The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and New Jersey have slated almost USD1 million to fund clean diesel projects across New Jersey. The state received nearly USD600,000 from the EPA and has leveraged an additional USD393,760 in state funding. The funds will be used to retrofit publicly or privately owned non-road equipment used for construction projects.

The funding covers forklifts, as well as tractors and bulldozers.

"This combined funding will enhance our ongoing efforts to protect children and families from exposure to harmful diesel emissions," says New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Lisa P. Jackson. "Municipalities can now partner with the state to improve air quality in our neighbourhoods."

Diesel engines spew some 7.3 million tons of nitrogen oxide and 333,000 tons of soot annually, which is linked to thousands of premature deaths, hundreds of thousands of asthma attacks and millions of lost work days.

Today's announcement, aimed mostly at outdoor equipment, represents only a portion of funding for clean diesel projects under the $50 million National Clean Diesel Campaign. The funding, newly available this year, will support grants to help save fuel and lower greenhouse gas and diesel exhaust emissions from the existing fleet of 11 million diesel engines. The EPA's new heavy-duty highway and non-road diesel engine standards will take effect over the next decade, and will significantly reduce emissions from new engines. The standards, however, apply only to engines manufactured in or after 2007.

The 11 million diesel engines in use in the United States today will continue to pollute unless emissions are controlled with innovative technology and/or cleaner fuels, according to authorities.