EPA Awards $145,000 for Diesel Retrofit Projects

16 February 2007

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this week made two awards totalling $144,876 for two separate diesel retrofit projects, one to Wisconsin, the other to the American Lung Association.

A $50,000 grant goes to the Wisconsin Department of Commerce for a project to cut emissions from heavy-duty diesel trucks that operate in Wisconsin. The grant will be used to upgrade up to 25 trucks with emission reduction equipment. Cost per truck ranges from about $2,000 for diesel oxidation catalysts to about $12,000 for diesel particulate filters.

The retrofits will complement the state’s idle reduction grant program that provides funds to install an alternative source of power to heat, cool or provide electricity to the cab or other parts of the truck. This lets the trucker shut down the main engine to save fuel and cut diesel emissions.

A $94,876 grant goes to the American Lung Association for a project to cut diesel emissions from school buses in the Chicago metropolitan area. This grant will be used to retrofit 43 buses in school districts in Green Oaks, Mundelein, Grayslake and Ingleside.