In 2009, EPA awarded Virginia Clean Cities a grant to fund replacements of dirty refuse haulers and school buses throughout Virginia. Part of this award went to the City of Richmond, who used the funds to replace its refuse haulers with natural gas-powered engines.

The City of Richmond’s Department of Public Works is proud of its efforts to providing a safe, clean and healthy environment using vehicles such as this natural gas-powered refuse hauler. Since 2008, EPA has funded 45 alternative fuel grants throughout the country for compressed natural gas (CNG) replacements, biodiesel conversions and diesel electric hybrid replacements.

Along with the public health and air quality benefits, DERA grants also spur local economic development and job creation. Here employees of the City of Richmond work at the newly installed natural gas fueling station.

EPA’s Joseph Annotti discusses MyEnvironment, a new mapping tool that displays clean diesel projects funded by DERA grants. MyEnvironment can be found on the EPA homepage or at www.epa.gov/myenvironment. To learn more about clean diesel grants in your area, visit the MyAir section of MyEnvironment.