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$1.1 Million in Recovery Act Funding Will Help Reduce Diesel Emissions in New England

Release Date: 07/21/2009
Contact Information: David Deegan, (617) 918-1017

(Boston, Mass. – July 21, 2009) – In a move that stands to create jobs, boost local economies, reduce diesel emissions and protect human health and the environment for people across New England, EPA has awarded approximately $1.1 million to Cascade Sierra Solutions for a project that will provide rebates to truck owners who install fuel-saving and emissions reduction technology.

"Investing in Clean Diesel projects through the Recovery Act is a down payment on protecting health, improving air quality, helping the economy and creating jobs in our communities," said Ira Leighton, acting regional administrator of EPA's New England office. "New England has some of the highest rates of asthma in the country. By reducing diesel emissions - especially in urban areas - we are helping thousands of our neighbors to breathe easier."

The funds are provided under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) of 2009 National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program. Under this funding competition, EPA Region 1 alone received over 30 grant applications requesting $35.8 million to help fund clean diesel emissions projects. The awards announced today were chosen to both maximize economic impact and emissions reductions.

Cascade Sierra Solutions’ “Great SmartWay Rebate Program” will achieve significant reductions in diesel emissions by providing a rebate incentive to truck owners to install up to three pieces of fuel-saving and emissions reduction equipment per truck, and up to 188 pieces per fleet. Equipment choices include idle reduction devices, aerodynamic fairings, reduced rolling resistance tire/wheel sets, efficient transport refrigeration units, and exhaust system controls. Cascade Sierra Solutions anticipates subsidizing over 1800 upgrades to class 8 diesel trucks and trailers. All equipment will be EPA and/or California Air Resource Board (CARB) certified. This project is consistent with EPA’s SmartWay Transport Partnership, which promotes energy efficiency and emissions reduction technology and strategies within and across freight modes, including trucking.

In addition to helping to create and retain jobs, the clean diesel projects will reduce premature deaths, asthma attacks and other respiratory ailments, lost work days, and many other health impacts every year.

The Recovery Act allotted the National Clean Diesel Campaign (NCDC) a total of $300 million, of which the National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program received $156 million to fund competitive grants across the nation. The Recovery Act also included $20 million for the National Clean Diesel Emerging Technology Program grants and $30 million for the SmartWay Clean Diesel Finance Program grants.

In addition, under the Act’s State Clean Diesel Grant program, a total of $88.2 million has been provided to States for clean diesel projects through a noncompetitive allocation process,

President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 on February 17, 2009 and has directed that the Recovery Act be implemented with unprecedented transparency and accountability. To that end, the American people can see how every dollar is being invested at Recovery.gov.

More information:

- EPA’s implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 in New England (epa.gov/region1/eparecovery/index.html)

- EPA’s clean diesel initiatives (www.epa.gov/cleandiesel)

- Cascade Sierra Solutions (www.cascadesierrasolutions.org)

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Note: 07/22/2009 - Headline edited to correct typo