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COLUMN OP/ED also generate substantial bene? ts for vessel owners. Replac- duction funds, nothing beats investments in new-technol- ing decades-old engines with new models translates direct- ogy diesel marine engines. More emissions can be reduced ly to lower maintenance costs, which can be sizeable for for a single dollar’s investment in large engine replacements large vessels. Some vessel owners experience fuel savings than any other project. Marine workboat engine replace- bene? ts as well. One workboat owner in the Puget Sound ments will do the most to deliver the greatest bene? ts to region saved 45,000 gallons of fuel when replacing older port communities, but it’s a competitive process. Now is propulsion and auxiliary engines with new cleaner models. the time to speak up and propose that your state invests

Thankfully, there are many funding sources to help ves- funds toward marine projects. sel owners replace the oldest of these engines and generate signi? cant immediate term bene? ts for port communities.

Port administrators, their tenants and their customers have access to a variety of incentive funds that help vessel own- ers replace their oldest engines with newer models.

One of the largest pots of incentive funds is the Envi- ronmental Mitigation Trust established through the Volk- swagen settlement. This fund offers $2.9 billion to replace older heavy-duty vehicles and repower older heavy-duty engines, including those in marine workboats. State deci- sion makers, as bene? ciaries of the Trust, are already hear-

Ezra Finkin is the policy and outreach director for the ing from constituents concerning the use of these funds –

Diesel Technology Forum, a position he has held since and many need to be made aware of the cost-effectiveness

July 2012. Mr. Finkin works to educate policy makers and bene? ts of converting older marine engines to new- with state, local and federal governments as well as elected technology diesel. Marine vessel owners/operators putting leaders and NGOs about the importance of diesel tech- forward successful projects could see the potential of 40 nology and the clean air and economic bene? ts of con- percent of the cost of new engine upgrades or repowers tinuing investments in clean diesel technologies. Learn covered by these funds. more about the Forum at http://www.dieselforum.org.

When it comes to making the most of these emission re-

July 2018

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