Program Status Update: May, 2010
In April 2009, DES entered into a Cooperative Agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to use $1,730,000 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding through the Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) program to reduce air pollution from diesel engines and create jobs in New Hampshire.
DES solicited project proposals 
from public and private entities in the state to implement diesel emission reduction projects under EPA DERA program guidelines and in accordance with the requirements of ARRA. Proposals from 42 eligible applicants were scored according to criteria established to rank the proposed project’s benefits in reducing emissions, creating or retaining jobs, saving fuel, providing economic stimulus to depressed areas of the state, and improving air quality near sensitive populations and in non-attainment areas. For a listing of all eligible projects and their ranking see: New Hampshire 2009 Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) ARRA Program - Project Priority Ranking List and NH Diesel Emission Reduction Act – American Reinvestment and Recovery Act Funding Scoring Criteria and Description .
Originally a total of 19 projects were selected from 16 applicants. Projects selected included 1) the retrofit of diesel trucks, buses, and a locomotive with idling reduction equipment; 2) re-powering vehicles, construction equipment, and a marine vessel by replacing the existing diesel engines with new engines built to more stringent emission standards; and 2) replacement of old vehicles and equipment with newer models powered by diesel engines meeting more stringent emission standards. However, a few projects were withdrawn, shifted to other grants, or cancelled. Currently, we have 16 projects selected from 13 applicants.
New Hampshire’s ARRA-DERA 13 grant recipients and project types are as follows:
- Two long-haul trucking firms – 35 total idle reduction auxiliary power units (11 diesel powered and 24 battery powered);
- One heavy construction equipment firms – 6 equipment re-powers (engine replacements);
- Two transit bus operators – 2 transit coach replacement, 17 idle reduction auxiliary cabin heaters total;
- A steel fabrication company – 3 re-powers of material handling equipment;
- An oil and propane delivery company – 4 replacement delivery trucks;
- A marine excursion vessel operator – whale watch vessel re-power, 2 engines;
- A cooperative school district – 2 school bus replacements (2010 emissions certification) and 8 idle reduction auxiliary engine heaters; and
- Four municipal public works departments –3 plow/dump trucks replacements, one motor grader replacement, 2 loaders with Diesel Particulate Filters.
The recipients listed above will collectively receive approximately $1.5 million ARRA-DERA grant funds and will provide more than an equal amount of matching funds for a total value of diesel emission reduction projects totaling over $3.3 million.
As of May 31, 2010, 12 of the diesel emission reduction and job creation project grant agreements totaling over $1.3 million have been approved by Governor Lynch and the Executive Council. These twelve grant agreements will leverage an additional $1.4 in recipient matching funds as outlined in the table below:
NH ARRA-DERA Projects Approved by the Governor & Executive Council
As of May 31, 2010
| Grant Recipient | Project Description | ARRA-DERA Grant Amount | Estimated Total Project Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| C&J Transit Portsmouth, NH* |
Vehicle Replacement 1-Transit Coach |
$117,679 | $472,860 |
| C&J Transit Portsmouth, NH |
Idle Reduction 10-Transit Coach Auxiliary Heaters |
$87,000 | $87,000 |
| City of Manchester Highway Dept.* |
Vehicle Replacement 1-Dump/Plow Truck |
$37,432 | $149,727 |
| Town of Temple Highway Dept.* |
Vehicle Replacement 1-Motor Grader |
$58,200 | $237,800 |
| SAU 20 Gorham, NH |
Vehicle Replacement 2-School Buses |
$85,856 | $171,712 |
| SAU 20 Gorham, NH |
Idle Reduction 8-Engine Preheaters School Buses |
$22,720 | $22,720 |
| Isaacson Structural Steel, Inc. Berlin NH |
Engine Replacement 3-Material Handlers |
$109,500 | $146,000 |
| University of New Hampshire Durham, NH* |
Idle Reduction 7-Transit Coach Auxiliary Heaters |
$29,299 | $29,299 |
| Granite State Whale Watch Rye, NH |
Engine Replacement 2 engines in Marine Excursion Vessel |
$126,000 | $168,000 |
| City of Dover Dover, NH |
Vehicle Replacement 2-Dump/Plow Trucks |
$65,000 | 260,000 |
| Alvin J. Coleman & Son, Inc. Conway, NH |
Engine Replacement 6-Heavy Construction Equipment |
$242,534 | $323,247 |
| Atlantic Distribution Services, Inc. Exeter, NH |
Idle Reduction 11-Auxiliary Power Units |
$109,996 | $109,996 |
| Rymes Heating Oils, Inc. Antrim, NH* |
Vehicle Replacement 4-Delivery Trucks |
$108,000 | $434,726 |
| R&B Transportation, Inc. Charlestown, NH |
Idle Reduction 24-Auxiliary Power Units |
$200,000 | $200,000 |
| Total | $1,399,215 | $2,,813,088 | |
| * indicates the project is completed. | |||
DES is working with ARRA-DERA grant recipients to rapidly move the projects through implementation. DES is also preparing and submitting reports, on behalf of grant recipients, to various State and Federal agencies.
