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Diesel Program
Diesel exhaust is a leading source of toxic air pollution in the Puget Sound. People living near major transportation corridors and port areas face the great risk, especially children, older adults, and people with existing health problems.
Through our Diesel Program, we work with local businesses and governments to develop and employ strategies that reduce diesel pollution. This includes on or off-road vehicles, rail, or marine projects.
We're addressing diesel pollution by developing partnerships with other agencies that focus on reducing diesel pollution, administering incentive programs and projects that employ diesel emission reduction technologies, and supporting fleets to understand and implement policies that encourage cleaner, low-carbon solutions.
Sign up for our email list to stay up to date on funding opportunities or partnerships to reduce diesel pollution.
Grant Opportunities
We work to match diesel emission reduction projects with grant opportunities. This includes on or off-road vehicles, rail, or marine projects. If you have a project that will reduce diesel emissions, please submit your idea and we will work with you to see what funding might be available.
Agency Projects and Programs
Current priorities:
Promote electrification of cargo-handling equipment
Yard Truck Electrification Project: 2019 – Present
Description: The yard truck electrification project is providing incentives to replace diesel-fueled yard trucks with all-electric yard trucks.
Learn more about our ongoing Electric Yard Trucks Program.
Partners: BNSF Railway, King County, Seattle Public Utilities, Albertsons, Newcold Logistics, McLane Company, Lineage Logistics, Alaska Marine Lines.
Funding: $2,410,700 completed, $1,787,500 in progress
Results to Date:
| Funding Agency | Yard Trucks Replaced |
|---|---|
| U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) | 10 |
| EPA & Washington State Department of Ecology | 10 |
| Total yard trucks replaced | 20 |
| Estimated Pollution Reduction | PM2.5 | NOx | CO2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual estimated pollution reduction (tons) | 1.95 | 4.8 | 840 |
| Total program estimated 5 yr pollution reduction (tons) | 9.8 | 74 | 4,198 |
Ground Support Equipment Electrification Project: 2015 - 2017
Description: The ground support equipment electrification project incentivized airlines to replace diesel-fuel baggage tugs with electric baggage tugs.
Partners: United Airlines
Funding: $25,500
Results:
| Funding Agency | Baggage Tugs Replaced |
|---|---|
| U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) | 3 baggage tugs |
| Estimated Pollution Reduction | PM2.5 | NOx | CO2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual estimated pollution reduction (tons) | 0.15 | 0.53 | 88 |
| Total program estimated pollution reduction (tons) | 1.5 | 5.3 | 880 |
Current priorities:
Support regional efforts for electrification of on-road vehicles.
Seaport Truck Scrappage and Replacements for Air in Puget Sound (ScRAPS): 2014 - 2017
Description: The ScRAPS programs incentivized scrapping and replacing older heavy‐duty diesel trucks operating at the Port of Seattle, Port of Tacoma, and Northwest Seaport Alliance with trucks that had 2007 or newer EPA‐compliant engines.
Partners: Trucking companies and individual truck owners/operators
Funding: $12,112,000
Results:
| Phase | Funding Agency | Trucks Replaced |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) | 228 |
| 2 | WSDOT & EPA | 163 |
| 3 | WSDOT, EPA, & Ecology | 21 |
| Total trucks replaced | 412 |
| Estimated Pollution Reduction | PM2.5 | NOx |
|---|---|---|
| Annual estimated pollution reduction (tons) | 17 | 387 |
| Total program estimated pollution reduction (tons) | 52 | 1,162 |
Clean Diesel Truck Training Videos
Description: Newer diesel trucks have technologies to prevent diesel pollution. We developed a seven-video training course to show drivers how to operate and maintain their new diesel trucks' emission controls to help minimize unnecessary repairs. Training videos are available in multiple languages and can be accessed below:
- Watch videos in English
- Watch videos in Español (Spanish)
- Watch videos in русский (Russian)
- Watch videos in ਪੰਜਾਬੀ (Punjabi)
- Watch videos in Afaan Oromoo
- Watch videos in አማርኛ (Amharic)
- Watch videos in Somali
Partners: Individual truck owners/operators
Funding: $122,500
Results:
| Funding Agency | Successful Completed Trainings |
|---|---|
| U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Washington State Department of Ecology | 114 |
Current priorities:
Promote replacing old, diesel-electric switcher locomotives with clean diesel, battery-electric, or hydrogen fuel cell switcher locomotives. We have also been successful in connecting rail operators to grant opportunities outside of Agency-specific programs, such as securing funding for a battery-electric locomotive for Tacoma Rail.
Locomotive Repower Project: 2012 - 2014
Description: The locomotive repower project provided funding to repower two diesel locomotives by replacing the original Tier 0 engines with EPA-certified Tier 3 engines.
Partners: Sound Transit
Funding: $1,121,000
Results:
| Funding Agency | Locomotives Repowered |
|---|---|
| U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) | 2 |
| Estimated Pollution Reduction | PM2.5 | NOx | CO2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual estimated pollution reduction (tons) | 2.3 | 2.2 | 34.1 |
| Total program estimated pollution reduction (tons) | 57.5 | 55 | 852.5 |
Current priorities:
Support the demonstration of new hybrid technologies and promote shore power.
Marine Engine Replacement Program: 2014 - 2022
Description: The marine vessel engine replacement program incentivized replacing older, dirty diesel marine engines with newer, cleaner diesel engines on harbor vessels. Types of vessels included tug boats, work boats, and excursion vessels.
Partners: Island Tug & Barge, Western Towboat, Harley Marine Services, Olympic Tug & Barge, Crowley Marine Services, Star Marine, America Construction, Argosy, Seattle Lake Cruises, Sound Experience, Victoria Vacations, King County
Funding: $1,618,000
Results:
| Phase | Funding Agency | Engines Replaced |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) | 16 |
| 2 | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | 15 |
| 3 | EPA & Ecology | 10 |
| Total engines replaced | 41 |
| Estimated Pollution Reduction | PM2.5 | NOx | CO2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual estimated pollution reduction (tons) | 1.9 | 57 | 1,900 |
| Total program estimated pollution reduction (tons) | 19 | 570 | 19,000 |
Shore Power Projects: 2016 - 2019
Description: The Agency administered two shore power grants allowing tugboats to plug into the grid when at berth rather than using diesel auxiliary engines.
Partners: Harley Marine Services, Crowley Marine Services
Funding: $85,500
Results:
| Funding Agency | Shore Power Connections Installed |
|---|---|
| Washington State Department of Ecology | 8 land connections, 20 vessel connections |
| Estimated Pollution Reduction | PM2.5 | NOx | CO2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual estimated pollution reduction (tons) | 0.18 | 6.4 | 486 |
| Total Program estimated pollution reduction (tons) | 0.9 | 32 | 2,430 |