SmartWay
SmartWay Finance Program
Financing Opportunities
This page is designed for truck owners seeking information about loans and grants for eligible clean diesel projects under the SmartWay Transport program.
Federal Programs
National Clean Diesel Campaign (NCDC) advances strategies to reduce diesel emissions by working with fleet operators, manufacturers, air quality professionals, environmental and community organizations, and state and local officials. NCDC awards funding from the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) to eligible entities for the reduction of diesel emissions from the nations existing fleet of heavy duty diesel engines. Information on all funded DERA projects can be found on the NCDC Projects page.
Department of Energy's (DOE) Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center (AFDC) has a database of federal and state laws and incentives related to alternative fuels and vehicles.
Active SmartWay Finance Program Competitive Grantees
The following programs have been established to help small businesses reduce diesel emissions and fuel consumption through the use of innovative financing for verified clean diesel technologies and vehicle/engine replacements. Grant funding for projects was provided by the Diesel Emissions Reduction Program (DERA) authorized by Title VII, Subtitle G (Sections 791 to 797) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. For more information on DERA, please see http://www.epa.gov/cleandiesel/grantfund.htm.
Community Development Transportation Lending Services, Inc. (CDTLS) -National Low Interest Revolving Loan Fund
- Eligible Activities: Financing for the purchase of used trucks retrofitted with EPA or CARB verified emission control technologies. Financing for the purchase of verified idle reduction technologies.
- Geographic Location: Nationwide
Houston-Galveston Area Council Bridge Loan Program to Support Clean Drayage
- Eligible Activities: Financing for the replacement of heavy duty diesel trucks operating in ports and distribution centers in the Houston Galveston Area.
- Geographic Location: Houston-Galveston-Brazoria region.
Cascade Sierra Solutions Revolving Loan Fund
- Eligible Activities: Financing for eligible truck replacements, engine repowers, idle reduction technologies, and exhaust retrofits.
- Geographic Location: National
Mid-Atlantic Regional Air Management Association Dray Truck Replacement Program
- Eligible Activities: Provides rebates for the replacement of trucks operating in Mid-Atlantic ports of Virginia, Baltimore, Wilmington, and Philadelphia.
- Geographic Location: Mid-Atlantic ports
State Programs
These states programs offer financial incentives to help the trucking industry purchase energy savings and/or emission control technologies:
Arkansas
- Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ): ADEQ has a small-business loan program that offers SmartWay Upgrade Kits, including idle reduction technologies, emission control devices, trailer aerodynamics, and single wide-base tires. For more information, see SmartWay Transport Fuel-Saving Technology Packages for Arkansas Trucking Companies (PDF) (2 pp, 216 KB, EPA 420-F-06-091)
California
- Carl Moyer Program: The California Air Resources Board and local air pollution control districts provide grants for all of the incremental costs of voluntarily reducing emissions from heavy duty engines. Eligible projects include emission reduction retrofits, idle reduction retrofits, engine replacement (repower) and purchase of new cleaner vehicle.
Maine
- Efficiency Maine: Loans up to $35,000, currently at 1 percent interest, to small businesses to fund energy conservation measures. Also has a program that provides a 25 percent for idling-reduction equipment.
Minnesota
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA): MPCA has a small business loan program finances SmartWay Upgrade Kits, including idle reduction technologies, emission control devices, trailer aerodynamics, and single wide-base tires. For more information, see SmartWay Transport Fuel-Saving Technology Packages for Minnesota Trucking Companies (PDF) (2 pp, 205 KB, EPA 420-F-06-902)
Oregon
- The "Everybody Wins" Program: The Lane County Regional Air Pollution Authority (LRAPA) has a lease to own program for purchase of idle reduction Auxiliary Power Units (APU).
- Oregon Clean Diesel Retrofit Tax Credit (PDF): (2 pp, 74 KB) Oregon will pay for up to 35 percent of the cost of a retrofit in tax credits to help prevent and control pollution from mobile sources.
- Cascade Sierra Solutions (CSS): This non-profit organization is dedicated to saving fuel and reducing emissions from heavy-duty diesel engines and operates in Washington, Oregon, and California. CSS is creating outreach centers along Interstate 5 to promote SmartWay Upgrade Kit technologies and provide incentives.
Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania Small Business Pollution Prevention Assistance Account Loan Program: Pennsylvania offers low interest small business loans for projects that reduce waste, pollution or energy use.
- Pennsylvania Small Business Advantage Grant Program: Pennsylvania offers small businesses up to $7,500 but no more than 50 percent of the cost of an APU.
Texas
- North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) This program funds projects that reduce emissions from high-emitting, heavy-duty engines.
- Texas Emissions Reduction Plan : The Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP) is a comprehensive set of incentive programs aimed at improving air quality in Texas.
Tennessee
- Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation: The Idle Smart Program offers rebates to small trucking companies for the purchase of idle reduction devices.
Wisconsin
- Wisconsin Diesel Truck Idling Reduction Grant Program: Wisconsin provides grants to freight motor carriers headquartered in Wisconsin to purchase and install idling reduction units for newer truck tractors.
Other State Funding Sources
- EPA Region 9: List of grant and finance opportunities.
- Great SmartWay Rebate Program: : Cascade Sierra Solutions provides rebates for installing SmartWay verified technology upgrades on diesel trucks titled in the six New England states (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut).
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Regional Clean Diesel Collaboratives: These collaboratives are public-private partnerships working to improve air quality by reducing diesel emissions through projects that use innovations in diesel engines, alternative fuels and renewable energy technologies.
- Northeast Diesel Collaborative (EPA Regions 1, 2)
- Mid-Atlantic Diesel Collaborative (EPA Region 3)
- Southeast Diesel Collaborative (EPA Region 4)
- Midwest Clean Diesel Initiative (EPA Region 5)
- Blue Skyways Collaborative (EPA Regions 6, 7)
- Rocky Mountain Clean Diesel Collaborative (EPA Region 8)
- West Coast Collaborative (EPA Regions 9, 10)
Want to learn more?
To learn more about financing options, please contact SmartWay at smartway_transport@epa.gov