The Hawaii Department of Health will use a $411,578 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to replace two diesel transit buses with battery-powered, electric ones.

The Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) program, administered by the EPA’s West Coast Collaborative, aims to reduce emissions from the most polluting diesel sources by leveraging public and private funds.

“By promoting clean diesel technologies, we can improve air quality and human health, advance American innovation and support green jobs,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Mike Stoker in a news release. “Public-private partnerships like the West Coast Collaborative are leading the way on reducing harmful diesel emissions and creating opportunities in economically disadvantaged communities.”

The DERA grant will be combined with $274,385 from Volkswagen mitigation matching funds provided by the state Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, and $837,870 in cost-share funds from participating fleets.

A full list of grants awarded in the Pacific Southwest region is available at this link.