|
|
Clean Fuels Grant Program
Stored: Clean Fuels Grant Program
| Type | Program |
|---|---|
| Sponsor Organization | Federal Transit Administration |
| Top Organization | Department of Transportation |
| Creation Legislation | Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century of 1998 |
| Website | Website |
| Purpose | Clean Fuels Grant Program funds transit agencies to meet air quality standards, speeding up clean fuel and advanced tech use in buses. |
| Program Start | 1998 |
| Initial Funding | Congressional appropriations |
| Duration | 1998-2012 |
| Historic | Yes |
Clean Fuels Grant Program (CFGP) was a Department of Transportation initiative that offered discretionary grants through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to transit agencies in over 90 designated ozone and carbon monoxide nonattainment or maintenance areas, funding the purchase of clean fuel buses and related infrastructure to reduce emissions and promote sustainable transit technologies. Initially established as a formula grant in 1998, it transitioned to discretionary funding in 2005 under SAFETEA-LU, supporting projects like hybrid electric bus purchases until its repeal in 2012 by MAP-21, with over $300 million allocated during its tenure, though no direct replacement program was named.
Goals
- Reduced ozone and carbon monoxide emissions in nonattainment and maintenance areas.[1]
- Supported adoption of clean fuel and advanced propulsion technologies in transit fleets.
- Enhanced air quality through infrastructure for low-emission buses, excluding operating costs.
Organization
The Clean Fuels Grant Program was sponsored by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) under the Department of Transportation, managing grants for designated recipients—entities eligible for urbanized area formula funds under 49 U.S.C. 5307. Funding came from Congressional appropriations, administered via discretionary awards post-2005, with FTA regional offices overseeing applications and compliance in eligible areas. The program collaborated with transit agencies to prioritize clean fuel projects, governed by regulations updated in 2007 (49 CFR Part 624).
The leader at the Department of Transportation level was the FTA Administrator, with oversight transitioning across multiple appointees until its end in 2012.
History
The Clean Fuels Grant Program was established by the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century of 1998 (TEA-21), signed into law on June 9, 1998, as a formula grant to address air quality in nonattainment areas.[2] It shifted to discretionary status under SAFETEA-LU (2005), funding projects like clean fuel bus purchases until its repeal by the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act of 2012 (MAP-21), effective October 1, 2012, after which funds were redirected to broader transit programs. It peaked with allocations like $100 million in FY 2008, leaving a legacy of cleaner transit fleets.
Funding
Initial funding in 1998 came from Congressional appropriations, though not separately funded under TEA-21’s formula structure until SAFETEA-LU enabled discretionary budgets.[3] Funding began in 1998 and ended in 2012, with over $300 million disbursed across its lifespan (e.g., $51.5 million in FY 2010), covering up to 90% of net costs for Clean Air Act compliance, including an 83% federal share for vehicles. Funding ceased with MAP-21’s repeal, redirecting resources to other FTA programs.
Implementation
The program was implemented through discretionary grant applications processed by FTA regional offices, funding eligible projects like purchasing clean fuel buses (e.g., biodiesel, hybrid electric) and constructing related facilities, excluding operating expenses.[4] It operated from 1998 to 2012, with awards based on air quality needs and technology advancement, concluding with MAP-21’s repeal on October 1, 2012, after enhancing transit sustainability in targeted areas.
Related
External links
- https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/grants/clean-fuels-grant-program-5308
- https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2007/03/30/07-1560/clean-fuels-grant-program - Final Rule 2007
- https://www.transportation.gov/ - Department of Transportation overview
- wikipedia:Federal Transit Administration
Social media
References
- ↑ "Clean Fuels Grant Program," FTA, https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/grants/clean-fuels-grant-program-5308, accessed February 19, 2025.
- ↑ "Clean Fuels Grant Program History," FTA, https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/grants/clean-fuels-grant-program-5308, accessed February 19, 2025.
- ↑ "Clean Fuels Grant Program Funding," FTA, https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/grants/clean-fuels-grant-program-5308, accessed February 19, 2025.
- ↑ "Clean Fuels Grant Program Implementation," FTA, https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/grants/clean-fuels-grant-program-5308, accessed February 19, 2025.