The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 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 agency says the grants will fund 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 agricultural equipment.
For example, the EPA has awarded $753,476 in funding to the South Coast Air Quality Management District to replace 21 school buses and trucks.
Of the 21 vehicles, 11 heavy-duty diesel short-haul trucks will be replaced with newer compressed natural gas (CNG) engines and 10 diesel school buses will be replaced with vehicles powered by CNG and battery-electric technology.
Since the start of the DERA program in 2008, the EPA says it has awarded more than 700 grants in 600 communities across the country. A list of the latest awardees is available here.
