Engineering Excellence Through Hybrid Technology
EPA is seeking applications from eligible entities to collaborate with EPA in studies or investigation projects in support of EPA's Clean Automotive Technology Program. These pilot projects will require using state of the art experimental techniques in advanced engine development technology, including hydraulic hybrid drive-trains, to optimize Hydraulic Hybrid Vehicle (HHV) technology, unique clean and efficient enegines for full-series hybrid vehicles and clean low-greenhouse gas transportation fuels while improving the fuel efficiency of highway vehicles in achieving its' mission meeting today's Clean Air Act standards and establishing the building blocks for future environmental and economic benefits.
Eligible entities with experience applying these investigative techniques that have achieved positive outcomes in increasing fuel efficiency and reducing emissions in hybrid vehicles to continue improving and demonstrating advanced hydraulic hybrid vehicle technology to meet Clean Air Act (CAA) emission standards and climate program goals are encouraged to apply. While the basis of this opportunity solicits support encompassing programmatic goals, it also includes the Merit Based PhD Program of Excellence where qualifying graduate students are provided the opportunity to conduct their program research in Partnership with the US EPA at its Ann Arbor National Laboratory which specializes in these fields of research.
RFA# EPA-OAR-OTAQ-08-09 - Closing Date: December 15, 2008
For more information, click here. exit
L.A., Long Beach Ports Inaugurate New Anti-Smog Plan
A landmark pollution-control program at the nation's busiest port complex was launched last month with an immediate ban on 2,000 of the region's diesel-spewing big rigs with few reports of backups or unusual delays in the flow of cargo.
An estimated 95 percent of the trucks lining up for the 8 a.m. shift at the adjacent ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach had stickers on their windshields and doors indicating that they were in compliance with new rules restricting access to the gateway for 40 percent of the nation's imported goods. Trucks without stickers were turned away.
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Facts about selective catalytic reduction (SCR) link: http://factsaboutscr.com/ exit
PEPCO Energy Services to Supply CNG to WMATA Buses
Pepco Energy Services, a subsidiary of Pepco Holdings, has been awarded a contract by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) to supply natural gas to its entire fleet of energy-efficient buses in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia. Under the three-year contract, which begins in November 2008, Pepco Energy Services will supply 2.6 billion cubic feet of natural gas to two compression stations that fuel Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's 439 compressed natural gas (CNG) buses and various ancillary facilities in the area.
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Pumper Truck Diesel Retrofit Project Featured at Next Great City Rally
Members of the Next Great City Coalition gathered Tuesday outside City Hall to applaud advances made by Mayor Michael Nutter and his administration toward accomplishing the ten near-term sustainability goals outlined by the Coalition during the last Mayoral election. "Ten months into office, Mayor Nutter and his administration as well as the support of City Council members have helped us to accomplish five of our ten recommendations and have made progress on three more," said Christine Knapp, Outreach Director for PennFuture , the Coalition's lead organization.
Knapp also noted advances in tree planting, renewable energy purchase by the city and the retrofitting of city trucks to reduce diesel emissions. The City announced a program funded jointly by the EPA and monies from a City settlement with Sunoco to retrofit 88 diesel firetrucks to significantly reduce soot, smog pollutants and carbon monoxide emissions. This was part of the Next Great City's recommendation to reduce the incidence of asthma in Philadelphia.
Click here for more information about the event.
Event Press Coverage
Searchable Database for Verified Diesel Emission Control Systems Released
ARB released a searchable database for verified diesel emission control systems. The database is searchable by device name (DECS name), engine family name, or a less specific search by engine model year, engine manufacturer, and displacement. The database currently includes California certified 1992 and newer on-road engines, and 1996 and newer off-road engines.
Additional model years will continue to be added. The database will be updated on a regular basis, and any corrections will be made as necessary.
The database can be accessed here. exit
California Air Resources Board Issues Guidance to Diesel Equipment Owners and Operators
The purpose of this advisory is to provide guidance to owners and operators of diesel vehicles and equipment on the importance of following good engine maintenance practices, in particular with engines that are equipped with retrofit devices. Installation of a retrofit device to control emissions does not in any way mean engine maintenance can be reduced or neglected. Rather, proper engine maintenance is a key part of staying in compliance with the Air Resources Board’s (ARB) in-use diesel fleet regulations and is critical to ensuring that a vehicle equipped with a retrofit device continues to operate without problems.
For more information click here. exit
EPA Begins Rolling Out Clean Diesel Funding
Under the $50 million Diesel Emission Reduction Program, EPA announced the first $3.4 million in funding to help small trucking firms lower their fuel costs and carbon footprints. The $3.4 million went to three small trucking firms and will be distributed through innovative loans and rebates. The organizations receiving funds under the national diesel program are: the Community Development Transportation Lending Services in Washington, D.C., Cascade Sierra Solutions in Oregon, and Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association in Missouri.
EPA will also begin disbursing $14.8 million for State Clean Diesel programs to all 50 states and 35 states will put matching resources toward the program. Later this fall, EPA’s ten Regional offices will distribute $27.6 million in grants and later this winter, grant awards for emerging technologies totaling approximately $3.4 million will be announced. Through this program EPA hopes to improve air quality and protect public health.
For more information about EPA diesel funding, click here. exit
EPA’s State and Local Toolkit for Building Clean Diesel Programs: A Helpful Resource for Reducing Diesel Emissions Now Available
Are you interested in beginning a program that reduces diesel engine emissions? If so, then the EPA State and Local Toolkit will prove to be a valuable resource. This toolkit is a compilation of examples and procedures designed to help state, regional, and local governments improve air quality and public health through diesel engine emission reduction efforts. The toolkit was created particularly for those states and localities participating in the National Clean Diesel Campaign Stage Grant Program and/or the National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program. The toolkit includes information about building support, program design, funding, and evaluation techniques. Also included in the toolkit are outreach and education materials that have been used in other programs, links to state funding sources, and information about claiming emissions credits in air quality plans.
Click here, to check out EPA’s State and Local Toolkit. exit
Call for Participation
Please contact Susan
Stephenson about any of the participation opportunities listed below.
Forums -- We are currently building sector Forums to better address diesel
emissions in the Mid-Atlantic States and to focus and leverage regional resources.
Please let us know if you'd like to join a workgroup, or if you would like more
information about workgroup activities.
Partners -- We
are looking to build a Collaborative that truly represents the Region. So we need
participants from all types of groups across the Region. Please let us know if
you'd like to be added to our database, what your specific area of interest is, and how
you'd like to participate. |
