The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) announces that funding is available to assist Nebraska transit agencies to replace eligible older diesel transit buses with new buses powered by 2017 or newer model year compressed natural gas (CNG) engines certified to California Air Resources Board (CARB) Optional Low-NOx Standards (see below).
The following transit agencies in Nebraska operate buses eligible for funding under this program: StarTran (City of Lincoln) and Metro (City of Omaha). Each agency may apply for one rebate to replace one bus.
VEHICLES ELIGIBLE FOR REPLACEMENT
- Eligible vehicles are transit buses with diesel engines, model year 1995 through 2006, with Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of 14,001 pounds or greater (Class 4 to 8).
- Buses must be owned by a public transit agency in Nebraska, be currently in operation transporting passengers, and not otherwise planned for replacement prior to September 2021.
ELIGIBLE REPLACEMENT VEHICLES
Eligible replacement vehicles are new transit buses (2017 model year or later) powered by a compressed natural gas (CNG) engine certified to meet CARB’s Optional Low-NOx Standards of 0.1 g/bhp-hr, 0.05 g/bhp-hr, or 0.02 g/bhp-hr NOx.
The replacement bus must be in the same or higher weight class as the replaced bus and must be used to transport transit passengers.
REIMBURSEMENT
NDEE will reimburse 35% of the cost of the new transit bus up to a maximum rebate of $175,000. The applicant is responsible for the remainder of the bus purchase price (cost-share).
Reimbursement will be made when NDEE has received a reimbursement request with documentation that:
- The transit agency has paid for and received delivery of the new bus.
- The old bus has been scrapped in accordance with the program requirements (see below).
OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
- No other federal grant funds may be used to cover any portion of the mandatory cost-share.
- One bid or quote for the replacement bus must be submitted with the application.
- The new bus may not be used to expand the applicant’s current fleet; the new bus must replace a bus that is currently operational and in use.
- The replaced bus and its diesel engine must be disabled (scrapped) within 90 days of replacement.
- Recipients must maintain ownership of the new bus for at least three years from the date of purchase. If the new bus is sold before the end of the three-year period, moved out of state, or used for purposes other than specified under this program, the rebate recipient must notify NDEE and may be required to return up to the full amount of the rebate to NDEE. The amount required to be returned is at the discretion of NDEE, and will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
- Recipients will be required to file annual reports of mileage and fuel use for the duration of the agreement.
REIMBURSEMENT TIMELINE: By August 30, 2019, the selectee must:
- Accept delivery of the bus;
- Scrap the old bus in accordance with the program requirements; and
- Submit the Request for Reimbursement Form, the Final Report Form, Certificate of Destruction, and all required supporting documentation once the new bus has been purchased and received.
APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCESS
For the application and instructions, please see the link above. The application deadline is 5:00 p.m., February 1, 2019. Only one application per applicant will be accepted, and a maximum of one bus rebate is allowed per application.
Applications will only be accepted if complete and received in the NDEE Lincoln office on or before 5:00 p.m., February 1, 2019.
Applications will be evaluated on the basis of the public health benefit of the vehicle replacement and the cost-effectiveness of the emissions reduction (determined from the annual hours of operation, fuel use, and estimated remaining years of service of the replaced vehicle).
Preference will be given to projects proposing to purchase trucks powered by compressed natural gas. Preference will also be given to projects in the following EPA-designated priority counties: Buffalo, Dodge, Douglas, Gage, Jefferson, Keith, Lancaster, Lincoln, Platte, and Scotts Bluff.
TO APPLY
Mail or e-mail applications to:
Nebraska Clean Diesel Rebate Program
Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy
P.O. Box 98922
Lincoln NE 68509-8922
NDEE.AirQuality@nebraska.gov
Only signed and dated original applications will be accepted. You will receive an e-mail confirming NDEE’s receipt of your application.
The application deadline is 5:00 p.m., February 1, 2019. Applications received or incomplete after 5:00 p.m February 1, 2019 will not be eligible.
NDEE is not responsible for any applications that are delayed or lost in the mail. It is the applicant’s responsibility
to ensure that their application was received by the department by the deadline.
Questions? Email us at NDEE.AirQuality@nebraska.gov
Note: Effective Oct. 1, 2009, any individual submitting any application or form that would derive public benefit from the state must also fill out a United States Citizenship Attestation form. This applies to individuals submitting the forms on their own behalf. If applicable, please fill out the United States Citizenship Attestation form below and submit it with the relevant applications and forms.
United States Citizenship Attestation Form
This Complete Form is only available as an Adobe Acrobat (PDF) file.
File size is 97 KB | | |
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