Clean Diesel Engine Technology Grants Awarded, Additional Stimulus Funds Requested

Gov. Rendell this week announced the state has applied for more than $11 million in grants through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for three innovative projects that will invest in clean diesel technology.

 

"These projects are important to the communities they will serve, to the commonwealth's economy and its environment," said Gov. Rendell. "Every day, there are hundreds of thousands of diesel engines that are used in Pennsylvania and, because many of those engines are old and inefficient, companies have considered shuttering them because they were simply too expensive to use. If companies had done that, the jobs that depend on those engines likely would have been gone.

 

"These projects offer a boost to our economy by ensuring that workers stay on the job operating or installing new equipment that will make the projects and operations viable and the companies more competitive.

 

"At the same time, many inefficient engines generate large amounts of air pollutants and fine particles that can adversely affect the health of our people and make it difficult for many to breathe," said the Governor. "These three projects could help reduce those emissions and, in turn, improve the quality of life and health of our citizens."

 

The competitive grant applications are for part of the $16 million that is available to the Mid-Atlantic region for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Clean Diesel Campaign. The ARRA made $156 million available for the campaign, which promotes projects that reduce emissions from diesel engines.

 

The Department of Environmental Protection is seeking the grant funding for the following three projects:

 

--Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad Inc. is requesting $1.6 million to upgrade two high-emission diesel-electric switching engines at its Brookville, Jefferson County, repair facility that are more than 40 years old. Modifying these obsolete and low-tech engines will retain four workers who would have otherwise been furloughed;

 

--Norfolk Southernis requesting $7.5 million to re-power 10 locomotive engines that date back to before 1973 with larger, advanced technology engines that will be up to 38 percent more fuel efficient. The re-powered locomotives will be used for local or switcher duty throughout the state. The project would allow the company to continue employing the equivalent of 18 employees working 40 hours per week per year at its Juniata Locomotive Shop; and

 

--The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commissionis seeking $2 million to supply electricity to 123 parking spaces at five turnpike travel plazas in Cumberland, Lehigh, Montgomery and Somerset counties. By equipping the spaces with electricity, long-haul truck drivers with heavy duty diesel engines will be able to power their cabs without idling their engines during mandated rest periods. The projects would create an estimated eight jobs for the installation of the equipment.

 

Securing support for these projects would be the latest in a series of actions taken by Governor Rendell to reduce diesel emissions. Last October, he signed the Diesel-Powered Motor Vehicle Idling Act, which restricts heavy-duty diesel vehicles from idling more than five minutes per hour. The commonwealth has also invested nearly $1 million to electrify truck stops to allow drivers to turn off their engines, reducing emissions and fuel consumption.

 

"The service plaza changeover alone has the potential to save truckers nearly half a million gallons of fuel annually," said Gov. Rendell. "In addition to the fuel savings and reduced emissions, this reduces the amount of money going to overseas producers of oil and keeps dollars at work right here in Pennsylvania."