Funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to Virginia Clean Cities and James Madison University will help launch the first construction repowering project in Virginia to reduce harmful diesel pollution at four Luck Stone plants operating in Richmond, Charlottesville, Leesburg and Burkeville.
EPA’s $710,000 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act grant, combined with $1.1 million from Luck Stone, will enable the company to repower or replace 11 off-road construction vehicles with new, more efficient diesel engines and generators.
“Putting clean diesel engines to use will bring cleaner, healthier air for the workers and neighborhoods surrounding these plants,” said EPA mid-Atlantic regional administrator Shawn M. Garvin. “EPA is pleased to support Virginia Clean Cities’ newest initiative to improve air quality and public health for Virginia’s citizens.”
“The heavy trucks and equipment that are being repowered or replaced are not only striking in their size and capability, but are critical to Luck Stone’s ability to provide quality crushed stone,” said Virginia Clean Cities executive director Chelsea Jenkins. “Virginia Clean Cities and James Madison University are energized to participate in such a significant project that will aide in curbing the impact such equipment has on the environment and ultimately Virginia’s economy and the health of its citizens.”
The Luck Stone project is the first construction equipment repowering project in Virginia to be funded by EPA. The new engines will result in a 50 percent reduction in nitrogen oxides and 65 percent reduction in particulate matter for each piece of equipment. Nitrogen oxides and particulate matter are prevalent air pollutants linked to asthma and other respiratory illness. Annually, the project will eliminate 30.85 tons of nitrogen oxide, two tons of particulate matter, 11.93 tons of carbon monoxide, and 2.74 tons of hydrocarbons from being emitted at the four plants. In addition, the project will create about 20 jobs.
“We are honored to be participating in the inaugural construction repower project for Virginia along with the EPA, James Madison University, Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality and Virginia Clean Cities,” said Doug Palmore, vice president of environmental design and development at Luck Stone. “This partnership lines up perfectly with our environmental ethic and practices which focus on creating a net positive outcome for the environment and communities we serve.”
