Additional Resources Save and Share Related Links Download DTF's comprehensive report: Retrofitting America's Diesel Engines: A Guide to Cleaner Air Through Cleaner Diesel Find out information and download applications for Retrofit Grant Opportunities Find out how to start, fund and manage a retrofit program using our Clean Diesel Retrofit Tool Kit    Learn about new federal retrofit funding from the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) Learn how the CMAQ program can provide funding for retrofit projects Click to learn about Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs) and their importance for reducing diesel emissions

 

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Because of their efficiency and durability, diesel engines are the workhorse of the U.S. economy and play an indispensable role in transportation and agriculture, construction, mining among other key sectors.

Advances in diesel engine technology, as well as fuel and exhaust treatment systems, will make new diesel vehicles virtually emissions-free within a decade. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), by 2030 total emissions from diesel trucks, buses and off-road equipment will have been slashed by 80 percent compared to 2000 levels thanks to new regulations that began taking effect in 2007.

However, these new clean diesel advances do not affect the approximately 11 million engines in use today. Fortunately, the same clean diesel technologies that will power the next generation of diesel vehicles and equipment can be applied to some older engines – reducing emissions by up to 90 percent.

States developing clean air plans and cities looking for emissions reductions will find that diesel retrofit offers one of the most cost-effective solutions for achieving real and immediate air quality benefits.  Diesel retrofits – broadly defined as replace, rebuild, refuel, retrofit and repower – offer a number of benefits over other emissions reduction strategies, including: immediate significant reductions, flexible and voluntary programs, and no new infrastructure requirements.

Federal Funding Available

A new energy law enacted in August 2005 created a national program to clean up older diesel engines. The legislation is known as the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act or DERA.

The federal government also provides significant funding for diesel retrofit through a number of other programs, including the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program, and Environmental Quality Incentives Program.  

To educate transportation planners and air quality officials about the value of diesel retrofit programs and to assist in getting started with your own program, DTF has designed a comprehensive Clean Diesel Retrofit Tool Kit. This tool kit provides examples of retrofit success stories for a variety of equipment types and vehicles, and it also provides helpful information for developing, funding and implementing retrofit projects in your community. By providing this resource to practitioners, the Diesel Technology Forum hopes to assist environmental and transportation decision makers as they look for effective strategies to clean the air and maximize return on their investment.