New Bill Would Continue Grants for Diesel Emission Reduction

Sens. Tom Carper (D-Del.) and George Voinovich (R-Ohio) introduced a bill that would reauthorize a voluntary national and state-level grant and loan program to reduce diesel emissions.

The Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of 2010, introduced Nov. 18, would give financial incentives to motor carriers who own an estimated 11 million U.S. diesel engines that lack the latest pollution control technology, Carper and Voinovich said in a statement.

The bill, a reauthorization of similar legislation in 2005, is set to be considered by the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works as early as Dec. 1, when Congress returns from Thanksgiving recess.

If passed by the current lame-duck session, the bill would authorize $200 million annually for diesel emissions reduction grants and loans from 2012 to 2016.