Two New Hanover County companies receiving funds for replacement of diesel sources

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ) has awarded $1.11 million in grants for projects that will reduce air pollution from diesel-powered mobile sources.

Mobile sources are any type of vehicle that can pollute the air, including automobiles, trucks, buses, locomotives, motorcycles, off-road vehicles, construction equipment and lawnmowers.

This year’s awarded projects will replace 18 older diesel vehicles — four on-road refuse trucks and 14 off-road vehicles — with cleaner alternatives.

Waste Management of Carolinas, Inc. in New Hanover County is receiving $40,000 to replace two diesel freight refuse haulers with two low-NOx compressed natural gas refuse haulers. This project reduces 0.49 tons of lifetime NOx emissions associated with diesel combustion engines.

Southeast Crescent Shipping Company is getting $97,933 to replace four diesel port forklifts with new, cleaner technology. This project reduces lifetime NOx emissions by 5.33 tons.

Together, this year’s awards will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 3,044 tons over their lifetimes. They will also eliminate more than 43 tons of nitrogen oxide (NOx) and 4 tons of particulate matter, according to a press release.