MADISON, WI – Common, contract, and private motor carriers in Wisconsin interested in the installation of idling reduction equipment can receive grants from the Wisconsin Diesel Truck Idling Reduction Grant Program. Equipment will reduce the carrier’s fuel cost and air pollution, according to the Web site www.wisbusiness.com. Last year, the Department of Commerce received a tremendous response from the trucking industry with more than $6.1 million in requests for funding. This year’s program will award $1,000,000 in grants.

Idling reduction units provide an alternative source of power to heat, cool, or provide electricity to the cab and parts of the truck in lieu of operating the truck’s main drive engine. These units reduce air pollution emission and fuel costs. The Wisconsin Diesel Truck Idling Reduction Grant Program is designed to assist common, contract, and private motor carriers in the purchase and installation of idling reduction technology. The program’s primary goals are to help Wisconsin motor carriers reduce air pollution emissions and fuel consumption and also to provide useful field testing data. The field testing data received from the past years participants will be analyzed and reported on the department’s Web site later this year.

Motor carriers are eligible for up to 70 percent reimbursement for the purchase and installation of idling reduction equipment. Applications will be accepted beginning Jul. 1, 2007. Applications and additional information are available on the Wisconsin Department of Commerce Web site at http://commerce.wi.gov/dieselgrantprogram.