Clean Construction Bill Introduced in the House
| October 13, 2011 | Posted by Kelico under NC Clean Diesel, Partnership |
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For over seven years, Clean Air Carolina’s Clean Diesel Campaign has partnered with the national Clean Air Task Force and 15 other states to educate the public and policymakers about the problems associated with old diesel engines and the solutions to help reduce their impact on public health.
We are one step closer thanks to new legislation, the Clean Construction Act of 2011, which was introduced to the House last month. The Act will help significantly reduce diesel emissions from major highway construction projects in the most polluted cities. If signed into law, it will provide state transportation officials the authority and funding to incorporate the use of clean construction equipment on federally-funded transportation projects in areas that do not meet federal air quality standards for particulate matter (PM2.5). Similar legislation has already been introduced to the Senate. The two bills are not identical but share core components such as:
- Clean Construction Requirement – Large construction equipment must reduce PM by 85% or maximum achievable
- Funding – Diesel cleanup costs are paid out of federal share of project funds, up to 1% of project cost.
- Limited – Applies to PM nonattainment and maintenance areas where PM poses the greatest health threat.
Diesel engines are the workhorse of our economy; diesel powers nearly all of the heavyduty vehicles and equipment that are required to build and repair our roads, bridges, hospitals and schools. Emissions from older equipment can be reduced by up to 85 percent with the installation of cost-effective technology, and newly manufactured diesel-powered vehicles and equipment are becoming cleaner every day. While new diesel engines will include innovative clean diesel technology that achieves near zero particulate matter emissions, fleet turnover of equipment without that modern technology will take many years. Clean Air Carolina applauds Rep. Hanna and Rep. Edwards for their strong leadership in introducing the Clean Construction Act of 2011. We now need action to ensure its passage.
We’re especially reaching out to NC Republican House members. Please contact the House members below today and ask them to support the Clean Construction Act of 2011 (HR 3122).
|
District |
NC House Representative |
Phone |
|
2 |
Rep. Renee Ellmers | 202-225-4531 |
|
3 |
Rep. Walter Jones | 202-225-3415 |
|
5 |
Rep. Virginia Foxx | 202-225-2071 |
|
6 |
Rep. Howard Coble | 202-225-3065 |
|
9 |
Rep. Sue Myrick | 202-225-1976 |
|
10 |
Rep. Patrick McHenry | 202-225-2576 |
To learn more…
Read a letter of support by the Clean Air Task Force and the Associated General Contractors
Check out Southern Alliance for Clean Energy’s blog, Constructing a Healthier Future.
Bill proposed to improve air quality around infrastructure projects (Metro Magazine, Oct 6 2011)
