CNMI, A. Samoa get over $117K for clean diesel projects

HONOLULU-The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded over $117,000 in Diesel Emission Reduction Act grants to the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa to be used for projects to reduce diesel emissions.

For the first time, the Pacific territories will benefit from this funding to aid in reducing residents’ exposure to diesel emissions,” said Jared Blumenfeld, Regional Administrator of the EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region. “Our ongoing West Coast Collaborative clean diesel campaign will reduce harmful emissions in the air, better protect people’s health, and supports green jobs in our region and across the country.”

The CNMI will receive $70,677 to be used to improve fuel efficiency and allow the use of ultra low sulfur diesel in diesel engines at one of their power plants through fuel pump and injector replacements.

American Samoa will use its $47,117 for the purchase of ultra low sulfur diesel that will be used in 19 new diesel generators that provide power to the island.

It was CNMI Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (D-MP) who introduced H.R. 2386 in the last Congress that was incorporated into U.S. Public Law 111-364, making the Northern Marianas and the other U.S. insular areas eligible for the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act funding.

“Being included in the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act accomplishes two important goals: helping [the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.] use fuel more efficiently, which can hold down the cost of electricity, and keeping our air clean, which is critical for the success of our tourist industry,” said Sablan in a statement yesterday.

“The legislation I introduced in May 2009, which was co-sponsored by all the other insular area representatives, set out the goal of including our areas in the program; and that was accomplished when the Act was reauthorized and signed by the President in 2010,” he said. “Now we are seeing the benefits of the legislation and I expect it will continue to help reduce use of diesel fuels in the Marianas and help maintain a clean environment for years to come.”

The overall emissions reductions from the CNMI and American Samoa projects will result in significant reductions of nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and hydrocarbons. The territories have mainly used diesel fuels containing higher levels of sulfur, contributing to air pollution in their areas. The upcoming projects will assist in the wider use of the cleaner ultra low sulfur diesel fuel, resulting in a greater lasting reduction in harmful diesel emissions in the territories.

The funding is part of $50 million in clean diesel grants recently awarded across the country. These efforts will replace, retrofit or repower more than 8,000 older school buses, trucks, locomotives, vessels, and other diesel powered machines, like diesel power plant generators.

From 2008 to 2010, EPA has awarded nearly $470 million to more than 350 grantees across the nation, cleaning or replacing more than 50,000 vehicles and equipment nationwide.

Nationally, diesel engines emit 7.3 million tons of smog-forming nitrogen oxides and 333,000 tons of soot annually. Diesel pollution is linked to thousands of premature deaths, hundreds of thousands of asthma attacks and millions of lost work days. While EPA’s standards significantly reduce emissions from newly manufactured engines, clean diesel projects funded through these grants will work to address some of the more than 11 million older diesel engines that continue to emit higher levels of harmful pollution.

Every state will receive funding for clean diesel projects through direct state allocations. This year for the first time, the U.S. territories can now receive direct state allocation funds. EPA’s National Clean Diesel Campaign works cooperatively with state and local air agencies, tribes, communities, environmental groups, and the diesel industry to help control diesel emissions.

Cleaning up diesel emissions can also have direct near term climate benefits. (EPA)