DOE Fossil Energy Newsalert

The Department of Energy has announced that it will provide $36 million for 15 projects aimed at furthering the development of new and cost-effective technologies for the capture of carbon dioxide from the existing fleet of coal-fired power plants. For more details, link to the Energy Department's Fossil Energy Web site at: http://www.fossil.energy.gov/

New Law Bolsters U.S. Efforts to Make Ocean-Going Ships Cleaner

With the president's July 21 signature of the Maritime Pollution Protection Act of 2008, U.S. agencies are setting course to implement a key international agreement to reduce air pollution from large ships. This key step clears the way for U.S. ratification of the international treaty regulating emissions – known as MARPOL Annex VI -- from large diesel-powered, ocean-going vessels.

Under MARPOL Annex VI, container ships, tankers, cruise ships and bulk carriers must limit NOx emissions from their category three diesel engines. It also sets a cap on the sulfur content of the fuel they burn and includes a program for designating areas where more stringent fuel controls apply, such as near coastlines that have more severe air quality concerns.

This October, the parties to MARPOL will work to strengthen NOx and SO2 standards and the sulfur requirements in fuel. The amendments under review are consistent with the stringent and comprehensive proposal put forward by the U.S. Government. If adopted, these stronger international standards will yield significant environmental and public health benefits in the U.S. and around the world.

As foreign trade grows and EPA's new emissions controls take effect on other transportation sources, emissions from large ships comprise an increasing share of the nation's pollution inventory. In 2001, in terms of mobile sources, oceangoing vessels contributed nearly 6 percent of NOx, over 10 percent of PM2.5, and about 40 percent of SO2 to the nation's air pollution. Without further controls, those numbers will rise to about 34 percent of NOx, 45 percent of PM2.5, and 94 percent of SO2 emissions by 2030.

The president's signature of the act brings into statute Annex VI to the International Convention on the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (known as MARPOL). The U.S. Senate gave its formal advice and consent to Annex VI in 2006. The final step of the ratification process is for the President deliver a letter -- known as diplomatic instrument of ratification -- to the International Maritime Organization. The U.S. becomes a party three months later. MARPOL Annex VI entered into force beginning in May of 2005, although ships have met most provisions since 2000.

For more information:
EPA - reducing emissions from large ships

diesel pollution

Air Pollution Episodes Especially Harmful to Athletes and Outdoor Workers

Health effects include respiratory problems, DNA damage

Staff fom the ARB have recently presented research to the California Air Resources Board that links air pollution episodes to adverse health effects for athletes and those who must work outdoors.

Scientists have found that outdoor exercise during high levels of smog or particulate matter may cause otherwise healthy individuals to experience lung function decrease, exacerbation of asthma, and even DNA damage. For those with pre-existing respiratory or heart ailments, the danger is even greater.

"This report once again shows that an active person's zeal for fitness may sometimes do more harm than good when air quality is suffering," said ARB Chairman Mary Nichols. "People should be aware of air quality in their region and take precautions to protect their health when pollution spikes occur. For example, we are surprised and alarmed to find many people out exercising during the recent rash of wildfires that have blanketed much of the state in smoke."

The findings from the studies include:
* A three-fold decrease in lung function after walking near diesel traffic compared to walking in a park with no traffic;

* A four-fold increase in DNA damage after cycling in traffic;

* A 10 percent reduction in lung function after cycling with ozone exposure;

* Delivery of oxygen to the heart may drop by three times when exercising while exposed to diesel exhaust; and,

* A three-fold increase in asthma development for children who played multiple sports in high ozone areas.

Research shows that during exercise, people breathe faster; a greater proportion of air is inhaled through the mouth, bypassing nasal filtration, and pollutants are carried more deeply into the lungs. And, greater volumes of air are exchanged during exercise -- up to 10 or 20 times more air compared to when at rest.

