The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) seeks locomotive owners from private, public, and nonprofit sectors to apply to this grant opportunity to fund locomotive idle-reduction projects in the State of Minnesota.
Donor Name: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
State: Minnesota
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 06/30/2025
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The Locomotive Idle Reduction Program provides locomotive owners funding to purchase and install U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certified SmartWay idle reduction technology and automatic start/stop technology (when not required by rule or statute), and shore connection systems.
This grant program is part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) state program. The goal of the DERA program is to reduce diesel emissions from diesel engines to improve air quality and public health. These systems will reduce diesel emissions while locomotives idle.
Funding Information
- The MPCA anticipates the award of approximately $200,000 for these grants, although additional funding may be included.
- A maximum of $20,000 grant funding per project (i.e., per locomotive), no limit on number of projects.
Eligible Projects
- Existing locomotives must idle at least 1,500 hours/year in Minnesota during the previous two years prior to upgrade. The applicant must intend to operate the locomotive in Minnesota for at least five years. The participating fleet owner must currently own and operate the existing locomotive and have owned and operated the locomotive during the two years prior to upgrade.
- Unregulated and Tiers 1 to 4 locomotives.
- Eligible idle reduction technologies are listed below. To be eligible for funding these technologies must be on EPA’s SmartWay Verified Technologies list at the time of acquisition.
- Auxiliary power units and generator sets (APU/GS).
- Automatic engine shut-down/start-up systems (AESS) for Tier 0 or unregulated only.
- Shore connection systems (minimum use of 1,500 hours/year).
- Installation of technology. Eligible costs for battery electric powered vehicle, equipment and engine replacement projects can include the purchase and installation of one charging unit per vehicle, including the unit and charging cable, mount and/or pedestal. Eligible costs for idle reduction technologies that are installed on the vehicle can include the associated labor costs for installation of the system. These costs are subject to the mandatory cost share requirements.
Eligibility Criteria
- For profit, nonprofit, and public entities — including state, local, and tribal governments — that own and operate locomotives that idle more than 1,500 hours per year.
- Grant contractors are eligible under this program. Eligible contractors may request contractor fees up to 10% of the equipment cost per piece of equipment with a maximum of $2,000 per project. Contractor fees will be included on a per vehicle/equipment awarded basis and are not included in the maximum project funding.
To qualify as a contractor:
- All projects must be on the same application (one application per contractor).
- Contractor must represent at least three different entities.
- Contractor is responsible for all grant contract oversight responsibilities as stated in grant agreement, federal Diesel Emissions Reduction Act documents, and Code of Federal Regulations.
For more information, visit MPCA.
