Illinois EPA Announces $20M to Replace Diesel Trucks with Electric

On March 19, 2025, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Acting Director James Jennings announced a $20 million funding opportunity aimed at reducing emissions and improving air quality in the greater Chicagoland area. The initiative seeks to replace existing on-road diesel trucks with all-electric trucks, specifically targeting medium- and heavy-duty local freight trucks and Class 8 port drayage trucks. Along with the truck replacements, the Illinois EPA will also fund new Level 2 or direct current fast charging (DCFC) equipment if additional charging infrastructure is needed to support the new electric vehicles.

The funding is available for projects located within a designated region known as Priority Area 1. This area includes Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties, as well as specific townships such as Oswego in Kendall County and Aux Sable and Goose Lake in Grundy County. To be eligible for the funding, applicants—whether businesses or government entities—must be located within this region and must ensure that the trucks they intend to replace also operate within these boundaries.

The initiative is designed to replace diesel trucks that are at least 15 years old, specifically targeting trucks with engine model years between 1992 and 2009. In order to qualify for the funding, the old diesel trucks must be scrapped within 90 days after the new all-electric trucks are put into service. A wide range of truck types are eligible for replacement, including delivery trucks, waste haulers, port drayage trucks, landscape trucks, dump trucks, and freight/transport trucks.

A key goal of the funding opportunity is to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions in areas that have been heavily affected by pollution from older diesel vehicles. This is part of a broader initiative outlined in Illinois’ Beneficiary Mitigation Plan (BMP) for the Volkswagen diesel emissions settlement, which allocates funds to support electric transportation and infrastructure. The BMP prioritizes areas that do not meet federal air quality standards for ozone and that bear a disproportionate share of air pollution, including environmental justice areas.

This initiative is also part of Illinois’ ongoing efforts to improve air quality and address climate change. By replacing diesel trucks with zero-emission electric vehicles, the state is helping reduce harmful pollutants, ultimately benefiting public health and the environment. The inclusion of funding for charging infrastructure further supports the seamless integration of electric trucks into the transportation system, ensuring that they can operate efficiently and effectively.

The funding opportunity is a significant step toward achieving cleaner air and a more sustainable future for Illinois. It underscores the state’s commitment to advancing clean energy solutions while also addressing environmental justice concerns in communities most impacted by air pollution. Businesses and government entities located in the designated priority area are encouraged to apply for the funding, as it presents a valuable opportunity to make a meaningful impact on air quality in the region.

The link to the Notice of Funding Opportunity is available at:  https://gata.illinois.gov/grants/csfa.html?page=Opportunity.aspx&nofo=3020. All required forms and information can be found on the Driving A Cleaner Illinois webpage:  https://epa.illinois.gov/topics/air-quality/driving-a-cleaner-illinois.html. Applications for the Driving a Cleaner Illinois – Volkswagen All-Electric Truck NOFO must be submitted by Friday, June 6, 2025 at 5:00 PM.

All applicants must pre-qualify through the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act Grantee Portal.

JB Pritzker’s Valiant Support of EVs and Clean Energy

Democratic Party Governor JB Pritzker of Illinois has been a fierce champion of clean energy and EVs, making significant progress for America’s economy, while helping the fight against global climate change.

Pritzker said about the $20M in funding, saying: “Here in Illinois, we’ve made significant strides in protecting our environment and building a cleaner, more sustainable transportation sector. We’ve put electric school buses and transit buses on our roads and now we’re bringing that same clean energy innovation to the trucks that power our economy,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Through the Volkswagen Settlement, this funding will help reduce emissions in communities disproportionately affected by air pollution by replacing diesel trucks with clean, electric trucks. I encourage all eligible entities to apply to this funding opportunity as we continue our commitment to cleaner energy and sustainable travel in every corner of the state.”  

In October 2024, Pritzker announced free EV charging installed at four Illinois state parks, with forty more stations across various state parks, historic sites, beaches, and museums throughout the state planned at the time.

Support, Vote for Pritzker and Democratic Party Governors

From freezing federal EV charging funding, a reported threat to cutting the federal EV tax credit, to a far-reaching list of reprehensible actions by the administration far too long to list here, the failures for America’s citizens and threat to democracy that Republicans and these actions pose are breathtaking. It’s blazingly clear that the Republican Party is unfit to lead. EVinfo.net urges you to support Democrats. The Democratic Governors Association is a great organization to support. Donate and get involved today.

The Democratic Governors Association (DGA) has been doing significant work to stop the administration’s far-reaching wrongdoing. It is an independent, voluntary political organization dedicated to supporting Democratic governors and candidates across the United States. The DGA is proud to stand behind Democratic governors in 23 states, four U.S. territories, and the mayor of Washington, D.C.

As the only organization exclusively focused on electing Democratic governors and candidates, the DGA plays a pivotal role at every stage of a campaign. From providing essential resources to fund operations to helping articulate and deliver impactful messages, the DGA is committed to ensuring that Democratic leadership, protecting economic prosperity and the rule of law, thrives across the country.