Bill Would Help Fund Equipment Upgrades to Reduce Emissions
by Karen M. Scally
October 12, 2011
On Oct. 6, Reps. Richard Hanna (R-N.Y.) and Donna F. Edwards (D-Md.) introduced a bipartisan bill designed to help contractors upgrade equipment to meet diesel emissions standards in the most-polluted areas of the country.
According to the legislators, the “Clean Construction Act of 2011” would allow contractors working on federal infrastructure projects to use part of the budget so their equipment can comply with the air quality standards in PM 2.5 nonattainment areas. A similar bill was introduced by Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) in the Senate earlier this year.
The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) is supporting the bill.
“This approach will protect the environment without punishing contractors for purchasing equipment that met all clean air standards in place at the time,” says AGC CEO Stephen E. Sandherr, in the representatives’ statement. “This legislation will improve air quality without harming contractors or putting people out of work.”
The association also says it worked to make sure the bill requires that a diesel retrofit of existing equipment “must be proven to be effective and not adversely impact the operation of the equipment or the safety of the workers.”
What do you think of this bill? Will this provide enough incentive for you to upgrade your older diesel equipment? Please add your comments below.
Karen M. Scally
scallyk@bnpmedia.com
Karen M. Scally is the editor of Site Prep.
Comments (3)Post a Comment
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Title: Equipment upgrade bill
By: Jason
Posted: October 14, 2011 4:47 AM
This is absolutely ridiculous. The only companies that do federal infrastructure work are the big ones who can afford to buy new equipment and now they are going to get some at tax payers expense. Just another example of poor decision making by our govt.
Title: Equip upgrade
By: Pete
Posted: October 21, 2011 12:43 PM
Jason is right. The only people who make out on this are the big guys who have all the money anyhow. Meanwhile the little guy, who is just trying ot make a living, suffers once again at the hands of the govt. Obama and the rest of the loons in the govt are making it harder and harder to be a small businessman in America these days. This bill just further proves it.
Title: agreed
By: JB
Posted: November 17, 2011 6:35 PM
I agree for the most part with the previous comments but not all federal infrastructure work is done by the big companies. Yes many are but I was surprised to see a decent amount of federal work solicited by me in New York and a lot of local and non-local companies were going after it, not all big. With the M/W/L/D/BE goals and requirements on these jobs being as high as they are at times I guess it could be a beneficial incentive to some, hopefully not just the big ones.