San Antonio, Houston Get Funding for Clean Diesel
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $1,013,719 to the VIA Metropolitan Transit to upgrade its bus fleet. This clean diesel project will create jobs while protecting San Antonio area air quality. The agency also awarded $5.8 million to a combination of clean diesel projects by the city of Houston and the Port of Houston Authority.
The VIA project will involve replacing the engines in 83 transit buses with lower-emitting engines.
The Port of Houston Authority will receive a total of $3,468,132 for projects that will promote the use of advanced emission reduction and energy efficient technologies as well as replacement of cargo handling equipment and the repowering of the Sam Houston marine vessel. Both projects are part of the port's Clean Air Strategy Plan.
The city of Houston will receive $2,365,710 for its project to remove some of the city's oldest, and highest polluting, vehicles and equipment from various departments and replace them with newer and cleaner-running vehicles.
The funds are provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program. Under this funding competition, EPA Region 6 alone received more than 60 grant applications requesting more than $180 million to help fund clean diesel emissions projects.