On September 10, 2019, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) released its second solicitation for projects under the Volkswagen Diesel Settlement Environmental Mitigation Trust (EMT). The purpose of the EMT is to execute environmental mitigation projects that reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides.

TDEC will host an application workshop for the Transit and Shuttle Bus Grant program on Tuesday, September 17 at the William R. Snodgrass Tennessee Tower (3rd floor, conference room D). Representatives of transit agencies, transit or shuttle bus contractors, and other interested persons are encouraged to attend and learn about the application process and program terms and conditions, including project eligibility, timelines for implementation, and reporting requirements. All terms that are both bolded and italicized on this page are defined in Appendix D-2 of the State Trust Agreement.

Under this solicitation, $16,000,000 in EMT funding is available for eligible Class 4-8 Transit and Shuttle Bus projects. The grant program, managed by the TDEC Office of Energy Programs, will provide financial assistance to public, non-profit, and private fleets in Tennessee that apply to replace eligible Transit or Shuttle Buses with any new Alternate Fueled or All-Electric Transit or Shuttle Bus. Additionally, fleets may also apply to Repower Transit or Shuttle Buses with new All-Electric Transit or Shuttle Bus drivetrains.

Transit or Shuttle Buses eligible for replacement or Repower include 2009 engine model year or older Class 4-8 diesel buses used for transporting people. For purposes of this solicitation, “Transit Buses” shall include all vehicles that provide public transportation, which shall mean regular and continuing shared-ride surface transportation services that are open to the general public. “Shuttle Buses” shall include vehicles that provide transportation services for one or more specific entities, intra-terminal or intra-facility transportation services, or mobility-on-demand services.

Eligible applicants are limited to one application each. Applications may include a variety of vehicle and/or fuel types. All terms and conditions of the program, including maximum number of replacements or Repowers and associated funding caps, are outlined in an Application Manual, accessible here: Transit and Shuttle Bus Grant Application Manual.

Applications and supporting documentation must be submitted electronically via the TDEC Grants Management System, which may be accessed here: https://tdec.smartsimple.com. Applications must be received by 4:00 pm CST on November 19, 2019. TDEC will announce awards after conducting a comprehensive review and evaluation of all complete and eligible grant applications. Grant contracting efforts will occur shortly thereafter.

WORKSHOP FAQs

Who should I contact with questions on the application workshop?

Please contact Energy Analyst Mark Finlay at Mark.Finlay@tn.gov or 615-253-3676 with any questions about the application workshop.

I can't attend in-person. Can I join the workshop remotely?

The workshop will not be live-streamed. However, the workshop will be recorded and posted on the TDEC website for applicant reference. To be notified of the posting of the recording, please sign up for the TDEC email list. For additional information on the VW Settlement, visit the TDEC Office of Energy Programs website.

Where can I park near the Tennessee Tower?

For attendees that will need to park a vehicle, please note that the Tower does not provide visitor parking. Attendees may park at any of the nearby downtown Nashville parking facilities, including at the Nashville Public Library’s parking garage (one of the more affordable parking locations within walking distance of the Tower).

How do I get to the conference room?

Attendees should arrive at the building through the 7th Ave. entrance (walk down the stairs from street level to reach the security desk, adjacent to the Nashville Driver Services Center; once signed in, walk past the security desk and enter the large glass doors on the right to find Room D). Attendees must present their photo ID to security to be admitted to the Tower as a visitor. Please leave 10-15 minutes in your arrival schedule to allow for security processing; for reference, the workshop will begin at 9:00 AM.