The agreement provides funding to the louisiana clean fuels (LCF) to repower sixteen main engines and seven auxiliary engines (GENERATORS) from tier 0 through tier 2 to tier 3 in eight towboats…

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded a $5,608,503 Project Grant under the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) National Grants program (CFDA 66.039) to Louisiana Clean Fuels, Inc. The funding will be used to repower 16 main engines and 7 auxiliary engines (generators) from Tier 0-2 to Tier 3 in 8 towboats operating on the Lower Mississippi River system between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Louisiana. This project aims to significantly reduce nitrogen oxide, diesel particulate matter, and carbon dioxide emissions in 5 parishes (St. Charles, St. John the Baptist, Jefferson, Orleans, and St. James) located in historically disadvantaged areas along the river. The upgrades are expected to eliminate 115,994 short tons of nitrogen oxides, 3,754 tons of diesel particulate matter, and 1,910.7 tons of carbon dioxide annually, while saving 169,840 gallons of diesel fuel. This grant award supports the DERA program's mission of reducing diesel pollution across various regions and sectors through strategic vehicle and equipment upgrades.

The agreement provides funding to the louisiana clean fuels (LCF) to repower sixteen main engines and seven auxiliary engines (GENERATORS) from tier 0 through tier 2 to tier 3 in eight towboats operating on the lower mississippi river system between the port of baton rouge and the port of new orleans, louisiana. Tier 3 engines require the reduction of nitrogen oxide emissions by approximately 75% in comparison to a tier 2 engine and 80% compared to tier 1 engines. Nitrogen oxides are potent indirect greenhouse gases that can impact visibility, breathing abilities, water quality, acid rain, and the earth's temperature with its pollution-damaging effects. This project aims to significantly benefit the health and environment of five louisiana parish communities located in historically disadvantaged areas along the lower mississippi river by upgrading marine diesel engines to cleaner air emission technology. The five affected parishes that will directly benefit from these engine upgrades are: ST. Charles, ST. John the baptist, jefferson, orleans, and ST. James. Specifically, this project will eliminate annually 115,994 short tons of nitrogen oxides emissions, 3,754 tons of diesel particulate matter (PM 2.5), and 1,910.7 tons of carbon dioxide, saving annually 169,840 gallons of diesel fuel. All target towboats operate along a heavily industrialized portion of the mississippi river system running from baton rouge to new orleans. More than 200 petrochemical plants and refineries operate along this industrial corridor, known as 'cancer ally' due the link between the air pollution released by these plants and cancer. Nearly every census tract along this corridor of the river ranks in the top 5% nationally for cancer risk from toxic air pollution and in the top 10% for respiratory hazards. Minority and impoverished residents of these river communities are disproportionately exposed and susceptible to these toxics, and disproportionately impacted by cancer incidence. Over the last 48 years, this region was responsible for approximately half of louisiana's carbon emissions, according to a study conducted by climate scientists from the louisiana universities marine consortium and delta GEO-marine. The united states environmental protection agency's funds for this project will reduce diesel emissions in five parishes with the worst toxic air pollution in the united states by replacing old engines with california air resources board (CARB) certified low nitrogen oxides tier 3 engines in fleet boats. These marine diesel emissions reductions also will have beneficial impacts on visibility impairment and regional haze, as well as reducing crop damage and acid rain. Activities:the activities include replacing twenty-three marine diesel engines with newer and cleaner diesel technology to repower eight towboats operating on the lower mississippi river system between the port of baton rouge and the port of new orleans, louisiana. The towboats operate in five river parishes: ST. Charles, ST. John the baptist, jefferson, orleans, and ST. James. Funds will be used to replace sixteen tier 0- 2 marine diesel propulsion engines with 12-17 years of remaining life and seven tier 0 marine diesel auxiliary engines (GENERATORS) with remaining life from 12-23 years with new tier 3 propulsion and auxiliary engines. A propulsion engine is one that moves the vessel through the water or assists in guiding the direction of the vessel (for example, BOW thrusters). Auxiliary engines are all other marine engines. The propulsion engines will be 684 horsepower mitsubishi R-series diesel engines and auxiliary engines will be yanmar GENERATORS that will comply with united states environmental protection agency tier 3 engines regulations and certified california air resources board low nitrogen oxide engines. These high horsepower, high displacement, and high mass engines are designed for heavy-duty workboat applications S