A Trip to the Ohio River – Checking In on DERG Fulfillment

Megan Stein, Grants Manager at Clean Fuels Ohio, traveled to the Ohio River in Cincinnati recently to inspect and confirm the completion of a marine tug boat engine replacement project for McGinnis Inc., a grant recipient of the Diesel Emission Reduction Grant (DERG) funding. The M/V Gary Lacey is currently operating on the Ohio River in the Claremont County area. McGinnis was awarded funding to replace the two diesel generator engines and the generators servicing that equipment on-board the vessel. The old equipment, dating back to the early 1990’s, was emitting large amounts of nitrogen-oxide (NOx) and fine particle matter (PM) – both hazardous to human health – into the air around the river. The new engines are cleaner and provide a better breathing environment for everyone in the surrounding area.

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) in partnership with the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) provide an opportunity for funding through the Diesel Emissions Reduction Grant (DERG) Program. Entities that can apply are all public agency owned diesel engine fleets and privately owned diesel engine fleets with a public sponsor (Public-Private Partnerships) that wish undertake vehicle/equipment replacement, repower, retrofit, or installation of anti-idle equipment for the purpose of emissions reduction in eligible Ohio counties.

For more information about the DERG program and other funding opportunities, please reach out to Clean Fuels Ohio.