An organization that works to promote alternative fuel use in the transportation sector has received a $3.5 million grant to work with UPS on replacing diesel trucks in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Virginia Clean Cities at James Madison University will look for replacements that run on domestically produced compressed natural gas.
The program, known as the Mid-Atlantic Nitrous Oxide Reduction Program II, or MANOR II, will run for two years.
The grant will be used to replace 72 short-haul heavy duty diesel Class 8 UPS trucks operating in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
The project should reduce diesel fuel usage in UPS’s fleet by 1.75 million gallons per year. It should also significantly cut air polluting emissions along interstate corridors.
UPS has provided $13.9 million toward the project.
“The MANOR II project award is one of many projects that VCC executes with communities, businesses and partners in the Mid-Atlantic region,” said Keith Holland, JMU’s associate vice president for research and economic development. “JMU’s Division of Research, Economic Development and Innovation is grateful for the 15-year partnership with VCC and its efforts to reduce transportation related pollution impacts in our communities through grant-funded public service and outreach.”
VCC administered the first MANOR grant of more than $2 million in 2019 and worked with UPS to replace 79 diesel tractor-trailer trucks in the Mid-Atlantic region with trucks that use either cleaner domestically produced compressed natural gas or newer, cleaner diesel engines.
Virginia Clean Cities partnered with JMU in 2009 enabling both organizations to leverage resources, current initiatives and future opportunities.
VCC is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy Clean Cities and Communities partnership.
Related stories
DOE announces $1.4M for expansion of EV charging stations in Richmond project
Central Virginia school districts move forward with electric school buses
Share
Crystal Graham
