The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it is awarding more than $1.3 million in Clean Diesel funds for projects in all six New England states to reduce emissions and improve air quality. The money will enable all six states to launch retrofit or replacement projects that cover all transportation categories, including school bus replacements.
Diesel engines contribute significantly to air pollution, particularly in urban areas. The fine particles in diesel exhaust pose serious health risks, including aggravated asthma and other respiratory symptoms. Children are especially vulnerable to these effects. The Northeast has some of the highest asthma rates in the nation, including a childhood asthma rate above 10 percent in all six New England states.
The EPA funds are part of a larger collaborative effort between EPA and New England states to leverage significant resources to reduce diesel emissions, improve public health, and promote clean diesel technology. This year, they were able to leverage an additional $381,540 in state funding.
These grants bring a total of almost $6.2 million in federal funds and $2.3 million in state funds for State Clean Diesel funding to New England since the program’s inception four years ago. The funding is part of $12.6 million made available this year for State Clean Diesel programs nationwide, and is on top of prior Recovery Act funding of diesel projects.
