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Rep. Costa Announces $6 Million In Recovery Funds For Local Diesel Retrofit Projects

July 10, 2009

WASHINGTON, DC-Today, Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) announced that a grand total of $6 million has been released to the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District to make diesel retrofits on school buses and agricultural equipment. Funding was released through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) made available in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

"Diesel has undergone major changes in the past few years, and retrofitting clean diesel technologies for older diesel vehicles and equipment is one of the most cost-effective strategies for achieving tangible and immediate air quality benefits," Costa said. "While not the silver bullet, adding diesel retrofit projects to our Valley's air quality tool box is just another positive step forward to help keep our air clean."

The San Joaquin Valley APCD was selected for $4 million in funding to install 190 diesel particulate filters on 2001 model year and newer diesel school buses. Through diesel emission reductions, the project is expected to protect the health of children who ride these buses daily. The San Joaquin Valley APCD plans to leverage funds with Proposition 1B Lower Emission School Bus Program funds. They were also selected for $2 million in funding to repower 30 agricultural off-road equipment vehicles with new engines that meet or exceed EPA's Tier 3 emission standards for non-road diesel engines.

The funds are provided under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) of 2009 National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program. Under this funding competition, EPA's Pacific Southwest Region alone received over 100 grant applications requesting $500 million to help fund clean diesel emissions projects. The awards announced today were chosen to both maximize economic impact and emissions reductions.