Dane County Awarded DNR Clean Diesel Grant

September 22, 2009
Dave Merritt, Office of the County Executive, (608) 261-9792
County Executive

Dane County has been awarded a Wisconsin Clean Diesel Program grant from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to be used to retrofit county-owned vehicles that will reduce diesel emissions and fine particle pollution. 

DNR Secretary Matt Frank today announced the Wisconsin Clean Diesel Program and DNR awarded 23 businesses and organizations nearly $235,000 in funds from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  The four largest grants were awarded to: Northeast Asphalt, Inc., Waukesha; Payne and Dolan, Inc., Waukesha; Curt Christianson Trucking, Eleva; and Dane County Public Works Department.

The statewide grants will reduce the diesel emission impacts of 110 trucks, school buses and construction vehicles with the installation of new technologies such as idling reduction units, battery powered HVACs, direct fire heaters, diesel oxidation catalysts (DOC) and engine repowers.

“These grants will help fund the use of new technologies to improve the environment and provide efficiencies in these tight economic times,” Secretary Frank said. “The air quality benefits of these clean diesel funds will be shared by everyone.”

“Over 40,000 Dane County residents who are asthma suffers will be the primary beneficiaries of installing clean diesel technologies,” said Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk.  “Dane County is proud to partner with DNR and EPA to help us all breathe cleaner air and lead healthier lives.”  

Dane County’s grant of $15,424 will retrofit snowplow trucks, graders and a track loader with DOC mufflers or direct fire heaters.  The installation of DOCs will reduce hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide by 85-90% and particle pollution by 20-25%.  Direct-fire heaters reduce engine idling by preheating engines during cold temperatures.

Diesel emissions contain large amounts of nitrogen oxides and fine particles (soot).  Nitrogen oxides are precursors of ozone (smog), which is a lung irritant, and fine particles can aggravate respiratory and heart diseases.

Private and public fleets from 16 counties received awards with the state shares ranging from $2,771 to $24,539.  A complete list of award recipients, project and equipment types and grant awards can be found at http://dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/cfa/awards/CleanDieselAwards.pdf .

 

#  #  #