Clean Diesel Projects Reap $3.4 M from EPA Funds
To improve air quality and protect public health, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Sept. 24 announced the first $3.4 million in funding for clean diesel projects under the $50 million Diesel Emission Reduction Program.
This campaign makes awards to save fuel and lower greenhouse gas and diesel exhaust emissions from the country's existing fleet of 11 million diesel engines.
EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson said: "These grants encourage technologies that will help truckers save over $72 million in fuel costs per year and lower their environmental impacts."
Three organizations received $3.4 million through innovative loans and rebates. The organizations receiving funds under the national diesel program are: the Community Development Transportation Lending Services, Washington, D.C.; Cascade Sierra Solutions, Oregon; and Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, Missouri.
EPA also will begin disbursing $14.8 million for State Clean Diesel programs. All 50 states will receive funds, and 35 states will put matching resources toward the program. Later this fall, $27.6 million in grants will be distributed by EPA's 10 regional offices. Finally, grant awards for emerging technologies totaling approximately $3.4 million will be announced this winter.
Diesel engines emit 7.3 million tons of smog-forming nitrogen oxides and 333,000 tons of soot annually. This pollution is linked to thousands of premature deaths, hundreds of thousands of asthma attacks, and millions of lost work days. EPA's new diesel engine standards will significantly reduce emission from newly manufactured engines, and these grants will lower emissions from the diesel engines already in use through clean innovative technology.