A broad range of supporters backs a U.S. Senate bill that would establish grants and loans for the voluntary retrofitting of diesel engines to reduce emissions.
On June 16, U.S. Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, introduced the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of 2005, which would distribute more than $1 billion over five years. The bill has been sent to the Environment and Public Works Committee.
The bill has the endorsements of the Engine Manufacturers Association, the Clean Air Task Force, the Diesel Technology Forum, the Union of Concerned Scientists, the Environmental Protection Agency, Cummins and Caterpillar. Its seven co-sponsors include Sens. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., who chairs the Environment and Public Works Committee.
The EPA would distribute 70 percent of the funds.
Current regulations only address new engines, Voinovich said. “The estimated 11 million existing diesel engines have a long life ahead of them and need to be addressed as well. The Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of 2005 will provide pivotal funding through national and state-level grant and loan programs for the voluntary retrofitting of existing diesel engines.”
