Clean Air Branch

The Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) continues to take steps in improving Hawaii’s air quality through collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and participation in the federal State Clean Diesel Program.  Through this program, the DOH utilizes EPA Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) grants to reduce diesel emissions from existing older, air polluting diesel engines operating in our state.  Diesel exhaust consists of harmful particulate matter emissions and other pollutants such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons.  Exposure to diesel exhaust can lead to serious health problems and respiratory illnesses such as asthma and can worsen existing health conditions such as heart and lung disease, especially in children and the elderly.  Replacing older and dirtier diesel engines with newer cleaner engines and/or electric alternatives also reduces greenhouse gas emissions, critical to addressing climate change and achieving Hawaii’s net-negative emissions goal.  For more information about EPA DERA funding, please click on the following link: https://www.epa.gov/dera

Since FY19-20, the DOH has partnered with the Hawaii State Energy Office (HSEO), combining over $5 million in federal DERA and VW Settlement funds in support of HSEO’s new Diesel Replacement Rebate (DRR) program.  The program offers a 45% rebate to public and private organizations in Hawaii to replace old, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (i.e. transit, shuttle, and school buses, heavy-duty trucks, etc.) with electric equivalents and associated chargers.  This interagency collaboration benefits Hawaii by maximizing federal dollars provided to our state.  Partnering leverages VW Settlement funds to provide a match for DERA base funds, enabling Hawaii to receive an additional 50% bonus incentive of DERA funds.  Out of the total federal DERA and VW Settlement funds, approximately $1 million are from the bonus incentive helping to further reduce diesel emissions within our state.  Please see the following link for more information on HSEO’s DRR program:  https://energy.hawaii.gov/DRR

A brief summary of projects with subgrantee partners is listed below.

FY	Subgrantee	Project Description	Funding	Notes
FY 14-16
	HI Dept of Transportation, Highways Division	Replacement of Zipmobile	DERA: $389,916 State/HDOT: $1,470,084	Completed in Spring 2019.
FY 17-18			DERA: $500,560 HSEO: $93,077
	C&C Honolulu, Board of Water Supply	Replacement of 5 diesel work vehicles	DERA $142,404 State/C&C $427,209	Completed in Fall 2021.
	C&C Honolulu, Division of Transportation Services	Replacement of 1 diesel bus with an all-electric bus	DERA: $451,233 State/C&C: $551,508	Completed in Fall 2021.  HSEO provided matching funds to receive a 50% incentive in federal funds.
FY 19-20			DERA: $969,333 HSEO: $646,222
	Robert’s Hawaii Inc.	Replacement of 4 diesel buses with all-electric buses	DERA/HSEO: $1,459,630 State/Robert’s Hawaii Inc.: $1,783,992	Replacement of 2 school buses completed Fall 2023, 2 tour bus vehicle replacements in Spring and Fall 2024. HSEO provided matching funds to receive a 50% incentive in federal funds.
	Pacific Shipyards	Replacement of 1 diesel forklift with an all-electric model	DERA/HSEO: $93,242 State/Pacific Shipyards: $113,962	Replacement of 1 forklift completed in Summer 2024. HSEO provided matching funds to receive a 50% incentive in federal funds.
FY 21-22			DERA: $1,031,356 HSEO: $687,570
	Robert’s Tours and Transportation	Replacement of 1 diesel bus with all-electric bus	DERA/HSEO: $502,205 State/Robert’s Tours and Transportation: $613,807	Replacement of 1 tour bus completed in Summer 2024. HSEO provided matching funds to receive a 50% incentive in federal funds. 2 additional tour buses are in progress.