U.S. EPA Announces $73 Million in Funding for Clean Diesel Initiatives

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Sept. 29 announced $73 million in funding and grants to support initiatives aimed to reduce diesel emissions from existing engines.

About $50 million in Diesel Emissions Reduction Act funding is expected to be allotted for projects intended to address diesel emissions from the nation’s existing fleet. The 2020 grants include about $23.5 million for 48 states and four territories to implement their own programs.

Seventy percent of the appropriation under the law is to be used for national competitive grants and rebates to fund projects that use emission reduction technologies approved by EPA or the California Air Resources Board. The remainder is earmarked for states and territories.

The agency said it has awarded grants and rebates $300 million over the last three years to modernize the diesel fleet and accelerate to cleaner heavy-duty trucks and equipment. So far in 2020, awards for 41 clean diesel initiatives have been finalized, according to EPA.

Although diesel engines manufactured today are cleaner, millions of older engines are still in use as they are capable of operating for 30 years or more. As a result, EPA is required to implement programs that reduce exposure to diesel exhaust and improve air quality.