House Passes Diesel Emissions Reduction Act

The House of Representatives passed a bill Tuesday that would extend a program of grants and loans to reduce diesel emissions.

The Diesel Emissions Reduction Act would reauthorize for five years a 2005 law that established national and state grant and loan programs to upgrade older diesel engines, the Diesel Technology Forum said in a statement.

The Senate passed similar legislation Dec. 16. It now awaits President Obama's signature, DTF said.

DTF estimates that the 2005 law provided an average of $20 in environmental and health benefits for every $1 spent.