As breathing rates increase so does the quantity of pollutants inhaled. Anyone exercising outdoors during times of high pollution should remember they will receive a greater dose of pollutants. Additionally, research studies found that people who exercise near roadways such as joggers, cyclists and pedestrians experience increased risk because not only are they exposed to outdoor air pollution but traffic-related pollution as well.

For people who already have compromised lung function or heart disease, these risks are amplified.

It is well established that exercise promotes health and fitness. Regular exercise can help counteract the negative effects of air pollution. For example, regular activity may improve removal of inhaled particles from the lungs and can strengthen immune defenses. Prior to exercise outdoors, people can protect themselves by heeding air quality advisories, available in local newspapers, television weather reports, and through local health agencies, air districts and U.S.

For more information:

Air Now EPA

air pollution

Ships Off California's Coast Must Adhere to World's Strictest Diesel Emission Regulation

Requirement will prevent hundreds of premature deaths annually

Today the California Air Resources Board adopted a regulation that eliminates 15 tons of diesel exhaust daily from ocean-going vessels, substantially reducing the cancer rates and premature deaths associated with living near seaports and trade corridors along California's coast.

The new measure requires ocean-going vessels within 24 nautical miles of California's coastline to use lower-sulfur marine distillates in their main and auxiliary engines and auxiliary boilers, rather than the dirtier heavy-fuel oil called bunker fuel. About 2,000 ocean-going vessels visiting California ports annually are subject to this restriction.

"This regulation will save lives," said Air Resources Board Chairman Mary Nichols. "At ports and all along the California coast we will see cleaner air and better health."

The regulation will be implemented in two steps, each requiring lower sulfur content in the fuel- first in 2009 and final in 2012. Both U.S.-flagged and foreign-flagged vessels are subject to the regulation which is the most stringent and comprehensive requirement for marine fuel-use in the world.

Using the cleaner fuels required in 2009 will result in immediate and significant reductions in the emissions from ocean-going vessels. Reductions will increase as the fuel sulfur content is progressively lowered through the regulation's phase-in. In 2009 about a 75% percent of the diesel PM, over 80% of the sulfur oxides and 6 percent of the nitrogen oxides will be eliminated. In 2012, when the very low sulfur fuel requirement is implemented, reductions of diesel particulate matter will be 15 tons daily, an 83 percent reduction compared to uncontrolled emissions. Sulfur oxides will be reduced by 140 tons daily, a 95 percent reduction and nitrogen oxides will be reduced by 11 tons per day, a 6 percent reduction.

An estimated 3,600 premature deaths between 2009 and 2015 will be avoided, and the cancer risk associated with the emissions from these vessels would be reduced by over 80 percent. In addition, the measure will aid the South Coast Air Quality Management District meet its federal clean air requirements for fine particulate matter by 2014 and move California closer to its goal of reducing diesel particulate matter 85 percent by 2020.

Diesel exhaust contains a variety of harmful gases and over 40 other known cancer-causing compounds. Currently in California, diesel PM emissions from ocean-going vessels expose more than twenty-seven million people or 80% of California's total population, to cancer risk levels at or above 10 chances in a million.

This fall the ARB will consider further measures to reduce emissions from heavy-duty diesel trucks. Over the past 10 years ARB has adopted regulations affecting cargo-handling equipment, transport refrigeration units, truck idling, off-road equipment, harbor craft, port drayage trucks, onboard incineration, and ships at-berth. ARB's cleaner fuel requirements for on-road diesel trucks, railroad and ship engines have reduced pollution around rail yards and ports.

See the Source:
Map of current ship emission impacts on California
New regulation covering vessels
Information on ARB's efforts to address diesel emissions

Find out:

More about diesel particulate filters

Clean Diesel Emerging Technology Grant Funding Now Available

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to award approximately $3.4 million in grants to establish projects using emerging technologies to reduce emissions from the nation's existing fleet of diesel engines. Addressing the existing fleet is important because it pre-dates EPA's stringent new particulate and nitrogen oxide standards and diesels remain in use for decades. This sum was authorized by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and funded for the first time this fiscal year.

