Those who got down to business earlier this year filing for federal grants to help waylay the costs of outfitting construction fleets with the latest emissions technology are now being rewarded. The Associated General Contractors of America’s Kentucky and western-Pennsylvania chapters received nearly $3 million in grants from the EPA’s National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program, and plan to invest $3.7 million overall to reduce diesel emissions.
In addition to the federal grant funds, each group received local contributions to help retrofit off-road construction equipment and train operators to run equipment more efficiently.
“Contractors may be busy rebuilding the economy, but they are still committed to protecting the environment,” says Stephen Sandherr, chief executive officer, AGC. “This isn’t just an investment in cleaner diesel technology, it’s a downpayment for a greener future.”
So far, the EPA has awarded $156 million in grants to various AGC chapters and construction companies. AGC helped a total of 15 chapters – including the western-Pennsylvania and Kentucky chapters – complete applications for the funding program.
