State Clean Diesel Grants available

Cities, counties and other government agencies that conduct work for the benefit of the public and require diesel-powered vehicles or equipment are encouraged to apply for State Clean Diesel Grants, according to Keith Hinnenkamp, environmental scientist with the North Dakota Department of Health.

The Department of Health will award about $158,000 in grants funded by the Environmental Protection Agency for the purchase of new, diesel-powered vehicles and equipment. The purpose of the grants is to reduce diesel emissions in accordance with the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of the Energy Policy Act of 2010. To date, 32 older vehicles have been replaced by these grants, with a reduction in air emissions of about 116 tons over the lifetime of those vehicles.

The grants will reimburse about 25 percent of the cost to replace older, medium heavy-duty and heavy-duty, diesel-powered, on- and non-road vehicles and equipment. School buses meeting certain emission standards will be reimbursed at 50 percent of the cost of a new school bus. The goal is to award funds to agencies that reduce the impact of diesel emissions on students and the public, and maximize efforts to preserve and enhance air quality across the state through the reduction of diesel emissions.

The grant guidelines and application are available at www.ndhealth.gov/ AQ/PublicNotices.aspx. Applications must be received by 4 p.m. March 1.

For more information, contact Keith Hinnenkamp, North Dakota Department of Health, at 701-328-5188, or visit http://www.ndhealth.gov/AQ/PublicNotices.aspx.

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