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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources $571,107 to install idle-reduction technology on diesel locomotives.

“Investing in clean diesel projects in the Great Lakes region will protect public health, bolster the economy and create green jobs,” said Bharat Mathur, acting regional administrator. “These Recovery Act funds will move us one step closer to a clean energy future.”

The funds are provided under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program. Under this funding competition, the EPA’s Region 5 received 81 grant applications requesting $211 million to help fund clean diesel emissions projects. The award announced Thursday was chosen to maximize both economic impact and emissions reductions.

EPA funds will be used to install idle-reduction technology (stop/start devices) on 40 switcher locomotives.

The Recovery Act allotted the National Clean Diesel Campaign a total of $300 million, of which the National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program received $156 million to fund competitive grants across the nation. The Recovery Act also included $20 million for the National Clean Diesel Emerging Technology Program grants and $30 million for the SmartWay Clean Diesel Finance Program grants. In addition, under the Act’s State Clean Diesel Grant program, $88.2 million has been provided to states for clean diesel projects through a noncompetitive allocation process.