Contact: Pam McCurdy, 651-757-2559
St. Paul, Minn. — The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is seeking clean diesel grant project proposals for up to $113,600 in funding through its 2012-13 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA). The application deadline is Dec. 10, 2012. More information is available on the MPCA's Grants for Clean Diesel Projects webpage.
“The MPCA uses grant funding to help reduce diesel pollution in Minnesota, focusing on fine particles and nitrogen oxide emissions by targeting older, heavy-duty diesel engines used in the metro area,” David Thornton, MPCA Deputy Commissioner, said. “Air pollution from trucks and cars can trigger respiratory problems, such as asthma attacks and even heart attacks, in those with existing conditions.”
Three major MPCA DERA grant projects involving three different technologies were completed this past summer:
- The Metropolitan Airport Commission retrofitted 40 airport support vehicles (mostly heavy-duty trucks and plows) with emission-reduction exhaust systems that cut fine particle pollution by 20 percent.
- Coca-Cola Refreshments in Eagan purchased six new electric-diesel hybrid delivery trucks for use in the Twin Cities metro area. The new vehicles will reduce fine particle pollution by 97 percent and nitrogen oxide emissions by 95 percent compared to the older trucks they replaced. Last year’s grant paid the difference between a new regular diesel engine delivery truck and a hybrid version. Some of the new hybrid Coca-Cola Refreshments trucks will operate on inner-city routes in St. Paul and Minneapolis where pollution levels are the highest. Diesel electric hybrids are well-suited for the stop-and-start needs of local delivery trucks and may offer improved fuel economy along with the reduced emissions.
- Lunda Construction replaced engines in five large cranes used in metro-area bridge-building work. The new cleaner engines will reduce fine particle pollution from the cranes by 90 percent and nitrogen oxide emissions by 76 percent. Lunda matched grant money to fund the new engines.
“The five Lunda cranes alone will reduce fine particulate pollution by almost two tons per year,” MPCA grant manager Mark Sulzbach noted. “That’s a great benefit to air quality in the metro area.”
Lunda fleet supervisor Dan Anderson said the crane operators really like the new engines. “They have more power, smoother throttle operation and less vibration,” he said. “Their only complaint is the new engines are so quiet they can barely hear what the machines are doing,” Anderson joked.
Other technologies include diesel particulate filters and idle-reduction devices, such as auxiliary power units.
Funding has been reduced so participant match funding is vital. In addition, federal grant guidelines encourage reducing emissions where it is highest — so diesel engines that operate in the seven-county metro area are preferred.
Persons who have questions about the applying for a grant, should contact grant administrator Sally Pinski at contracts.pca@state.mn.us. (Please put “CR5892 Clean Diesel” in the subject line of your message.) Applicants must follow the procedures outlined on the state’s SWIFT Supplier Portal webpage. (Click on the Vendor Registration link.)
