Wisconsin Diesel Truck Idling Reduction Grant Program Offers $1 million to Truckers to Help Reduce Fuel Costs and Air Pollution

MADISON—Common, contract, and private motor carriers in Wisconsin interested in the installation of idling reduction equipment can receive grants from the Wisconsin Diesel Truck Idling Reduction Grant Program. Equipment will reduce the carrier’s fuel cost and air pollution.


 


Heavy duty trucks are the workhorses of our transportation economy,” said Department of Commerce Secretary Mary P. Burke. “This grant will help truckers reduce air pollution in the communities they serve.”


 


Last year, the department received a tremendous response from the trucking industry with over $6.1 million in requests for funding.  This year’s program will award $1,000,000 in grants.


 


Idling reduction units provide an alternative source of power to heat, cool, or provide electricity to the cab and parts of the truck in lieu of operating the truck’s main drive engine. These units reduce air pollution emission and fuel costs. The Wisconsin Diesel Truck Idling Reduction Grant Program is designed to assist common, contract and private motor carriers in the purchase and installation of idling reduction technology.  The program’s primary goals are to help Wisconsin motor carriers reduce air pollution emissions and fuel consumption and also to provide useful field testing data. The field testing data received from the past years participants will be analyzed and reported on the department’s website later this year.


 


Motor carriers are eligible for up to 70 percent reimbursement for the purchase and installation of idling reduction equipment.  Applications will be accepted beginning July 1, 2007. 


 


Applications and additional information are available on the Wisconsin Department of Commerce website at http://commerce.wi.gov/dieselgrantprogram.