The Diesel Emission Reduction Grant (DERG) program is supported with federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) dollars awarded by the Federal Highway Administration to the Ohio Department of Transportation. The program provides support to public transit systems serving Ohio counties, for the early retirement and replacement of older diesel transit buses.

Interested parties may sign up to receive email notifications about DERG grants and other Ohio EPA grant programs by creating an account in Ohio EPA's Customer Support Center.

For questions about the grant program, please contact DERG@epa.ohio.gov or (614) 644-2873. 

Request for Proposals 2022 (Open to Public Transit Systems only)

The Ohio Department of Transportation and the Ohio Environmental Project Agency invite grant applications from public transit systems in CMAQ-eligible counties, for up to 80% of the cost to replace aging diesel transit buses. The application cycle opens Sept. 15, 2022, with completed applications due to be submitted by 5 p.m. on Friday Nov. 4, 2022. Applications must be submitted online at 2022 DERG - Formstack. The Agencies will host a webinar to take questions from prospective applicants on Monday Sept. 26 at 10 a.m. Log-in information for the Webinar is included in the 2022 Request for Proposals posted below. Answers to questions received will be posted on this page, and updated while the application cycle is open.

Print entire Request for Proposals and Appendices as a single PDF File

• 2022 Request for Proposals and Instructions (PDF)
• Appendix A: DERG Applicant Certification Statement (Word)
• Appendix B: DERG Fleet Data Reporting Spreadsheet (Excel)
• Appendix C: Map of CMAQ Eligible Counties and Townships in Ohio (JPG)
• Appendix D: Diesel Vehicle/Equipment and Useful Life Guidelines (Word)
• Appendix E: Buy America Certification for FTA Projects (Word)

Previous DERG Grant Awards

• List of Awarded DERG Grants from Fall, 2021 (PDF)
  
• List of Awarded DERG Grants from Fall, 2020 (PDF)
• List of Awarded DERG Grants from Fall, 2019 (PDF)
• List of Awarded DERG Grants from Fall, 2018 (PDF)
• List of Awarded DERG Grants from Fall, 2017 (PDF)
• List of Awarded DERG Grants from Fall, 2016 (PDF) 
• Alphabetical list of awarded grants from 2012-2015 at Ohio EPA
• List of awarded DERG grants from 2009-2011 at Ohio Department of Development

DERG projects are administered jointly by the Ohio Department of Transportation and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. 

Forms for use by DERG Grant Recipients

• Sample Grant Agreements (LPA Agreement)
  • For Public Sector Projects (Word)
  • For Private Sector Projects (Public-Private Partnerships) (Word)
• DERG Original Equipment Certificate of Destruction (PDF)
• DERG Original Equipment Destruction Instructions (PDF)
• DERG Combined Fleet Data Reporting Form (Excel)
• DERG Invoice Template (Excel)
• DERG Buy America Guidance (PDF)
• Buy America Certification Form for FHWA projects (Word)
• FTA Buy America Guidance for Transit projects (PDF)
• Buy America Certification form for Transit projects (Word)

Related Information

• • U.S. EPA Clean Diesel Program 
    • U.S. EPA Diesel Emissions Quantifier (DEQ) Tool
    • U.S. EPA Verified Technology List
    • U.S. EPA Verified Technology for Idle Reduction List
    • California Air Resources Board Verified Technology List
    • U.S. EPA Diesel Emissions Reduction Program: Technologies, Fleets and Project Information
    • U.S. EPA Tips for a Successful Diesel Retrofit Project 
  • Federal Highway Administration 
  • Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) program
  • CMAQ 101 Webinar
  • CMAQ Guidance
  • Guidance on funding eligibility for public and private replacement vehicles
  • Ohio Department of Transportation 
  • Chart of Vehicle Class Sizes