4 S.C. organizations receive diesel emission reduction grants

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Four organizations have received grants totaling more than $285,000 from an S.C. Department of Health and Environmental program designed to reduce diesel emissions.

DHEC’s State Diesel Emissions Reduction Act receives funding each year from the Environmental Protection Agency to fund between 25% to 100% of the cost of projects which reduce diesel emissions through engine repowers, equipment and exhaust retrofits or equipment replacements.

“We’re looking forward to partnering with several local organizations through these 2020 state DERA grants,” Rhonda Thompson, DHEC chief of the Bureau of Air Quality, said in a news release. “For the last 12 years, DHEC has utilized DERA grant funds to reduce air pollution produced by aging diesel engines and equipment while simultaneously supporting local businesses and governments throughout South Carolina.”

The organizations receiving grants for the 2020 program are:

• Palmetto Propane, Fuels and Ice Inc. (Batesburg, Lexington County): $66,104 to help replace two diesel tanker trucks with new trucks that will run on propane fuel
• Green Energy Biofuel (Winnsboro, Fairfield County): $39,625 to help replace one diesel service truck and one diesel vacuum truck
• Haig Point Club & Community Association (Hilton Head Island, Beaufort County): $139,308 to help repower a ferry with new diesel engines
• Berkeley County School District (Moncks Corner, Berkeley County): $40,534 to help replace a diesel bucket truck

DHEC expects to receive another EPA allocation this fall, at which time the agency will release another request for project proposals. Contact Sam Christmus at christsw@dhec.sc.gov or 803-898-0717 for more information.