Reducing public exposure to emissions from diesel-powered engines and equipment is one of the greatest air quality challenges facing the country. Even with more stringent engine standards in place for heavy-duty highway and nonroad vehicles and equipment, millions of diesel engines already in use will continue to emit large amounts of particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides (NOx), air toxics and greenhouse gases, which contribute to serious risks to public health and the environment. Each year, diesel emissions are linked to thousands of premature deaths, hundreds of thousands of asthma attacks, millions of lost work days, and numerous other health and environmental impacts.
Accordingly, the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has developed the Vermont Diesel Emissions Reduction Grant Program to help improve air quality and protect public health.
Recent Vermont Diesel Emissions Reduction Awards
The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation’s Air Quality & Climate Division provides technical assistance and funding for projects to reduce emissions from diesel powered vehicles and equipment.
- An award of $66,898 was presented to Shelburne Farms in August 2024 for the replacement of a diesel tractor with a zero-emission option. This project is anticipated to be completed by May 2026.
- An award of $48,750 was presented to Barrett Trucking, Inc. in August 2024 for the replacement of an older, dirtier Class 8 diesel truck. This project is anticipated to be completed by July 2025.
- An award of $24,551 was presented to the Town of Fair Haven in August 2024 for the replacement of an older, more heavily polluting diesel backhoe. This project was successfully completed in November 2024.
- An award of $39,169 was presented to Leader Distribution Systems, Inc. in February 2024 for the replacement of an older, more heavily polluting Class 6 diesel truck. This project is anticipated to be completed by December 2024.
- An award of $42,463 was presented to Gillespie Fuels & Propane, Inc. in March 2024 for the replacement of an older, dirtier Class 7 diesel truck. This project is anticipated to be completed by October 2025.
- An award of $94,807 was presented to Andersonville Farm, LLC. in March 2024 for the replacement of diesel tractor with a zero-emission electric hay grinder. This project is anticipated to be completed by February 2025.
- An award of $34,430 was presented to Stark Mountain Woodworking in March 2024 for the replacement of an older, dirtier diesel tractor. This project was successfully completed in June 2024.
- An award of $134,807 was presented to Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream in February 2023 for the replacement of a diesel yard truck with a zero-emission yard truck. This project was successfully completed in March 2024.
- An award of $51,401 was presented to Bourne's Energy in January 2023 for the replacement of an older, dirtier Class 7 diesel truck. This project was successfully completed in January 2024.
- An award of $38,834 was presented to Leader Distribution Systems, Inc. in January 2023 for the replacement of an older, more heavily polluting Class 7 diesel truck. This project was successfully completed in December 2023.
- An award of $40,725 was presented to the Town of Poultney in January 2023 for the replacement of an older, dirtier diesel backhoe loader. This project was successfully completed in December 2023.
- An award of $54,092 was presented to the Town of Pownal in July 2022 for the replacement of a wheel loader. This project was successfully completed in April 2023.
- An award of $38,000 was presented to Kilburn Transport LLC in June 2022 for the replacement of an older, dirtier Class 8 diesel truck tractor. This project was successfully completed in July 2022.
- An award of $29,404 was presented to Leader Distribution Systems, Inc. in February 2022 for the replacement of an older, dirtier Class 8 diesel delivery truck. This project was successfully completed in November 2022.
- An award of $41,768 was presented to Cota’s Propane Service, LLC in December 2021 for the replacement of an older, dirtier Class 8 diesel propane delivery truck. This project was successfully completed in December 2022.
- An award of $85,000 was presented to the Town of St. Johnsbury in December 2021 for the replacement of an older, dirtier Class 8 diesel plow truck and a wheel loader. This project was successfully completed in December 2024.
- An award of $38,696 was presented to Allen Brothers Oil, LLC in December 2021 for the replacement of an older, dirtier Class 7, diesel oil delivery truck. This project was successfully completed in April 2022.
- A grant of $22,266 was awarded to Casella Construction, Inc. in March 2021 for the replacement of an older, dirtier Class 8, diesel dump truck. This project was successfully completed in September 2021.
- A grant of $50,621 was awarded to the Town of Poultney in October 2020 for the replacement of an older, dirtier Class 8, diesel dump truck. This project was successfully completed in December 2021.
- A grant of $48,381 was awarded to the Town of Barnet in October 2020 for the replacement of an older, dirtier Class 8, diesel dump truck. This project was successfully completed in September 2021.
- A grant of $50,000 was awarded to The Belden Company, Inc. in October 2020 for the early replacement of wheel loader. This project was successfully completed in April 2021.
- A grant of $106,355 was awarded to the Barrett Trucking Company, Inc. in October 2020 for the early replacement of two older, dirtier Class 8, diesel dump trucks. This project was successfully completed in March 2021.
A grant of $288,471 was awarded to Mesa Leasing in October 2019 for the replacement of four older, heavily polluting diesel engines onboard the M/V Spirit of Ethan Allen. The project was successfully completed during spring of 2020.
- A grant of $32,054 was awarded to Cota & Cota, Inc. in February 2019 for the early replacement of an older, dirtier Class 7, heavy-duty diesel delivery truck. The project was successfully completed in November 2019.
- A grant of $85,095 was awarded to G.W. Tatro Construction, Inc. in November 2018 for the early replacement of an excavator. This project was successfully completed in May 2019.
- A grant of $45,134 was awarded to G.W. Tatro Construction, Inc. in November 2018 for the early replacement of an older, dirtier Class 8, heavy-duty diesel tractor truck. This project was successfully completed in July 2019.
- A grant of $22,957 was awarded to Fred's Energy in November 2018 for the early replacement of an older, dirtier Class 7, heavy-duty diesel delivery truck. The project was successfully completed in July 2019.
