Fleet “modernization” added to energy bill

An amendment was added to the U.S. House version of the Federal Energy Policy Act that would set aside a total of $100 million nationally for fleet modernization and diesel retrofits from 2005 through 2007 plus “such sums as are necessary” for 2008 and 2009.

Introduced by Congresswoman Millender-McDonald of California, the amendment specifies that the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in consultation with the Secretary of Energy “shall establish a program for awarding grants on a competitive basis to public agencies and entities for fleet modernization programs, including installation of retrofit technologies for diesel trucks.”

In making grant awards, the amendment requires that the Administrator give preference to proposals that will achieve the greatest reductions in emissions of non-methane hydrocarbons, oxides of nitrogen and/or particulate matter. Other requirements for grant eligibility include: that the trucks be model year 1998 or older, that they operate on ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel where such fuel is reasonable available or required and that they be used for moving “cargo goods especially in port areas or major hauling operations.”

The complete text of the Energy Policy Act is available at: thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?c109:2:./temp/~c10913mmmb:e390468: .