PEORIA, AZ – Peoria is among six cities that joined the Arizona Department of Commerce Energy Office to file for a Clean Cities federal stimulus grant through the U.S. Department of Energy, according to The Arizona Republic.

In the grant, Peoria has asked for the differential payment of six hybrid solid waste trucks. The city has the funds allocated to gasoline trucks, which would cost about $1.2 million. The grant would fund an upgrade to hybrid and cover the $276,168 difference in payment.

The Department of Commerce is the lead on the grant because it must be filed through a state agency. Casa Grande, Goodyear, Mesa, Phoenix, and Scottsdale joined Peoria in asking for a total of $5,125,343. A $5 million minimum and a $15 million maximum request are required to submit the grant.

"We're competing nationally. The strategy is to compete with a partner," said Tammy Shreeve, the city's grants coordinator. "In order for Peoria to be competitive, we need to partner to have more oomph."

The federal government has allocated $300 million to allow for 20 to 30 projects to be funded through the Clean Cities grant.

If Peoria is not awarded, Shreeve said she'll follow up to see how they can improve proposals for next time. The city also applied for a federal grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance.

In that application, Peoria took the lead and partnered with Avondale, Glendale, Goodyear, Surprise, and Buckeye.

The hybrid trucks will set an example for the residents, meet the city's needs and meet the overall goal of the U.S. Department of Energy, Shreeve said.