The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection announced it is awarding 16 applicants more than $39.6 million to replace diesel-fueled fleets with modern, zero-emission vehicles as part of the 2022-23 Medium and Heavy-Duty Zero-Emission Vehicle Pilot Grant.

SQ Trucking, with locations in Butler and Westmoreland counties, has been awarded $523,221 to replace four home delivery step vans with electric vehicles.

This grant was funded by the Environmental Mitigation Trust Agreement for State Beneficiaries and is part of the Driving PA Forward program under the Shapiro administration to improve air quality statewide by driving transformation from older, high-polluting diesel engines to clean transportation technologies.

“Clean air is crucial in ensuring a healthy environment,” DEP interim acting secretary Jessica Shirley said. “That’s why we see it as our mission to address one of the most significant air quality challenges facing our commonwealth — emissions from transportation. These recommendations mark the highest-dollar awards in any round, for any Driving PA Forward Initiative funding program.”