EPA to Provide Over $1 Million for Diesel Reductions to Two Portland Organizations
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is providing over $1 million to two Portland-area organizations in an effort to reduce harmful diesel emissions from trucks and construction equipment in the Portland metro region.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is providing over $1 million to two Portland-area organizations in an effort to reduce harmful diesel emissions from trucks and construction equipment in the Portland metro region.
Through the EPA’s Diesel Emissions Reduction Act program, the Columbia Corridor Association will receive $353,584 to partner with the Pacific Coast Fruit Company to replace 10 of the company’s higher emitting and inefficient heavy-duty diesel trucks used in goods movement. Pacific Coast Fruit Company will scrap two additional trucks and significantly reduce the use of 10 of its other trucks through efficiencies achieved with the new trucks. The company and Columbia Corridor Association are providing a mandatory match of $938,735 for a total project cost of $1,292,319.
The Metropolitan Contractor Improvement Partnership will receive $648,097 in grant funds and to scrap and replace seven diesel powered trucks (five dray trucks and two dump trucks), two loaders, and one piece of non-road diesel construction equipment. MCIP will also install diesel particulate filters on two diesel trucks. MCIP works with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and Portland-area community stakeholders to assist minority and women-owned construction and transportation related businesses improve their commercial vehicles and reduce emissions. Emission reductions associated with this project will help to lower the risk of infant mortality, coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer in the communities were these businesses are based and operate.
"Clean diesel technologies not only improve air quality, but advance innovation and support jobs,” said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. "These projects will significantly reduce harmful emissions and directly benefit the health of residents.”