WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to award approximately $3.4 million in grants to establish projects using emerging technologies to reduce emissions from the nation’s existing fleet of diesel engines. Addressing the existing fleet is important because it pre-dates EPA’s stringent new particulate, and nitrogen oxide standards and diesels remain in use for decades. This sum was authorized by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and funded for the first time this fiscal year.

State, local, regional, and tribal governments may apply for the grants, as well as non-profits and institutions with transportation, educational service, and air quality responsibilities. Emerging technology manufacturers must partner with an eligible applicant to receive this funding. The grants are targeting school or transit buses, medium and heavy-duty trucks, marine engines, locomotives, and non-road engines. Grant proposals must be submitted by Sept. 21, 2008. The final awards will be announced in December.

The grants will be administered by EPA’s National Clean Diesel Campaign under the Emerging Technology Program (ETP). ETP supports the development and commercialization of new, cutting-edge technologies. The program gives manufacturers the opportunity to capture real-world data and gain valuable operating experience on their technology while it is used by fleet partners.

An emerging technology is a device or strategy that reduces emissions from diesel engines or equipment that has not been verified or certified by EPA or the California Air Resources Board (ARB). To qualify as an emerging technology, manufacturers must submit an application and test plan to EPA or ARB. Each technology will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to determine if it qualifies as an emerging technology.

Qualified emerging technologies will be added to the Emerging Technologies List. The first three qualifying technologies are: 1) Caterpillars’ Marine Emissions Upgrade Group (EUG), the 3500 Marine EUG; 2) Johnson Matthey’s urea-based selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system for on-highway applications, the SCRT-1000; and 3) Nett Technologies’ urea-based SCR for nonroad applications, the BlueMAX. Specifics of each technology including the emission reductions and engine applications can be found on the Emerging Technology List.

For more information about this grant, visit: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/diesel/grantfund.htm. For more information about the Emerging Technology Program, visit: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/diesel/prgemerg.htm. View the qualifying emerging technologies list at http://www.epa.gov/otaq/diesel/prgemerglist.htm.