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Connecticut Maritime Foundation Receives $800,000 Grant from EPA to Fund Marine Clean Diesel Project

Release Date: 10/15/2012
Contact Information: Paula Haschig, 617-918-1027

(Boston, Mass. – October 15, 2012) The U.S. EPA, under the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA), is awarding $800,000 to Connecticut Maritime Foundation to purchase and install two new diesel marine engines in a passenger ferry operating out of New London, CT that provides year-round service to Orient Point, NY and Block Island, RI.   

Diesel engines contribute significantly to air pollution, especially in areas such as New London County, CT, a county identified by EPA as having high levels of emissions from diesel engines. The fine particles in diesel exhaust pose serious health risks, including aggravated asthma and other respiratory symptoms. Children are especially vulnerable to these effects. The Northeast has some of the highest asthma rates in the nation, including a childhood asthma rate above 10 percent in all six New England states.

"Reducing diesel emissions is a proven and effective way to improve air quality. Investing in Clean Diesel projects in New England will protect people’s health, improve air quality and help our economy by keeping jobs here in our communities," said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA's New England Office. “Reducing diesel emissions means cleaner air for everyone, which is especially important for people who suffer from asthma and other respiratory problems.”

“We value the opportunity presented by EPA to begin the process of repowering the JESSICA W high-speed passenger ferry through this award.  This project will help advance the environmental improvement goals for our fleet of vessels, an effort which began five years ago by deploying new, efficient, low emission engines to improve air quality locally and throughout the region.” said John P. Wronowski, owner and president of Cross Sound Ferry Services, Inc.

This grant will allow Connecticut Maritime Foundation, in partnership with Cross Sound Ferry Services, Inc. to replace two older diesel marine engines with state of the art EPA Tier-3 certified marine engines.  The project is anticipated to reduce annual emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) by 46.9 tons and particulate matter (PM) emissions by .48 tons.  The grant will cover up to 50% of the cost of each eligible marine engine repower. 

Today’s announcement is part of nearly $30 million in grant funds being awarded by the EPA nationwide for clean diesel projects in 2012.  In New England, a second grant was awarded under this year’s funding competition to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection to fund a tug boat repower and school bus replacement project.

More Information on US EPA’s National Clean Diesel Program:
https://www.epa.gov/cleandiesel/

More Information on clean diesel in New England:

http://www.northeastdiesel.org/

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