EPA STIMULUS FUNDING TO HELP HOUSTON UPGRADE FLEET WITH NEW, CLEAN-DIESEL TECHNOLOGY
August 13, 2009 -- Mayor Bill White has announced that the City of Houston would use more than $2.3 million in federal stimulus funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to replace a number of the City’s oldest and highest emitting diesel vehicles with new, more efficient, clean-diesel equipment across the fleet and help reduce emissions into Houston’s air.
City vehicles scheduled to be replaced with the $2,365,710 awarded by the EPA include dump trucks, refuse trucks, pumper and ladder fire trucks and street sweepers.
“We want to be good stewards of this stimulus funding and this use is more progress in both operating more efficiently and improving our air quality,” said Mayor White.
“Cleaner diesel means cleaner air,” said EPA Acting Regional Administrator Lawrence E. Starfield in an EPA press release announcing the funding late last month. “With help from the Recovery Act, EPA is funding more clean diesel projects, so people in Houston can live longer, healthier lives.”
The funds are provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program.
The Port of Houston Authority also is scheduled to receive $3,468,132 for projects that will promote the use of advanced emission reduction and energy efficient technologies as well as replacement of cargo handling equipment and the repowering of the Sam Houston marine vessel, said the EPA. Both projects are part of the Port’s Clean Air Strategy Plan.
