Clean Fuels

To assist in financing the acquisition of clean fuel vehicles and related facilities for agencies providing public transportation and operating in an urbanized and non-urbanized area designated as a non-attainment or maintenance area for ozone or car

The program had a two-fold purpose. First, the program was developed to assist nonattainment and maintenance areas in achieving or maintaining the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone and carbon monoxide (CO). Second, the program supports emerging clean fuel and advanced propulsion technologies for transit buses and markets for those technologies.

Public agencies, including States; municipalities and other subdivisions of States; public agencies and instrumentalities of one or more States; and public corporations, boards, and commissions established under State law could apply. Applicants had legal, financial, and technical capacity to carry out proposed project and maintain facilities and equipment purchased with Federal assistance. Applicant also operated in an urbanized area designated as a non-attainment or maintenance area for ozone or carbon monoxide. If the urbanized area was less than 200,000 in population, the State in which the area is located acted as the recipient.

The general public, both users and non-users of public transportation.

The Clean Fuels Grant program was repealed in 2013 under the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), and FTA announced the final project selection of competitive project awards on October 2, 2012. Therefore there are no applications being accepted. However when active, resolution by an authorized public body approved the filing for an application; projects were included in an urbanized area's transportation improvement program (TIP), and in the Statewide transportation improvement program (STIP) approved by FTA and FHWA. Information provided labor agreements and relocation planning; environmental impact; legal capacity; coordinated regional planning; and compliance with certifications and assurances as compiled in FTA's Annual List of Certifications and Assurances.

Although the Clean Fuels Program has been repealed, past eligible projects included the purchase or lease of clean fuel vehicles, the construction or lease of clean fuel vehicles or electrical recharging facilities and related equipment for such vehicles, and construction or improvement of public transportation facilities to accommodate clean fuel vehicles. A clean fuel vehicle is a passenger vehicle used to provide public transportation that is powered by compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, biodiesel fuels, batteries, alcohol-based fuels, hybrid electric systems, fuel cells, clean diesel (to the extent allowed by law), or other low or zero emissions technology. Vehicles that employ lightweight composite primary structure may also be eligible. Funds can be used for capital projects only.

Terms and conditions were delineated in the grant agreement.

An environmental impact assessment was required for construction projects.

This program was repealed under MAP-21. No new funding is available, therefore there are no application procedures. However, when active a Notice of Funding Availability was published. The notice provides the criteria by which the eligible projects were evaluated for selection and the Administrator's determination of the net Federal share for projects funded under this Part.

Criteria was specified in past Federal Register notices.

An FTA grant award obligating federal funds was reflected in a grant agreement. Grants were awarded electronically using FTA's e electronic grants management system.

It was a goal of the Federal Transit Administration to obligate grants within an average of 36 days of the submission of a complete grant application.

Funds are no longer appropriated annually. The program has been repealed.