News Releases from Region 06
EPA Awards over $2.1 Million to Clean Up Diesel Engines in La., Okla. and Texas
DALLAS - (March 20, 2015) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is awarding over $2.1 million for three clean diesel projects to help reduce emissions from the nation's existing fleet of diesel engines. This funding 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 EPA Regional Administrator Ron Curry. "These projects 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' project will allow installation of four SmartWay electrified parking spaces, providing power and climate control to heavy duty trucks versus vehicle idling. The program 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 EPA is awarding $8 million in funding to 21 recipients. The projects are cost-effective and will impact fleets operating in places designated by the Administrator as poor air quality areas.
EPA has implemented standards to make diesel engines more than 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.
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