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U.S. EPA’s Region 6 Awards $3.7 Million in Recovery Funding to Dallas-Fort Worth Area to Reduce Diesel Emissions and Create Jobs

Release Date: 06/12/2009
Contact Information: Dave Bary or Anthony Suttice at 214-665-2200 or r6press@epa.gov

(Dallas, Texas – June 12, 2009) In a move that stands to create jobs, boost local economies, reduce diesel emissions and protect human health and the environment for people of north central Texas, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $3.7 million to a combination of clean diesel projects.
These clean diesel projects will create jobs while protecting the Dallas area’s air quality.

“This is part of the nationwide clean energy transition that is clearing the air and creating jobs across America,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “Communities using innovative measures to cut harmful diesel emissions are cutting costs, creating jobs, and keeping people healthy.”

The funds are provided under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) of 2009 National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program. The awards announced today were chosen to both maximize economic impact and emissions reductions.

EPA has awarded $3.7 million to projects by the North Central Texas Council of Governments that will upgrade and replace diesel vehicles; fund verified SmartWay emission reducing technologies on long-haul trucks; and replace or repower heavy-duty diesel vehicles operating in North Texas.

In addition to helping to create and retain jobs, the clean diesel projects will assist in reducing premature deaths, asthma attacks and other respiratory ailments, lost work days, and many other health impacts every year.

The Recovery Act allotted the National Clean Diesel Campaign (NCDC) a total of $300 million, of which the National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program received $156 million to fund competitive grants across the nation. The Recovery Act also included $20 million for the National Clean Diesel Emerging Technology Program grants and $30 million for the SmartWay Clean Diesel Finance Program grants.

Under the Act’s State Clean Diesel Grant program, a total of $88.2 million has already been provided to states for clean diesel projects through a noncompetitive allocation process.

President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 on February 17, 2009, and has directed that the Recovery Act be implemented with unprecedented transparency and accountability. To that end, the American people can see how every dollar is being invested at Recovery.gov.

For information on EPA’s implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, visit: https://www.epa.gov/recovery

For information about EPA’s clean diesel initiatives, visit: https://www.epa.gov/cleandiesel

For information about the North Central Texas Council of Governments, visit: http://www.nctcog.dst.tx.us/