State, local, regional and tribal governments may apply for the grants, as well as non-profits and institutions with transportation, educational service, and air quality responsibilities. Emerging technology manufacturers must partner with an eligible applicant to receive this funding. The grants are targeting school or transit buses, medium and heavy-duty trucks, marine engines, locomotives and non-road engines. Grant proposals must be submitted by Sept. 21, 2008. The final awards will be announced in December.

The grants will be administered by EPA's National Clean Diesel Campaign under the Emerging Technology Program (ETP). ETP supports the development and commercialization of new, cutting-edge technologies. The program gives manufacturers the opportunity to capture real world data and gain valuable operating experience on their technology while it is used by fleet partners.

An emerging technology is a device or strategy that reduces emissions from diesel engines or equipment that has not been verified or certified by EPA or the California Air Resources Board (ARB). To qualify as an emerging technology, manufacturers must submit an application and test plan to EPA or ARB. Each technology will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to determine if it qualifies as an emerging technology.

Qualified emerging technologies will be added to the Emerging Technologies List. One of the first qualifying technologies is Caterpillars' Marine Emissions Upgrade Group (EUG). Specifics of each technology including the emission reductions and engine applications can be found on the Emerging Technology List.

See the Source:
EPA - Grant Fund

Emerging Technology Program

View the qualifying emerging technologies

EPA Releases Report on Climate Change and Health

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released a report that discusses the potential impacts of climate change on human health, human welfare, and communities in the U.S. The report, entitled "Analyses of the Effects of Global Change on Human Health and Welfare and Human Systems," also identifies adaptation strategies to help respond to the challenges of a changing climate and identifies near- and long-term research goals for addressing data and knowledge gaps.

The report discusses the challenges and potential effects of climate change, including unusual or unexpected weather, and how some individuals and communities may be disproportionately affected by climate change, including the elderly, the poor, children, and people with chronic medical conditions. However, the U.S. has well-developed public health infrastructures and environmental programs that protect our air and water, which can help minimize the impacts.

The Global Change Research Program in EPA's Office of Research and Development led the development of this report. It is one of 21 synthesis and assessment products commissioned by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program.

The peer-reviewed report is the most up-to-date synthesis and assessment of scientific literature on the impact of global change on human health, welfare and settlements in the United States. It was developed following the guidelines developed by the CCSP.

The CCSP was established in 2002 to provide the Nation with science-based knowledge to manage the risks and opportunities of change in the climate and related environmental systems. The program is responsible for coordinating and integrating the research of 13 federal agencies on climate and global change.

See the Source:

Analyses of the Effects of Global Change on Human Health and Welfare and Human Systems
The Office of Research and Development's Global Change Research Program The U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP)

European Commission Requests Information from Member States on Airborne Particles Pollution

The European Commission has written to 23 Member States to request information on what action they are taking to comply with the EU's air quality standard for dangerous airborne particles known as PM10. These coarse particles, emitted by industry and traffic, can cause asthma, cardiovascular problems, lung cancer and premature death. The Commission's action follows the entry into force on 11 June of the major new EU air quality directive, which allows Member States to request limited extra time to meet the PM10 standard under certain conditions.

Stavros Dimas, European Commissioner for Environment, said: 'Air pollution has serious impacts on health and compliance with the standards must be our utmost priority. The entry into force of the new Directive on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe marks a new phase in the implementation and enforcement of air quality standards.'

Time extensions
The new directive[1] (see MEMO07/571 and IP/08/570) establishes ambitious, cost-effective targets for improving human health and environmental quality up to 2020. However, in recognition of the difficulty many Member States face in complying with some EU air quality standards, it also allows for the possibility of limited time extensions for compliance. In the case of PM10, for which the mandatory standard has been in force since 2005, this time extension can run until 10 June 2011. It is estimated that on average 40% of air quality zones in the EU currently do not comply with the PM10 standard.

