In July, as part of a highly-competitive national grant competition, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded $156 million in clean diesel grants, including $3 million to the Minnesota Environmental Initiative to support voluntary retrofit efforts by members of AGC of Minnesota and other diesel users throughout the state. The money will be used to retrofit, repower or replace heavy diesel equipment, as authorized by the Diesel Emission Reduction Program and funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
" width="185" height="240" />
The effort began in April 2009, when AGC of Minnesota partnered with the non-profit organization Minnesota Environmental Initiative (MEI) to author and submit to EPA a clean diesel grant proposal. MEI has a very successful track record with administering similar federally funded assistance agreements. Members were contacted via e-mail and, if interested in partnering to apply for federal funding, they were asked to submit a spreadsheet of relevant information about each piece of equipment they would like to "retrofit" using emission reduction solutions like diesel exhaust controls, engine upgrades, engine repowers or machine replacement. The overall goal was to promote economic recovery by preserving/creating jobs while helping Minnesota-based construction companies reduce emissions from their in-use fleets to improve local air quality. Eleven of 15 member companies that expressed an interest received grant money. Over the next year, MEI will be working with participating AGC of Minnesota members to modify their designated equipment.
Nationally, more than 600 grant applications requested approximately $1.7 billion dollars in grant funds, with only $156 million available for distribution nationwide via EPA's National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program (a competitive grant program). While 15 other Chapters submitted applications, only AGC of Kentucky and Constructors Association of Western Pennsylvania won $2 million and $925,000, respectively, under this program with application assistance of AGC of America.
For more information, contact Leah Pilconis at (703) 837-5332 or pilconisl@agc.org, or Dan Hannan at dhannan@agcmn.org.
" width="185" height="240" />
The effort began in April 2009, when AGC of Minnesota partnered with the non-profit organization Minnesota Environmental Initiative (MEI) to author and submit to EPA a clean diesel grant proposal. MEI has a very successful track record with administering similar federally funded assistance agreements. Members were contacted via e-mail and, if interested in partnering to apply for federal funding, they were asked to submit a spreadsheet of relevant information about each piece of equipment they would like to "retrofit" using emission reduction solutions like diesel exhaust controls, engine upgrades, engine repowers or machine replacement. The overall goal was to promote economic recovery by preserving/creating jobs while helping Minnesota-based construction companies reduce emissions from their in-use fleets to improve local air quality. Eleven of 15 member companies that expressed an interest received grant money. Over the next year, MEI will be working with participating AGC of Minnesota members to modify their designated equipment.
Nationally, more than 600 grant applications requested approximately $1.7 billion dollars in grant funds, with only $156 million available for distribution nationwide via EPA's National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program (a competitive grant program). While 15 other Chapters submitted applications, only AGC of Kentucky and Constructors Association of Western Pennsylvania won $2 million and $925,000, respectively, under this program with application assistance of AGC of America.
For more information, contact Leah Pilconis at (703) 837-5332 or pilconisl@agc.org, or Dan Hannan at dhannan@agcmn.org.