Motor vehicles are the most significant in-state source of air pollutants in Vermont. Older diesel engines are among the biggest culprits, spewing unhealthy particulates and greenhouse gases.
New diesel engine emission standards and cleaner burning fuels are helping address the problem, but diesel engines have long lives.
The state is focusing on efforts to retrofit or retire older engines through the Vermont Clean Diesel Grant Program.
Since 2008, the federally-funded program has provided money to retrofit or replace school buses, assist businesses in getting old diesel vehicles off the road and even help sawmills replace power plants.
Idle reduction technology for trains and emergency vehicles is also included in the program.
In most cases, the grants require matching funds from the business.
“We’re making some progress,” says Deirdra Ritzer of the Air Quality and Climate Division at the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation.
Ritzer says there are only so many federal dollars for the program and businesses are challenged to come up with their share of the money.
“There are some cost shares that can turn people away,” she says.
Prospective grant recipients sometimes balk at a requirement that the engines being replaced must be scrapped rather than resold to help offset their cost.
One focus of the program is school buses.
The state says there are about 1,800 diesel-powered school busses in use.
Ritzer says the most polluting buses account for a much smaller number, and 60 of them have been replaced under the program.
“Getting older vehicles retrofit with emission controls or replacing older school buses with newer school buses, especially, I think we’re definitely making a difference,” she says.
The state has used approximately $3.2 million in federal money on projects to reduce diesel emissions.
Awards under the Vermont Clean Diesel Grant Program are made annually. The next deadline for grant proposals is Monday, Aug. 22.
