E.P.A. Awards over $2.1 Million to Clean Up Diesel Engines in La., Okla. and Texas

DALLAS - (March 20, 2015) The E.P.A. (EPA) is awarding over $2.1 million for 3 clean diesel plans to help reduce emissions from the nation's existing fleet of diesel engines. This backing is part of EPA's Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) Fiscal Year 2014 allocation which will include engine replacements, repowers, and idle reduction technologies to clean up a variety of older diesel engines.

"Reducing exposure to toxic diesel fuels will positively impact public health in the region," said E.P.A. Regional Administrator Ron Curry. "These plans will bring a healthier economy and a healthier environment to communities in our region."

The $900,000 grant to Leonardo Academy, an organization dedicated to promoting sustainability, will retrofit school buses and delivery trucks with exhaust controls in La., Okla. and Texas.
North Central Council of Governments' plan will allow installation of 4 SmartWay electrified parking spaces, providing power and climate control to heavy duty trucks versus vehicle idling. The plan reduces transportation-related emissions that affect climate change, reduce environmental risk for companies and increase global energy security.
Port of Houston will use $899,960 to replace 14 older drayage trucks with cleaner, newer trucks. Reducing fuel cost and improving air quality are important roles in the fabric of port operations, economy and air quality.

Nationally E.P.A. is awarding $8 million in backing to 21 recipients. The plans are cost-effective and will impact fleets operating in places designated by the Administrator as poor air quality areas.
E.P.A. has implemented requirements to make diesel engines in excess of 90 percent cleaner, but many older diesel school buses remain in operation and predate these standards. Older diesel engines emit large amounts of pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. These pollutants are linked to aggravated asthma, lung damage and other serious health problems.

For more information and learn more about the awarded projects, visit www.epa.gov/cleandiesel/prgnational.htm.

For more information on EPA's National Clean Diesel campaign visit www.epa.gov/cleandiesel.

Connect with E.P.A. Region 6:
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eparegion6
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/EPAregion6
Activities in E.P.A. Region 6: http://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/region6.htm

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