Time extensions will be granted only for zones that satisfy the conditions laid down in the directive, which relate to external factors over which the Member States have no direct control, such as transboundary contributions, and adverse climatic conditions. Outside these areas the air quality standards must be fully complied with already.

On 26 June the Commission adopted a Communication[2] providing guidance to Member States wishing to request time extensions. In assessing notifications for such requests, the Commission will look specifically at the efforts undertaken by Member States to comply by the initial deadline, ie 1 January 2005 in the case of PM10. The Commission must also be convinced that full compliance will be achieved at the expiry of the time extension period.

In the light of this guidance, the Commission has written to the 23 Member States that reported exceedances of the limit value for PM10 in 2006, asking them to provide information by 30 September 2008 on the steps they are taking to achieve compliance. This concerns all Member States except Ireland and Luxembourg, which reported no exceedances of the PM10 standard in 2006, and Bulgaria and Romania, which did not join the EU until 2007.

In the letters, the Commission makes clear that Member States are expected to notify requests for time extensions by 31 October 2008. Failure either to achieve compliance with the standard or to submit notifications by that date will lead to legal action against the Member State concerned.

PM10 standard
The PM10 standard consists of two limit values:
- a concentration of 50 micrograms (µg)/m3, measured over 24 hours; this can be exceeded on no more than 35 days per year
- a concentration of 40 µg/m3, measured over one year; no exceedance is allowed.

See the Source:

Environmental Expert

Find out:

About diesel particulate matter emissions

air pollution

California Presents First Bond 1B Check to San Joaquin Valley to Clean Up Air Quality

$5.6 million to be used to retrofit, replace hundreds of dirty truck engines

During a ceremony on July 9th at a Technology Forum held at UC Merced, California EPA Undersecretary Cindy Tuck presented a $5.6 million check to the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District to clean up hundreds of older, dirty diesel truck engines currently polluting Valley air.

The air district will use the funding to retrofit somewhere between 100 to 300 trucks with diesel particulate filters and completely replace the engines of an additional 70 to 100 trucks. Diesel pollution from trucks transiting major roadways, such as Interstate 5 and Highway 99, accounts for 80 percent of the Valley's smog forming and particulate matter emissions.

The truck fleet cleanups precede a draft regulation that the Air Resources Board will vote on in October that, if passed, will require truckers to retrofit pre-2007 model year trucks with soot filters and then requires a gradual modernization of trucks beginning in 2012, so that ultimately all trucks are the cleanest, 2010 or newer models. Over the past decade, ARB has also passed a series of landmark regulations aimed at slashing diesel emissions from ships, off-road construction equipment and other sources.

"This first check under Proposition 1B is going exactly where it's needed most -- to fund the retrofits and replacements of older, dirty diesel trucks that pollute Valley air," Tuck said."This funding, combined with the opportunities that will grow out of today's technololgy forum, will continue our momentum in improving air quality in California."

"The Valley faces tremendous air quality challenges, and we appreciate this unprecedented support from the state which will result in a real reduction in emissions and a better quality of life for valley residents," said Seyed Sadredin, San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control Officer.
ARB will allocate an additional $40.5 million to the San Joaquin air district for other diesel emissions reduction projects in the coming year.

ARB and California EPA also signed a memorandum of agreement today with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and San Joaquin and South Coast air districts, committing to work together on identifying and promoting emerging technologies to improve air quality throughout the state.

Southern California and the Central Valley continue to suffer from some of the worst air quality in the nation. Emissions from diesel particulate matter are associated with causing a variety of health effects including premature death and a number of heart and lung diseases.

The check constitutes the first funding handed out using Proposition 1B funds, which was the transportation bond put on the ballot by the Legislature and before the voters in November 2006. The 2007-08 Budget, signed by Governor Schwarzenegger in August, funds the initial $250 million of the $1 billion set aside for air quality improvement projects in Proposition 1B.

