The Indiana Department of Environmental Management has announced Round 4 of grant funding for clean air projects that reduce diesel emissions from nonroad vehicles or equipment across the state.

The program, DieselWise Indiana with Volkswagen Diesel Emissions Reduction Act Option, will distribute awards ranging from $50,000 to $1 million, with a total of $3.5 million available in grant funding.

IDEM is specifically encouraging potential project partners from southern Indiana due to the lack of applications from this region in the previous rounds of the program, with the hope of realizing meaningful diesel emission reductions equitably across Indiana.

Example projects include installing idle reduction technology on locomotives, replacing diesel-powered switcher locomotives with all-electric locomotives or railcar movers, replacing existing diesel-powered marine engines with new clean-diesel powered engines, and replacing diesel-powered cargo handling equipment with new electric alternatives.

Projects from Rounds 1 through 3 included replacing a diesel-powered switcher locomotive with an all-electric shuttle wagon, replacing two landfill compactors with much newer clean-diesel machines, and replacing old diesel-powered terminal tractors with new all-electric alternatives serving the same purpose.

Public and private entities may submit applications, and the Request for Proposals deadline is Dec. 16.

Application information can be found here.