This week, the US House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly in a bipartisan vote to renew funding for the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA), passing the measure 343-79 and extending federal funding for cleaner medium- and heavy-duty vehicles through 2029.
Proving once again that everyone can get behind reducing air pollution, saving money on fuel, and AM radio, the House passed 14 bills this week, including House Resolution 2140 that amends section 797(a) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to extend the authorization of the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act grant program to 2029. Introduced by Reps. Doris Matsui (D-CA), Ken Calvert (R-CA), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), and Nick Langworthy (R-NY), the bipartisan legislation authorized $100 million in annual for the long-running program through fiscal year 2029.
“Through the diligent work of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, we are preserving the public health and safety of our communities, lowering electricity prices for hardworking families, and promoting a vibrant tourism industry that uplifts communities across the country,” said Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, in a statement.
About DERA
Electric terminal tractors; by YMX.
Administered by the US EPA, DERA awards a series competitive grants to reduce the higher up-front costs typically associated with fleets’ electrification efforts by bridging the gap between the cost of a new, heavily-polluting diesel-powered vehicle or equipment asset with a newer, cleaner option.
Over its two decades in effect, the program has helped take tens of thousands of engines engines off the road while saving fleets more than 500 million gallons of fuel in the process. And, in light of 2026’s eye-watering fuel prices, that means significantly more than it did twenty years ago. (!)
“The trucking industry’s tremendous success at reducing its environmental impact is rooted in innovation, investment, and collaboration,” American Trucking Associations Chief Advocacy & Public Affairs Officer Henry Hanscom told Commercial Carrier Journal. “By passing this bipartisan legislation, the House has taken an important step toward ensuring carriers can continue modernizing their fleets, which will deliver fuel savings and further emissions reductions.”
If I remember the song correctly, the bill now heads to the Senate for consideration before being passed on to the President for final approval. If you’re a fleet operator or buyer interested in learning reach out your state’s EPA (ex.: this is the relevant EPA page for Illinois) for more information.
SOURCES: US House, via CCJ; images by Amazon and YMX.
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