The Board is focused on funding projects that reduce emissions and health risk, incorporate simplicity and efficiency, ensure cost-effectiveness, and leverage other funding source. Go to www.arb.ca.gov/diesel/diesel.htm/ for application criteria.

The Air Resources Board is a department of the California Environmental Protection Agency. ARB's mission is to promote and protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources through effective reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and considering effects on the economy. The ARB oversees all air pollution control efforts in California to attain and maintain health based air quality standards.

The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy cost, see our web site at http://www.arb.ca.gov/

See the Source:

ARB

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About diesel particulate filters for on- and off-road vehicles

diesel pollution

New Report Available on Ecosystems and Climate Change

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released a report that can help reduce the potential impact of climate change on estuaries, forests, wetlands, coral reefs, and other sensitive ecosystems. The report, entitled Preliminary Review of Adaptation Options for Climate-Sensitive Ecosystems and Resources, identifies strategies to protect the environment as these changes occur.

“People always say ‘Don’t just tell us what will happen – tell us what we can do about it,’” said Dr. George Gray, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Research and Development. “By using the strategies outlined in this document, we can help managers protect our parks, rivers, and forests from possible future impacts of a changing climate.”

To develop this assessment, scientists studied national parks, national forests, national wildlife refuges, wild and scenic rivers, national estuaries, and marine protected areas – all protected by the federal government. The report takes a unique approach by using the management goals set for each protected area to understand what strategies will increase the resilience of each ecosystem – in other words, increase the amount of change or disturbance that an ecosystem can absorb before it shifts to a different ecosystem. Using these strategies, managers can maintain the original goals set for these ecosystems under changing climatic conditions. The strategies will be useful to federal agencies and can also be broadly applied to lands and waters managed by other government or nongovernmental organizations.

The report finds that climate change can increase the impact of traditional stressors (such as pollution or habitat destruction) on ecosystems, and that many existing best management practices to reduce these stressors can also be applied to reduce the impacts of climate change.

For example, current efforts to reverse habitat destruction by restoring vegetation along streams also increase ecosystem resilience to climate change impacts, such as greater amounts of pollutants and sediments from more intense rainfall. Our country’s ability to adapt to climate change will depend on a variety of factors including recognizing the barriers to implementing new strategies, expanding collaboration among ecosystem managers, creatively re-examining program goals and authorities, and being flexible in setting priorities and managing for change.

The peer-reviewed report provides the best-available science to date on management adaptations for ecosystems and resources. It was developed following the guidelines developed by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program.

The Global Change Research Program in EPA’s Office of Research and Development led the development of the report. It is one of 21 synthesis and assessment products commissioned by the CCSP.

The CCSP was established in 2002 to provide the Nation with science-based knowledge to manage the risks and opportunities of changes in the climate and related environmental systems. The program is responsible for coordinating and integrating the research of 13 federal agencies on climate and global change.

See the Source:
Preliminary Review of Adaptation Options for Climate-Sensitive Ecosystems and Resources

The Office of Research and Development’s Global Change Research Program

The U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP)

California Charts Course to Fight Global Warming

Plan to slash greenhouse gases sets state on path to clean energy, new economic growth

The California Air Resources Board has charted a course to reduce California's greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent over the next 12 years.

The measures and policies in the Climate Change Draft Scoping Plan set California on a trajectory toward a clean-energy future. The recommended reduction measures will continue to drive innovation, improve the environment and enhance public health, support the growth of the cleantech sector and create thousands of new jobs.

"With the release of this draft scoping plan, California is once again blazing a trail to lead other states and the nation to address climate change," said Mary Nichols, Chairman of the Air Resources Board. "Our economy and our society face no greater threat than global warming. This draft plan is the roadmap to move us quickly to a cleaner, more sustainable future, energy independence and a healthier environment. This plan fulfills the Governor's determination to act now, and it is based on the conviction that Californians will rise to the challenge and develop creative solutions to improve our environment and grow our economy."

