The NATSO Foundation has unveiled an online toolkit to help truckstop and travel plaza owners and operators secure grant opportunities for idle reduction technologies, such as truckstop electrification.
The NATSO Foundation’s special online educational resource (www.natsofoundation.org/toolkit) includes a comprehensive list of funding opportunities and offers tips for maximizing the potential to qualify for such grants through partnerships and collaboration with state and regional organizations.
The list of grants covers both The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and existing federal, regional and state programs. ARRA set aside $300 million for reductions in emissions from diesel engines. Some states are utilizing stimulus funds to provide grants for the installation of electrification equipment at truckstops.
The ARRA funding is divided into four programs: The National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program; The National Clean Diesel Emerging Technology Program; The SmartWay Clean Diesel Finance Program; and The State Clean Diesel Grant Program.
NATSO says the State Clean Diesel Grant Program is most relevant for truckstop and travel plaza owners and operators, as private truckstops are not directly eligible for federal funding. However, private truckstop and travel plaza owners may partner with eligible entities such as regional, state, local or tribal agencies or nonprofit organizations.
