Recovery Act Grants Help Truckers Reduce Emissions, Save Money

 

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, in cooperation with the University of Tennessee, is reviewing more than 170 applications for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grants through the department’s Clean Diesel Grant program. The grants help Tennessee trucking companies and private truck owners in the state pay for idle reduction technologies. Grant funding is still available.

 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded Tennessee a total of $1.73 million in funding for the program. All funding must be allocated by September 2010.

 

“We’re pleased to see carriers taking advantage of this program, and we hope even more will apply to receive this assistance,” said Environment and Conservation Commissioner Jim Fyke. “These idle reduction technologies result in less fuel consumption, which has both an economic and environmental benefit.”

 

The grant rebates will cover up to $4,000 of the cost of installing idle reduction technologies, such as auxiliary power units. These provide an alternative to the truck’s main engine when power is needed for electricity or heating and cooling the cab during rest periods. Auxiliary power units use an average of 0.2-0.3 gallons of diesel fuel an hour, compared to the approximately one gallon of diesel fuel used every hour when the truck’s engine is idling. In addition to emitting pollutants such as nitrogen oxide, particulate matter and carbon dioxide, excessive idling also increases maintenance costs and decreases engine life.

 

The ARRA Clean Diesel Grant program targets Tennessee trucking companies with truck tractors registered and operating in the state. All common and private carriers are urged to apply. Recipients are required to report data at a regular frequency, allowing the state to calculate actual fuel savings and emissions reductions for each truck.

 

Information about the grant program, including applications, is available on Environment and Conservation’s Recovery Act Web page at www.tn.gov/environment/recovery, then click on “Diesel Emissions Reduction.” For additional details, contact Greg Riggs with Environment and Conservation at (615) 532-0567 or Dr. Jimmy Calcagno with the University of Tennessee at (865) 974-7723.

 

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