Development of the Scoping Plan is a central requirement of AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (Nuñez, Pavley), that calls on California to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. Governor Schwarzenegger signed the bill into law in September 2006. Release of the draft plan will be followed by further evaluation and economic modeling, and workshops are planned throughout the state to present the details to the general public allow ARB to hear public comments.

The comprehensive approach includes both new and existing measures in every sector of California's economy. It is designed with strong elements of enforcement and developed to ensure that emissions - and all reductions --are accurately tracked.

Central to the draft plan is a cap and trade program covering 85 percent of the state's emissions. This program will be developed in conjunction with the Western Climate Initiative, comprised of seven states and three Canadian provinces, to create a regional carbon market.

The draft plan also proposes that utilities produce a third of their energy from renewable sources such as wind, solar and geothermal, and proposes to expand and strengthen existing energy efficiency programs and building and appliance standards that have already saved Californians more than $50 billion over the past 30 years in reduced costs for energy.

The draft plan calls for full implementation of the California Clean Car law (the Pavley standards) to provide a wide range of less polluting and more efficient cars and trucks to consumers who will save on operating costs through reduced fuel use. It also calls for development and implementation of the Low Carbon Fuel Standard which will require oil companies to make cleaner domestically produced fuels.

The draft plan encourages improvements to the ways we grow and build our communities to make more livable, walkable cities, and shorten commutes.

Several additional initiatives and measures play important roles in reaching the required reductions under AB 32. These include:
* full deployment of the Governor's Million Solar Roofs initiative;
* a high-speed rail; * water-related energy efficiency measures; and
* a range of regulations to reduce emissions from trucks and from ships docked in California ports.

Under the plan the State of California is committing to reducing its own carbon footprint by 30 percent. It also calls on Californians to make changes to their personal behavior to reduce their carbon footprint through carpooling and simple actions such as adjusting thermostats to use less energy for heating and cooling.

ARB invites public comment on the draft plan. Once the final draft is prepared, it will go to the Board for consideration in November. After adoption of the plan, all measures in the plan will be thoroughly vetted and analyzed, with full public input, over the next two years as they move through the regulatory process.

Preliminary economic modeling of the plan indicates that the overall savings from improved efficiency and the development of alternatives to petroleum will on the whole outweigh the costs.The draft plan recommends targeted fees to fund the state's long-term commitment to AB 32 administration.

See the Source:
ARB

global-warming

Caterpillar Forms Alliance with CleanAIR Systems to Reduce Emissions

New alliance between Caterpillar® and CleanAIR Systems offers customers a complete emissions solution for existing machines and engine applications.

Caterpillar, Inc., the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, clean diesel and natural gas engines and gas turbines, announced on June 17th the selection of CleanAIR Systems, Inc. of Santa Fe, New Mexico, as the Caterpillar strategic alliance partner for emissions control products. CleanAIR’s reduction technology will be installed on existing Caterpillar commercial engine applications to reduce diesel particulate matter, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and NOx; positioning CleanAIR Systems as the preferred vendor of choice for custom-designed retrofit products.

The alliance encompasses CleanAIR’s proprietary technology, custom engineering capability and the company’s use of integrated manufacturing in producing diesel particulate filters, diesel oxidation catalysts, three-way catalysts and selective catalytic reduction catalysts. Caterpillar will provide system integration capability, engineering and marketing support, as well as assistance to enable CleanAIR to meet growing demand from the broad Caterpillar customer-base.

Established in 1993, CleanAIR Systems designs and manufactures complete emissions control systems, including the PERMIT™ Filter, verified by the California Air Resources Board (ARB) for Level 3 reduction (greater than 85%) of exhaust particulate from prime power and emergency generators. Verified by ARB in 2003, CleanAIR’s PERMIT™ Filter met stringent CARB Level 3 standards years before other technologies, becoming the longest-selling, verified diesel particulate filter (DPF) technology currently on the market for stationary engines. CleanAIR’s line of emissions control products also includes an exclusive license for technology developed by Los Alamos National Laboratories.

