Minnesota prepares for next round of clean diesel grants

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) will likely award roughly $270,000 in federal grants in late October to fund diesel engine replacement or retrofitting, a move that could cut emissions by an equivalent of thousands of cars.

“It’s remarkable how clean the emissions are from new diesel engines,” MPCA Clean Diesel Grants Manager Mark Sulzbach said. “They’ve cut major pollutants by 90 percent from pre-2007 engines, while also improving fuel efficiency — a win for both the environment and the engine owner.”

While diesel engines are reliable and can last for years, the levels of pollutants older engines create are far from ideal. To encourage diesel owners to part ways with their older models, the MPCA offers grants that help cover the financial costs and allow winners to reap the benefits of increased fuel efficiency.

“The new truck is a dream compared to the old one,” president of Action Moving Bill Everson, whose company won a 2014 MPCA grant, said. “We have had no problems with it. It’s averaging 10 miles per gallon, compared to 4.4 for the truck we replaced. I only wish all our trucks were as good as this one.”