EPA is announcing the availability of almost $50 million in grant funding to establish clean diesel projects aimed at reducing emissions from the nation’s existing fleet of diesel engines.

The program was authorized by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and will be administered by EPA’s National Clean Diesel Campaign (NCDC).

“By encouraging innovations in existing diesel engines, EPA is driving the nation toward a clean, healthy, productive tomorrow,” said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson.

Over the past decade, EPA has set stringent new particulate and nitrogen oxide standards for most types of new engines. The EPA says this new crop of funds is aimed at reducing emissions from the existing fleet of 11 million diesel engines that pre-date these standards.

State, local, regional and tribal governments can apply for the grants, as well as non-profits and institutions with transportation, educational services and air quality responsibilities.

The EPA says the grants are targeting school or transit buses, medium and heavy-duty trucks, marine engines, locomotives and non-road engines.

Grant recipients can use a variety of cost-effective emission reduction strategies, such as EPA-verified retrofit and idle-reduction technologies, EPA-certified engine upgrades, vehicle or equipment replacements, cleaner fuels and creation of innovative clean diesel financing programs.