Yellowstone-Teton Clean Cities works to connect fleets, businesses, governments, and individuals to funding opportunities, enabling more alternative fuel vehicles on the roads and supporting additional alternative fueling stations. YTCC has helped secure over $13 million in funding this past year and would like to assist you in adding to that amount.
STATE PROGRAMS
2025 School Bus Replacement Now Open
The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WYDEQ) is providing over $1,000,000 of grant funding for early replacement of diesel school buses through the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA 23 and 24 Grants).
The WYDEQ created the School Bus Replacement Program in 2016 with money from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Diesel Emissions Reduction Act and from matching funds from the 2016 Volkswagen Settlement. With this program, WYDEQ has helped replace over 130 buses in Wyoming’s school districts.
The application period is now open for eligible buses. Find more information, visit the WYDEQ website. There is an application webinar and the online application form.
Montana DEQ Clean Transportation Funding
Information about and how to apply for DEQ’s Clean Truck, Bus & Airport Equipment funding opportunity is now available on the Alternative Fuels & Transportation page and eMACS.
The Clean Truck, Bus & Airport Equipment Program matches funds to replace older diesel trucks, buses or airport ground support vehicles with battery electric, alternate fuel or newer diesel vehicles. Examples of vehicles eligible to receive funding through this opportunity include garbage trucks, street sweepers, bucket trucks, buses or vehicles that service aircraft between flights.
UPDATE: The application deadline had been extended! Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.
Volkswagen Settlement Funds:
In 2016, the United States, on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), filed a complainant against Volkswagen due to violations of the Clean Air Act. The allegations were that certain Volkswagen vehicles made between 2009 and 2016 were producing nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions significantly greater then the act allows. The United States and California entered into three partial settlements with Volkswagen to correct this issue. The first partial settlement required Volkswagen to buy back or modify the emission systems of 85% of their violating vehicles. As well as, be held accountable for the excess Nox emissions by providing a $2.7 billion environmental mitigation trust. Also, Volkswagen was required to invest in and encourage usage of zero-emission vehicles and infrastructure, with a $2 billion ZEV investment program. The second settlement required Volkswagen to add another $225 million to the mitigation trust fund. Lastly, the third partial settlement addressed how to prevent future violations by the company. The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) finalized the Volkswagen Mitigation Plan in 2018. In Yellowstone-Teton Clean Cities’ Coalition the states of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming have access to this funding.
FEDERAL PROGRAMS
National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program (NEVI) Updates
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) NEVI Formula Program provides funding to states to strategically deploy electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and to establish an interconnected network to facilitate data collection, access, and reliability. Funding is available for up to 80% of eligible project costs, including:
- The acquisition, installation, and network connection of EV charging stations to facilitate data collection, access, and reliability;
- Proper operation and maintenance of EV charging stations; and,
- Long-term EV charging station data sharing.
Learn more about this program here.
Below are resources and updates for the Montana, Idaho and Wyoming NEVI programs.
Montana
The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) developed Montana’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment Plan which describes Montana’s approach to meet the goals of the NEVI Formula Program and identifies Montana’s Alternative Fuel Corridors. This Project consists of performing all services necessary to design, construct, operate, and maintain 7 EV charging stations in communities along Montana AFC’s on I-15, I-90, and I-94. The EV charging station locations within the communities are to be determined by Proposers.
The work generally includes the following:
- Design and construct a minimum of four network-connected direct current (DC) 150 kilowatt (kW) charging ports, at each of the 7 EV charging stations, capable of simultaneously and continuously charging four EVs, located within a one-mile driving distance of an AFC and available for use by the public 24 hours per day, seven days per week, year-round.
- Operate and maintain the EV charging infrastructure for a minimum of five years following EVSE Acceptance pursuant to the Contract in accordance with the O&M period requirements.
Provide secure payment methods. - Collect, process, retain, and share near real-time and static data.
- Provide a minimum of 20 percent of the Eligible Project Cost.
- Advertised Bid Packages: https://www.mdt.mt.gov/
business/contracting/ advertised-bid-packages.aspx
Q&A Forum: https://www.mdt.mt.gov/
Post a question to the Q&A Forum: https://app.mdt.mt.gov/qaf/
Idaho
The Idaho Transportation Department is pausing work on the State’s NEVI program until further notice pending a review of the Administration’s Executive Order “Unleashing American Energy.”
Wyoming
The Federal Government approved Wyoming’s Year 2 NEVI Plan. You can see the approval letter here.
To read the plan, click the hyperlinks below.
Community Energy Innovation Prize Round Two Open
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the second round of the Community Energy Innovation Prize, a multi-million-dollar competition supporting grassroots innovation, entrepreneurship, capacity building, and economic development in communities historically underrepresented in clean energy development.
The Community Energy Innovation Prize is made up of three tracks, each with distinct focus areas, over three phases:
- Clean Energy Ecosystem Track
- Manufacturing Ecosystem Track
- Vehicles Ecosystem Track
Any eligible team may compete in the first phase, CONCEPT, where applicants form their coalitions and develop project ideas. The deadline to apply for the CONCEPT phase in all three tracks is June 20, 2025.
DOE To Release $25 Million Tribal Energy Funding Opportunity
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs issued a notice of intent (NOI) to release a $25 million notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) this spring to support energy technology deployment on Tribal lands.
To learn more, read the full NOI announcement and download the NOI for Energy Technology Deployment on Tribal Lands – 2025 (DE-FOA-0003548).
Through this planned NOFO, the Office of Indian Energy intends to solicit applications from Indian Tribes, which include Alaska Native Regional Corporations and Village Corporations, Intertribal Organizations, and Tribal Energy Development Organizations to install clean energy technology on Tribal lands.
Awards from this planned NOFO are anticipated to range from $100,000 to $2.5 million or from $250,000 to $5 million, depending on the area of interest. Applications will be due about 90 days after the NOFO is issued.
In partnership with Native communities, the Office of Indian Energy continues to accelerate the deployment of energy infrastructure on Tribal lands through this planned NOFO. Often including electric vehicle charging station infrastructure in energy efficiency upgrades is an allowable cost. Between 2010 and 2024, the DOE Office of Indian Energy invested over $190 million in more than 240 Tribal energy projects, valued collectively at over $300 million, implemented across the contiguous 48 states and Alaska.
$88 Million Available for Advanced Vehicle Technologies
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the Fiscal Year 2025 Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) Program Wide funding program. This funding opportunity will award up to $88 million for projects that will seek innovative transportation solutions for on- and off-road vehicles.
Projects connected to Vehicle Technology Integration Open Topic will be considered along with a list of other topic areas.
Prior to submitting a full application for this opportunity, a concept paper with requirements described in the NOFO is due on April 1, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. ET.
Learn more about this funding opportunity and other open funding opportunities within DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
OTHER PROGRAMS
MAP EJ Grants Hub Round Two Application Opens Spring 2025
Do you have a project that supports environmental justice work in the intermountain west? We encourage you to start thinking about your potential projects and reach out to Region 8’s technical assistance partners, MaPTCC, for support. With an additional $8 million granted from the EPA, JSI is in a position to deliver $48 million in funding over the next three years. For more information monitor their website, future bulletins, and MAP EJ Grants Hub social media channels: Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.