The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced it is making £1.7 million available for west coast projects aimed at reducing diesel emissions.

The grant programme is part of the West Coast Collaborative that has so provided around £1.5 million in grants to 28 projects since 2004.

The EPA is hoping to award up to 12 grants this year, ranging from £25,000 to over £250,000, and is seeking proposals from companies demonstrating innovative approaches to reducing diesel emissions.

"This is another opportunity for all the stakeholders to further develop and implement cleaner technologies," said Wayne Nastri, the EPA's regional administrator for the Pacific south-west region.

"This next round of EPA funding will continue to stimulate innovation and collaboration, accelerating the pace toward cleaner air."

Californian projects measuring the effectiveness of cleaner bio diesel in agricultural equipment, and the provision of incentives for cruise liners to use cleaner fuels while at port were among those initiated using EPA money last year.

The news will be particularly prescient in light of a report released yesterday by the Freedonia Group, which predicted diesel and hybrid-electric engines would steadily expand their US market share over the coming years.


Ÿ Adfero Ltd