The agreement provides funding under the inflation reduction act (IRA) to massachusetts department of energy resources to replace in-use, non-zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles with new zero-emission…

The agreement provides funding under the inflation reduction act (IRA) to massachusetts department of energy resources to replace in-use, non-zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles with new zero-emission vehicles to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in EPA region 1. The recipient will replace 28 eligible vehicles with comparable, eligible zero-emission vehicles under the vocational vehicles sub-program, resulting in cleaner air and improved health for communities in charlestown, chelmsford, goshen, norwood, south hadley, taunton, wakefield, and westfield, massachusetts. Activities:the activities include replacing eligible internal combustion engine class 6 and class 7 vehicles with eligible zero-emission vehicles; purchasing, installing, operating, and maintaining charging equipment to maintain the new zero-emission vehicles; and providing workforce development and training to support the maintenance, charging, and operation of the new zero-emission vehicles. Subrecipient:the activities to be implemented through a subaward to massachusetts clean energy center include managing an enhanced fleet advisory services component of the proposal through its mass fleet advisor program and awarding funding to participating fleets for the procurement of vehicles, electric vehicle charging stations, and charging station-related construction and installation costs. Outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include replacing 28 diesel vocational vehicles with 28 battery electric vehicles; installing 24 level 2 and level 3 electric charging stations across 6 counties and 8 municipalities; purchasing equipment for and creating a training program for medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicle technicians and operators to train a total of 48 students about vehicle safety, operations, and maintenance; and conducting community engagement activities. The expected outcomes include reduced emissions of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants; reduced annual fuel consumption; improved ambient air quality and health outcomes; increased capacity for electric vehicle charging; enhanced local workforce with skills to support future electric fleet needs; and increased understanding and public awareness of environmental and economic effectiveness of zero-emission vehicles. The intended beneficiaries include massachusetts department of energy resources (grantee), massasoit community college (partner), and massachusetts clean energy center (subrecipient). Other beneficiaries include disadvantaged community residents who will benefit from improved ambient air quality in the massachusetts communities in which the vehicles operate.