ENE's New England Diesel Initiative
ENE established its New England Diesel Initiative in 2002 with the goal of significantly reducing health risks and global warming from diesel particulate matter emissions in New England. Exposure to diesel exhaust can cause serious cardiovascular and respiratory problems, including asthma, bronchitis, heart disease and lung cancer. More on health impact
Background
As a stakeholder participant in the development of both Connecticut’s and Maine’s Climate Action Plans, ENE worked to raise public awareness of the global warming impact of black carbon soot...
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As of 2007 and 2008, federal laws require new diesel vehicles to emit 90 percent less pollution than earlier model year engines. Earlier models are “grandfathered” and will continue to emit excess pollution unless they are retrofit with emission controls. The New England Diesel Initiative promotes a combination of mandatory regulations, financial incentives and voluntary programs to retrofit earlier model diesel engines.
State-based Diesel Coalitions
To further its clean diesel agenda, ENE built broad-based coalitions in Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. These coalitions promote awareness of the health and environmental impacts of diesel exhaust, and work to clean up key diesel fleets, including school and transit buses, garbage and recycling trucks, state-owned vehicles, construction vehicles, and boats and trains. ENE and coalition partners have helped usher in reforms and commitments in all three states that dedicate funding to retrofitting some of these priority fleets. The coalitions are working to implement and expand these pollution-reducing programs.
