Clean diesel grants now available

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources announces a 3rd round of funding for the South Dakota Clean Diesel Grant Program. The program provides funds that allow successful applicants to: 1) purchase new public school buses to replace old, high-emitting buses, and 2) equip in-use diesel school buses with exhaust control retrofit devices that significantly reduce toxic soot emissions.

The primary goal of the program is to reduce school children’s exposure to both fine particulate and smog-forming pollution.

There is no cost for the exhaust control retrofits. Any South Dakota public school district or private contractor that directly provides transportation services for South Dakota public schools is eligible for the retrofits.

Total award per school district for a replacement bus will be at least 25 percent of replacement cost and may be more depending on the number of successful applicants. Any South Dakota public school district that directly provides transportation services and has not received a replacement bus in round one or two is eligible to participate.

The department intends to award funds to as many eligible applicants throughout the state of South Dakota as possible.

Application deadline for round three is Feb. 11, 2011. Click here for more information about the program, or contact the DENR’s Air Quality Program at (605) 773-3151.