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.
