AGC of Greater Florida Partners to Invest Over $1.6M to Cut Emissions from Construction Equipment

The Associated General Contractors of Greater Florida in partnership with a coalition of construction associations in the Southeast will invest more than $1.6 million over the next two years to cut diesel emissions from off-road construction equipment that is currently in use.  The U.S. EPA has awarded the National Funding Assistance Program grant to the Florida Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors Association to support voluntary diesel retrofit efforts by AGC of Greater Florida contractors and other diesel users across Florida, Alabama and Georgia. Thanks to the federal grant and the coalition's cost-sharing plan, AGC of Greater Florida members currently are being offered rebates and education support to facilitate equipment upgrades and cleaner operations.  Assistance is being provided on a competitive first-come, first-served basis, according to priorities outlined in an application that has been circulated to members of the coalition associations [click here to download the diesel rebate application materials and additional information].  The coalition expects to retrofit or replace more than 200 pieces of construction equipment and train more than 300 individuals from its member companies over the next two years. AGC Success  EPA currently is awarding National Funding Assistance Program grants totaling more than $60 million through its fiscal years 2009 and 2010 budget funds to eligible entities like AGC Chapters to help construction companies, among others, reduce emissions from the existing fleet of diesel engines nationwide.  Last year, EPA awarded approximately $156 million in National Funding Assistance Program grants through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to promote diesel emission reduction strategies.  AGC of Kentucky and the Constructors Association of Western Pennsylvania (CAWP) were awarded $2 million and $925,000 respectively in Recovery Act funding to support their clean diesel projects.  In addition, AGC of Minnesota members are sharing in a portion of a Recovery Act grant worth $3 million that EPA awarded to the Minnesota Environmental Initiative (MEI), in which the Chapter is participating. MEI just learned that it will receive another $977,243 in EPA funds to support and extend its work. The AGC Oregon-Columbia Chapter was the first AGC Chapter (and the very first trade association) to receive a federal EPA grant for diesel retrofit, back in 2005.  The Foundation was awarded a $120,000 grant, in partnership with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, to fund engine upgrades and retrofit exhaust controls on heavy-duty equipment used to repair Oregon's highways and bridges.    Overall, the AGC helped its Florida-based Chapter, as well as more than a dozen other AGC Chapters, prepare and submit applications for funding under the diesel emission reduction program (also known as "DERA"). In addition, AGC is currently working with other diesel stakeholders to urge Congress to reauthorize the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act, which is scheduled to expire next year.  Sens. Thomas Carper (D-Del.) and George Voinovich (R-Ohio) are crafting new legislation to extend and improve the program, and the coalition is providing assistance to pass the bill by the 2011 deadline. For more information, contact Leah Pilconis at pilconisl@agc.org.