Program Status Update: October, 2009
In April 2009, DES entered into a Cooperative Agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to use $1,730,000 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding through the Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) program to reduce air pollution from diesel engines and create jobs in New Hampshire.
DES solicited project proposals from public and private entities in the state to implement diesel emission reduction projects under EPA DERA program guidelines and in accordance with the requirements of ARRA. This grant opportunity closed on March 13, 2009. Proposals from 42 eligible applicants were scored according to criteria established to rank the proposed project’s benefits in reducing emissions, creating or retaining jobs, saving fuel, providing economic stimulus to depressed areas of the state, and improving air quality near sensitive populations and in non-attainment areas. For a listing of all eligible projects and their ranking see: New Hampshire 2009 Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) ARRA Program - Project Priority Ranking List and NH Diesel Emission Reduction Act – American Reinvestment and Recovery Act Funding Scoring Criteria and Description .
A total of 19 projects were selected from 16 applicants. Projects selected include 1) the retrofit of diesel trucks, buses, and a locomotive with idling reduction equipment; 2) re-powering vehicles, construction equipment, and a marine vessel by replacing the existing diesel engines with new engines built to more stringent emission standards; and 3) replacement of old vehicles and equipment with newer models powered by diesel engines meeting more stringent emission standards.
New Hampshire’s ARRA-DERA 16 grant recipients and project types are as follows:
- Two long-haul trucking firms – 36 total idle reduction auxiliary power units (12 diesel powered and 24 battery powered);
- Two heavy construction equipment firms – 7 equipment re-powers (engine replacements);
- Two transit bus operators – 1 transit coach replacement, 17 idle reduction auxiliary cabin heaters total;
- A steel fabrication company – 3 re-powers of material handling equipment;
- An oil and propane delivery company – 4 replacement delivery trucks;
- A marine excursion vessel operator – whale watch vessel re-power, 2 engines;
- A cooperative school district – 2 school bus replacements (2010 emissions certification) and 8 idle reduction auxiliary engine heaters;
- A short-haul railroad company – idle reduction automatic stop/start controller;
- NH DOT – maintenance truck replacement with hybrid lift system; and
- Four municipal public works departments – 3 plow/dump trucks replacements, one motor grader replacement, 4 plow/dump truck re-powers.
The recipients listed above will collectively receive approximately $1.5 million. ARRA-DERA grant funds will leverage an almost equal amount of matching funds for a total value of diesel emission reduction projects in excess of $2.9 million.
As of October 7, 2009, nine of the diesel emission reduction and job creation project grant agreements totaling $701,000 have been approved by Governor Lynch and the Executive Council. These nine grant agreements will leverage an additional $806,571 in recipient matching funds as outlined in the table below:
NH ARRA-DERA Projects Approved by the Governor & Executive Council
As of October 7, 2009
| Grant Recipient | Project Description | ARRA-DERA Grant Amount | Estimated Total Project Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| C&J Transit Portsmouth, NH | Vehicle Replacement 1-Transit Coach |
$120,000 | $472,860 |
| C&J Transit Portsmouth, NH | Idle Reduction 10-Transit Coach Auxiliary Heaters |
$87,000 | $87,000 |
| City of Manchester Highway Department | Vehicle Replacement 1-Dump/Plow Truck |
$40,000 | $150,411 |
| Town of Temple Highway Department | Vehicle Replacement 1-Motor Grader |
$64,000 | $237,800 |
| SAU 20 - Gorham, Randolph, Shelburne, NH | Vehicle Replacement 2-School Buses |
$86,000 | $172,000 |
| SAU 20 - Gorham, Randolph, Shelburne, NH | Idle Reduction 8-Engine Preheaters - School Buses |
$24,000 | $24,000 |
| Isaacson Structural Steel, Inc, Berlin NH | Engine Replacement - Re-Power 3 Pieces Material Handling Equipment | $109,500 | $146,000 |
| University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH | Idle Reduction 7-Commuter Coach Auxiliary Heaters |
$29,500 | $29,500 |
| Granite State Whale Watch, Rye, NH | Replace 2 Engines - Re-Power Marine Excursion Vessel |
$141,000 | $188,000 |
| Total | $701,000 | $1,507,571 |
DES is working with ARRA-DERA grant recipients to rapidly move the projects through implementation. DES is also preparing and submitting the required stimulus program reports to various state and federal agencies.
For additional information related to the Federal Stimulus Diesel Emission Reduction Program see: Diesel Emission Reduction Act ARRA Funding
For more information regarding the ARRA-DERA program, please contact Thomas Fargo at (603) 271-1378 or thomas.fargo@des.nh.gov