- A grant of $33,212 was awarded to Cota & Cota, Inc. in November 2018 for the early replacement of an older, dirtier Class 7, heavy-duty diesel delivery truck. The project was successfully completed in February 2019.
- A grant of $21,250 was awarded to Battenkill Valley Supervisory Union in October 2018 for the early replacement of an older, dirtier, heavy-duty diesel school bus. The project was successfully completed in May 2019.
- A grant of $30,883 was awarded to Bourne's Energy in March 2018 for the early replacement of an older, dirtier Class 7, heavy-duty diesel delivery truck. This project was successfully completed in June 2018.
- A grant of $40,519 was awarded to The Belden Co. in December 2017 for the early replacement of a wheel loader. This project was successfully completed in April 2018.
- A grant of $27,460 was awarded to Grow Compost of Vermont, LLC in November 2017 for the early replacement of an older, dirtier Class 7, heavy-duty diesel truck. This project was successfully completed in August 2018.
- A grant of $20,740 was awarded to Wright's Plumbing & Heating Oil, Inc. in October 2017 for the early replacement of an older, dirtier Class 7, heavy-duty deliver truck. This project was successfully completed in March 2018.
- A grant of $32,325 was awarded to the Village of North Bennington in October 2017 for the early replacement of an older, dirtier non-road backhoe. This project was successfully completed in February 2018.
- A grant of $26,108 was awarded to Leader Distribution Systems, Inc. in October 2017 for the early replacement on an older, dirtier Class 7, heavy-duty delivery truck. This project was successfully completed in December 2017.
- A grant of $6,575 was awarded to the Burlington School District in May 2017 for the early replacement of an older, dirtier non-road tractor. This project was successfully completed in August 2017.
- A grant of $39,840 was awarded to the City of Barre in April 2017 for the early replacement of an older, dirtier Class 8, heavy-duty vacuum truck. This project was successfully completed in November 2017.
- A grant of 37,500 was awarded to Josh Gervais Trucking in April 2017 for the early replacement of an older, dirtier Class 8, heavy-duty truck. This project was successfully completed in May 2017.
- A grant of $37,500 was awarded to The Belden Company, Inc. in March 2017 for the early replacement of an older, dirtier Class 8, heavy-duty dump truck. This project was successfully completed in June 2017.
- A grant of $32,230 was awarded to General Transportation, Inc. in March 2017 for the early replacement of an older, dirtier Class 8, heavy-duty truck. This project was successfully completed in July 2017.
- A grant of $41,894 was awarded to GW Tatro Construction, Inc. in April 2016 for the early replacement of an older, dirtier Class 8, heavy-duty dump truck. This project was successfully completed in July 2016.
- A grant of $5,151 was awarded to the Casella Waste Management, Inc. in February 2016. The project, which includes the purchase and installation of verified exhaust control technology, Diesel Oxidation Catalysts, on two (2) refuse haulers to reduce diesel emissions and health impacts associated with diesel exhaust was successfully completed in August 2016.
- A grant of $49,556 was awarded to GW Tatro Construction, Inc. in February 2016 for the early replacement of an older, dirtier Class 8, heavy-duty dump truck. This project was successfully completed in May 2016.
- A grant of $29,046 was awarded to the Casella Waste Management, Inc. in February 2016. The project, which includes the purchase and installation of verified exhaust control technology, Diesel Oxidation Catalysts, on 11 refuse haulers to reduce diesel emissions and health impacts associated with diesel exhaust was successfully completed in August 2016.
- A grant of $12,947 was awarded to New England Central Railroad in October 2015 for installation of locomotive idle reduction technology. This project was successfully completed in January 2016.
- A grant of $21,621 was awarded to the Bennington-Rutland Supervisory Union in June 2015 for the early replacement of an older, dirtier school bus. This project was successfully completed in August 2015.
A grant of $55,702 was awarded to Vermont Railway, Inc. in March 2014 for installation of locomotive idle reduction technology. This project was successfully completed in July 2014.
- A grant of $32,000 was awarded to Rutland Regional Medical Center in July 2013 for installation of emergency vehicle idle reduction technology. This project was successfully completed in December 2013.
- A grant of $67,500 was awarded to Vermont Railway, Inc. in July, 2013 for installation of locomotive idle reduction technology. This project was successfully completed in December 2013.
To learn more about the grant opportunities available, the projects discussed above, or future projects, please contact Leigh Martin of the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation’s Air Quality & Climate Division at (802) 261-0713, or via e-mail at leigh.martin@vermont.gov.
More Diesel Emissions-Related Resources
Current Vermont Laws and Regulations
Vermont has several laws to reduce emissions from gas and diesel vehicles. They are:
- Motor Vehicle Idling Law. Act 57 was signed into law in May 2013 and includes a provision that, effective May 1, 2014, will limit all motor vehicle idling to five minutes in any 60 minute period with some exceptions.
- School Bus Idling Rule on School Property. School buses shall not idle while picking up and dropping off children on school property.
- Unattended Motor Vehicle Law. This law was passed in 1973 to discourage vehicle theft, but also requires drivers to turn off their engine when parking while vehicle is not occupied.
- Smoky Truck Law. A commercial vehicle may be stopped and an inspection performed if it appears vehicle exhaust exceeds standard.
- Burlington's Idling Ordinance. With few exceptions, no person shall leave a vehicle idling for more than three minutes.
Diesel Pollution and Health Effects
Diesel Pollution and Health Effects: According to a report issued in 2012 by the World Health Organization's International Agency on Research for Cancer, diesel exhaust causes cancer in humans. Dozens of studies link airborne particulate matter, such as those from diesel exhaust, to increased hospitalizations due to asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease and pneumonia. For more information, click on the links below:
