehicle Charging Funding Assistance Program (EVSE)
The EV Charging Incentive Program allow businesses, non-profits, and non-state government to apply for a grant that will cover the purchase and install of EV chargers. Funds will be used for the purchase of Level 2 or DC fast charging EV chargers.
Eligible Region(s): Statewide
UDOT: Road Usage Charge Program
UCAIR Funding Opportunity
UCAIR Funding Opportunities
Since 2013, the UCAIR Grants Program has encouraged Utah’s businesses, government entities and nonprofit organizations to bring forward creative and innovative ideas. The goal of the UCAIR Grants Program is to reduce emissions of criteria pollutants that cause Utah’s poor air quality. Although applicant organizations may propose projects in any area that may decrease criteria pollutants within our State.
Grant Timeline
- Monday, June 12, 2023 – Grant Application Opens
- Friday, August 4, 2023 – Letter of Intent Form due
- Friday, August 25, 2023 – Responses Sent to Prospective Applicants
- Friday, September 29, 2023 – Full Applications Due
- Friday, November 17, 2023 – Grant Recipient Announcement
Magnum + UCAIR E-Bike Incentive Program
UCAIR and Magnum Bikes are partnering to offer Utah residents up to $800 off the purchase of select Magnum e-bikes and up to $1,200 off select Magnum cargo e-bikes. For eligible income-qualified Utah residents, these voucher amounts go up to $1,000 and $1,400 respectively.
The vouchers offered through this program will be applied as an upfront discount on the original sale price of select Magnum commuter, mountain, cruiser and cargo e-bikes.
Two levels of vouchers are available: standard and income-qualified.
Standard Voucher:
All Utah residents (age 18+) can save:
■ $600 on select commuter e-bikes
■ $800 on select cruiser e-bikes
■ $1,200 on select cargo e-bikes
Click here to apply and find out more about the benefits and categories of E-bikes that are eligible under this incentive program.
Income-Qualified Voucher:
Eligible Utah residents who meet income-qualified requirements can save:
■ $800 on select commuter e-bikes
■ $1,000 on select cruiser e-bikes
■ $1,400 on select cargo e-bikes
Federal Alternative Fuel and Infrastructure Tax Credits
Several alternative fuel federal tax credits have been extended including tax credits for biodiesel, CNG and propane, and for fueling infrastructure for E85, biodiesel, CNG, propane and electricity, including residential. Be sure to take a look at the Alternative Fuels Data Center to see what’s changed and how you can take advantage of these updated tax credits.
USDOE: Federal Tax Credits for All-Electric and Plug-in Hybrids
Federal Tax Credit Up to $7,500!
All-electric and plug-in hybrid cars purchased new in or after 2010 may be eligible for a federal income tax credit of up to $7,500. The credit amount will vary based on the capacity of the battery used to power the vehicle. State and/or local incentives may also apply.
Pre-owned all-electric, plug-in hybrid, and fuel cell electric vehicles purchased on or after January 1, 2023, may be eligible for a federal income tax credit. The credit equals 30% percent of the sale price up to a maximum credit of $4,000. The credit is nonrefundable, so you can't get back more on the credit than you owe in taxes. Also, you can't apply any excess credit to future tax years.
Small neighborhood electric vehicles do not qualify for this credit, but they may qualify for another credit.
USDOT: R.O.U.T.E.S Toolkit for Rural Oppurtunities
Toolkit for the Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success (R.O.U.T.E.S.)
The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) has developed this Applicant Toolkit to provide guidance as part of the Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success (R.O.U.T.E.S.) Initiative to support potential applicants in identifying and navigating USDOT discretionary grant funding opportunities for rural transportation projects. In support of the initiative’s goals, this toolkit provides user-friendly information and resources to support rural applicants’ understanding of USDOT discretionary grant programs and the funding process.
The Applicant Toolkit is designed for all levels of grant applicant experience, aiming to enhance access to USDOT resources for rural transportation projects. Specifically, this toolkit illustrates key applicant activities when participating in the USDOT discretionary grants process, catalogues USDOT discretionary grant programs by applicant type and eligible project activities in a USDOT Discretionary Grant Funding Matrix, and provides resources for applicants to maximize the potential for award success.
R.O.U.T.E.S. will embark on three activities:
- Collecting input from stakeholders on the benefits rural projects offer for safety and economic outcomes, as well as the type and degree of assistance rural projects require;
- Providing user-friendly information to rural communities to enhance understanding about DOT’s infrastructure grant options;
- Improving DOT’s data-driven approaches to better assess needs and benefits of rural transportation infrastructure projects
EPA: Clean School Bus Program
Overview
EPA anticipates awarding approximately $500 million in competitive grant funding under the 2023 Clean School Bus (CSB) Rebates program. The program solicited applications nationwide for a grant competition to fund the replacement of existing school buses with clean and zero-emission (ZE) school buses.
Clean School Bus Benefits
- Cleaner air. Electric and alternatively-fueled buses eliminate or reduce school bus exhaust, which is linked to asthma.
- Reduced health risks, especially for children whose lungs are still developing.
- Reduced greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to climate change.
- Grid resilience. Using bidirectional chargers, school buses can store energy for distribution to the grid when needed.
Learn More
- Benefits of Clean School Buses
- 2023 Clean School Bus (CSB) Rebate Program Guide (pdf)
- 2023 Clean School Bus (CSB) Rebate Program Application User Guide (pdf)
- 2023 Clean School Bus (CSB) Rebate Program Prioritized School District List (pdf)
- 2023 Clean School Bus (CSB) Rebate Program Prioritization Self-Certification Instructions (pdf)
- 2023 Clean School Bus (CSB) Rebate Program Prioritized School District Detailed List (xlsx)
Timeline
- 2023 Clean School Bus (CSB) Rebates Application Period OPEN - Application Deadline: January 31, 2024, 4:00 PM ET
- Various Webinars on CSB Program: September 2023 – January 2024
- Question submissions prior to application deadline: January 10, 2024, 4:00 PM ET
- EPA notifies applicants of selection status: April 2024
- Project period deadline for selectees to receive new buses, install eligible infrastructure, replace existing buses, and submit Close Out Forms: April 2026
Replacement Eligibility
- Diesel-powered buses that are model year 2010 or older, and will be scrapped if selected for funding
- Exceptions if the bus fleet does not include model year 2010 or older
- Scrap 2010 or older non-diesel combustion engine buses
- Scrap, sell, or donate non-diesel combustion engine buses that are model year 2011 or newer
- Has a gross vehicle weight of (GVWR) 10,001lb or more
- During the application process, the vehicle must be operational (able to start, move in all directions, and have operational parts)
- Have provided bus service to the public school district listed on the application for at least 3 days/week on average during the 2022/2023 school year at the time of applying, excluding emergency-related school closures.
EPA strongly encourages third-party applicants to replace existing buses that provided service to the public school district listed on the application, or another school district eligible for priority consideration, as listed in the Prioritized School Districts list
USDOE: Inclusive Energy Innovation Prize
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and the Office of Economic Impact and Diversity have launched a new Inclusive Energy Innovation Prize. Phase Two submissions will open in March 2022 and close in March 2023 and will provide cash prizes of up to $250,000 each ($2.5 million total) to groups and organizations to support entrepreneurship and innovation in communities historically underrepresented and underserved in the energy sector. If you want help applying, contact us for free coaching.
EPA: Clean Ports Notice of Funding Opportunity (to be released)
This upcoming Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) has been released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to support climate action plans across US ports. The anticipated funding availability is $3 billion and stems from the White House's Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to to fund zero-emission port equipment and technology.
Resources:
- EPA Clean Port Newsletter
- Webinar: EPA’s Clean Ports Program – First Look! (October 31)
- EPA Clean Port Website
Last updated: 11/17/2023
Fleet EV Resources
