Senator Carper Highlights Grants For Clean Diesel Projects

WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), chairman of the Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, highlighted the availability of $9 million in grant funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Diesel Emission Reduction Program (DERA). The grants will be for cost-effective clean diesel projects aimed at reducing diesel pollution and emissions exposure from existing diesel engines operating in poor air quality areas.

“Since its implementation in 2008, the Diesel Emission Reduction Act has been one of our government’s most cost-effective, common sense programs,” Sen. Carper said. “Through DERA, the EPA has leveraged federal dollars efficiently to reduce dirty air and energy consumption, getting an average of $13 in return in health and economic benefits for every $1 we put into the program. It’s important that we keep investing in clean diesel technology that helps clean up our nation’s air, and I encourage all groups to apply for these grants.”

EPA anticipates awarding 10-20 assistance agreements. Projects may include school buses, transit buses, heavy-duty diesel trucks, marine engines, locomotives, and other diesel engines.

The closing date for receipt of proposals is June 17, 2014.

For more information on DERA and to access the grant proposal forms, visit http://www.epa.gov/cleandiesel/prgnational.htm.