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WASHINGTON – The Diesel Technology Forum on Thursday launched its Clean Diesel Retrofit Tool Kit at a national conference it is co-sponsoring with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Washington to explore opportunities to expand diesel retrofits as a cost-effective emissions reduction strategy. The tool kit, now available online at www.dieselforum.org/retrofit, is designed to provide state transportation officials and metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) nationwide with a comprehensive guide to implementing a diesel retrofit program.
The online resource highlights diesel retrofit programs as one of the most cost-effective air quality solutions among the transportation-related emissions reduction strategies eligible for funding under the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) Program.
“Transportation officials and MPOs are faced with the challenge of meeting EPA’s more stringent clean air requirements for ozone and particulate matter, yet they also have fewer cost-effective options for reducing emissions to meet planning requirements and keep transportation projects moving forward,” says Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum. “States developing clean air plans and MPOs looking for emissions reductions will find that implementing a diesel retrofit program offers one of the most cost-effective solutions for achieving real and immediate air quality benefits.”
The Clean Diesel Retrofit Tool Kit includes case studies on successful retrofit projects; information about identifying equipment candidates; a list of EPA-approved equipment eligible for CMAQ funding, such as construction equipment; options for securing funding; how to achieve emissions credits; as well the latest retrofit-related news and links to additional resources for designing a retrofit program. The kit’s online format allows it to be a constantly evolving resource, continually being updated with new content as it becomes available.
“This kit offers transportation and air quality planners everything they need to know to get them started with implementing a diesel retrofit program in their city or state-all at the click of a mouse,” Schaeffer adds. “It’s a one-stop guide to getting more clean air for your dollar.”
Schaeffer announced the tool kit today during Tomorrow’s Technology for Today’s Engines, Retrofit Conference 2004. Cosponsored by the Diesel Technology Forum, the EPA and the Manufacturers of Emissions Control Association, the conference attracted more than 300 senior state and federal government officials, and leaders in the diesel engine, fuels and emissions control industry to highlight past successes and identify future opportunities for expanding the EPA’s Voluntary Diesel Retrofit Program.
Log on to www.dieselforum.org/retrofit to access the complete Diesel Technology Forum Clean Diesel Retrofit Tool Kit.
The Diesel Technology Forum represents engine makers, fuel producers and emissions control manufacturers. It brings together the diesel industry, the broad diesel user community, civic and public interest leaders, government regulators, academics, scientists, the petroleum industry, and public health researches, to encourage the exchange of information, ideas, scientific findings, and points-of-view to current and future uses of diesel power technology. For more information about the Forum visit our web site at www.dieselforum.org.
Monday, June 7, 2004