U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5's Midwest Clean Diesel Initiative has awarded a $295,320 grant to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for its 2008 clean-diesel program. The grant is part of $1.8 million in 2008 MCDI grants to the six states in the region.
Cheryl Newton, acting director of EPA Region 5's Air and Radiation Division, presented a check to J. David Thornton, MPCA assistant commissioner, at ceremonies celebrating Minnesota's Project Green Fleet. The event was held at the Science Museum of Minnesota.
"We are fortunate to have the support of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency leadership for clean-diesel activities in Minnesota," Newton said. "I'm pleased to present this check to continue the Project Green Fleet momentum and the scaling up of our collective efforts to cut diesel emissions."
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin will each receive $295,320 under the program. Matching grants from these states total $1.2 million. Nationally, EPA will award $14.8 million to states for clean-diesel programs.
State projects include a variety of diesel emission reduction solutions such as retrofit technologies, idle-reduction technologies, cleaner fuel use, engine upgrades, and vehicle or equipment replacement.
The Midwest Clean Diesel Initiative is a collaboration of federal, state and local agencies, along with communities, non-profit organizations and private companies working together to reduce emissions from diesel engines in the Midwest.
Nationwide, diesel engines emit 7.3 million tons of smog-forming nitrogen oxides and 333,000 tons of soot annually. This pollution is linked to thousands of premature deaths, hundreds of thousands of asthma attacks and millions of lost work days. EPA's new diesel engine standards will significantly reduce emissions from newly manufactured engines, and these grants will lower emissions from the diesel engines already in use through clean innovative technology.
More information on EPA Region 5's Midwest Clean Diesel Initiative state grants is at www.epa.gov/midwestcleandiesel/grants/mcdirfp08/html.