“CleanAIR and CAT are a perfect fit,” said Michael Roach, President of CleanAIR Systems. “Due to our extensive product base and established performance history in emissions control, Caterpillar feels our company has what it takes to become a member of the CAT family. The alliance will increase our market exposure as well as introduce CleanAIR products to Caterpillar dealers around the world.”

The Caterpillar-CleanAIR agreement allows Caterpillar dealers to more effectively meet customers’ stringent air quality requirements by offering a responsive and competitive solution. With the ability to sell CleanAIR’s retrofit systems, CAT dealers can now offer a customized product for a specific application, along with the latest in product technology. The Caterpillar dealer network also has direct access to dedicated online product support through the CleanAIR CAT Dealer Web Portal recently developed by CleanAIR Systems as part of the company’s joint marketing effort with Caterpillar. Future ventures include a traveling product demonstration and regional dealer events.

The relationship between CAT and CleanAIR Systems is part of a long-term strategy that combines the strengths of both companies, creating a formidable team to deliver cost-effective solutions to customers’ increasingly complex emissions challenges.

For more information, visit CleanAIR Systems at http://www.cleanairsys.com/.

About CleanAIR Systems:
Established in 1993, CleanAIR Systems is a technology-based corporation manufacturing emissions control systems with worldwide distribution. CleanAIR’s products are designed to control air pollution such as diesel particulate matter and NOx, for internal combustion engines and gas turbines. Visit CleanAIR Systems online at http://www.cleanairsys.com/.

About Caterpillar:
For more than 80 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been making progress possible and driving positive and sustainable change on every continent. With 2007 sales and revenues of $44.952 billion, Caterpillar is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas turbines. The company also is a leading services provider through Caterpillar Financial Services, Caterpillar Remanufacturing Services, Caterpillar Logistics Services and Progress Rail Services. More information is available at http://www.cat.com/.

ARB's Carl Moyer Program Provides $8.2 Million for Cleaner Diesel Engines

The Air Resources Board awarded $8.2 million in June to expedite cleanup of dirty diesel engines via projects that improve air quality in more than one of California's 35 air districts.

Winning projects funded under the state's Carl Moyer Program are based up and down the state, and include companies based in Northern and Southern California, Sacramento, Las Vegas and the San Joaquin Valley.

"The Carl Moyer program has a long history of innovation and success," said ARB Chairman Mary Nichols. "The funding helps air districts improve air quality and meet federal deadlines, while also providing businesses with incentives to invest in and demonstrate advanced emission control technologies. And of course, the public benefits by having cleaner air to breathe."

To qualify for Carl Moyer monies, projects must provide early or extra emission reductions. Each project grant is administered through the local air district where the project is based.

Over its first seven years (1998-2005), the Carl Moyer Program provided $170 million to clean up approximately 7,500 engines throughout California, reducing about 24 tons per day of smog-forming oxides of nitrogen and one ton per day of toxic diesel particulate matter.

Smog can exacerbate a variety of cardiovascular and respiratory conditions such as heart disease and asthma, while diesel particulate matter was recognized as a cancer-causing health risk in 1998.

This year, the ARB received over $39 million in requests for $8.2 million in available multi-district project funding. Projects were scored based on factors including cost-effectiveness, regulatory jurisdiction, environmental justice considerations and project schedule.

The 2007-08 multi-district projects are expected over their lifetime to reduce smog-forming and diesel particulate emissions by 2,184 tons.

Eligible projects fall into categories including on-road, off-road, marine and locomotive. This year, on-road projects accounted for $1,889,933 of the available funding. Off-road projects totaled $792,916, marine $844,179, and locomotive efforts utilized the lion's share at $4,749,161.

See the Source:

California Environmental Protection Agency

Find out:

How to reduce diesel pollution using diesel particulate filters