Mar 20, 2009 9:20 AM

Truck operators who purchase new Kenworth medium-duty hybrid trucks and tractors or T800 liquefied natural gas (LNG) vehicles, then permanently remove an equal number of aged existing diesel-fueled trucks from the marketplace in exchange, are eligible to apply for grant money under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

This economic stimulus package contains funding to support clean diesel activities. The National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program ($156 million) will award grants competitively to support diesel emission reduction programs. The Environmental Protection Agency SmartWay Clean Diesel Finance Program ($30 million) will support creation of national, state, or local innovative clean diesel financing programs. The State Clean Diesel Grant Program ($88 million) will support clean diesel grant and loan programs administered by the states and the District of Columbia.

Grant money, subject to certain conditions, may cover up to 25 percent of the cost of a new clean diesel, hybrid, or alternative fuel truck that replaces an older, higher-emissions truck.

Qualifying truck operators must submit their application for Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) grants to one of two groups. The first is to regional, state, local, and port agencies with jurisdiction over transportation or air quality. The second is to non-profit organizations or institutions that represent or provide pollution reduction or educational services to organizations or persons that operate diesel fleets, or have the promotion of transportation or air quality as their principal purpose. These groups then will send the applications to the appropriate Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regional office for grant consideration.

Detailed program information is available at these EPA websites: www.epa.gov/otaq/eparecovery/index.htm and www.epa.gov/cleandiesel.