Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy Interim Director Thad Fineran announced on April 18 that the 2023 Nebraska Clean Diesel Program is awarding approximately $599,000 in rebates to 31 farmers across the state to aid in replacing diesel irrigation engines with electric motors.
The diesel engines being replaced must be scrapped in order to eliminate their harmful pollutant emissions. Nitrogen oxides emitted by diesel engines can have direct adverse effects on respiratory health as well as contribute to the formation of harmful ground-level ozone. The projects in this year’s program are expected to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by more than 10 tons annually.
“The Clean Diesel Program funds allow the department to provide financial assistance to reduce diesel emissions across the state,” Fineran said. “This year, we were able to use both an EPA grant and Volkswagen settlement funds to award rebates to all eligible applicants.”
Nebraska’s Clean Diesel Program is funded by an annual grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Applications for this year’s program were accepted from October 1 through December 7, 2023. NDEE’s web page for the Clean Diesel Program is at http://dee.ne.gov/NDEQProg.nsf/OnWeb/NCDGP.
Terry K. Harimon, of Morrill County received a $20,000 rebate. Robert Sandberg Jr., of Keith County received a $20,000 rebate. Bruce Young Farms, of Keith County, received a $20,000 rebate.