Similar to the July 21, 2009 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ("EPA") Region 5 award, EPA’s Region 10 has awarded over $1.6 million to reduce emissions from Portland municipal fleet vehicles and construction contractor equipment.  The funds are provided under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 ("ARRA") National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program.  Under this funding competition,  EPA Region 10 received over 49 grant applications requesting over $80 million to help fund clean diesel emission projects. 

In addition to reducing diesel emissions from municipal fleet vehicles and construction contractor equipment, this project will fund installation of fuel operated heaters–and idle reduction technology–on 247 vehicles in Portland and Multnomah County diesel fleets as a strategy for reducing diesel emissions while also decreasing fuel costs and climate pollution.

EPA estimates that this award will create or sustain an estimated 34 manufacturing and local installation jobs and will help Oregon municipalities and their contractors decrease operating costs by achieving fuel savings.