ATLANTA - The E.P.A. (EPA) announced today that the American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest is among the recipients of clean diesel grants. E.P.A. has awarded $8 million to communities in 21 states and Puerto Rico to reduce emissions from the nation's existing fleet of diesel engines through the agency's Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) program.
The grants will fund plans in Florida and South Carolina to install auxiliary power units on locomotive switch engines and replace twelve diesel refuse haulers with compressed natural gas haulers. Each plan will enhance air quality and support economic growth in local communities.
"Supporting clean diesel plans like these is one way E.P.A. helps make a visible difference in communities across the country," said Janet McCabe, acting assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Air and Radiation. "Cleaner trucks, buses, boats and heavy equipment keep local economies working and thriving while better protecting the health of the neighborhoods near ports and along delivery routes."
The twenty-one plans will gain backing through the EPA's DERA Fiscal Year 2014 allocation. The selected plans are cost-effective and will impact fleets operating in areas that will benefit from additional steps to protect air quality and public health.
E.P.A. estimates that every $1 in DERA backing generates up to $13 in health care savings. The DERA backing covers engine replacements, repowers and idle reduction technologies to clean up a variety of older diesel engines, including those in heavy-duty trucks used at ports, delivery trucks, long haul trucks, marine vessels, school buses, and even agricultural equipment.
Diesel engines are extremely efficient but emit air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOX) and particulate matter (PM). These pollutants are linked to a range of serious health problems including asthma, lung and heart disease, other respiratory ailments, and even premature death. Since the start of the DERA plan in 2008, E.P.A. has awarded in excess of 700 grants in 600 communities across the country. Many of these plans fund cleaner diesel engines that operate in economically disadvantaged communities whose residents suffer from higher-than-average instances of asthma, heart and lung disease.
The list of other plans selected for 2014 DERA funds:
California
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District is replacing 48 trucks model year 1991-2003 with trucks powered by 2013 or newer model year engines.
South Coast Air Quality Management District is replacing eleven on-road drayage trucks (model year 1991-1995), 9 school buses with compressed natural gas (CNG), and one school bus with a battery-electric vehicle.
Colorado
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is retrofitting 36 school buses with technologies to cut soot and reduce idling.
Delaware
Delaware River and Bay Authority is repowering 2 Tier 0 marine propulsion engines in one vessel with Tier three engines.
Delaware and Virginia
Mid-Atlantic Regional Air Management Association, Incorporated is providing incentives to voluntarily replace 19 drayage trucks operating 1995-2003 engines.
Idaho
Franklin Soil & Water Conservation District is replacing 3 school buses and 4 agriculture engines and converting 3 irrigation pumps to clean burning electric.
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin
Leonardo Academy is retrofitting 5 trucks, 5 buses and 2 excavators with technology to cut soot and reduce idling; replacing 8 long haul trucks and 3 refuse haulers with vehicles that run on compressed natural gas; replacing 14 long-haul trucks and 2 school buses; and repowering one crusher from Tier 0 to Tier 3.
Massachusetts
Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) Ventures, Inc., is repowering 2 Tier one marine propulsion engines with new Tier three engines and replacing 2 generator sets powered with Tier 0 engines with new Tier three generator sets.
Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management is repowering 2 unregulated fishing boats each with a new Tier three engine.
Michigan
Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision is replacing 5 short-haul trucks and one crane.
Missouri
Saint Louis Clean Cities is replacing 6 school busses.
New Jersey and New York
New Jersey Clean Cities Coalition is repowering 7 marine vessels with 13 Tier three engines.
New York
The Connecticut Maritime Foundation is repowering 2 Tier 0 marine propulsion engines in one ferry with Tier three engines.
North Carolina
Mecklenburg Co. Air Quality is replacing 3 pieces of landfill equipment and repowering 4 engines.
Oregon
Beyond Toxics is replacing one truck and installing advanced exhaust controls on 7 trucks.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico Metropolitan Bus Authority is retrofitting 17 transit buses with diesel particle filters.
Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana
Leonardo Academy is retrofitting school buses with exhaust controls and are retiring 8 delivery vehicles early.
Texas
North Central Texas Council of Governments is installing EPA-verified SmartWay® truck stop electrification at 4 trucking terminals.
Port of Houston is replacing 14 drayage trucks.
Utah
Utah Department of Environmental Quality is retrofitting 3 long-haul trucks with DPF's and retrofit 25 UDOT vehicles with DPF's.
For more information on DERA visit www.epa.gov/cleandiesel/prgnational.htm.
For more information on the awarded plans visit http://www.epa.gov/cleandiesel/projects-national.htm.
For more information on EPA's National Clean Diesel campaign visit www.epa.gov/cleandiesel.
Connect with E.P.A. Region four on Facebook: www.facebook.com/eparegion4
And on Twitter: @EPASoutheast
