Mid-Atlantic Anti-Idling Initiative

About the Program

The Mid-Atlantic Regional Small Business Anti-Idling Initiative is a partnership that provides funding to help independent truckers and small trucking companies purchase anti-idling technology.  Participants must qualify as small businesses (less than 50 trucks) and be located in Pennsylvania or Delaware.  Small trucking companies represent a significant segment of the long haul population, often operate vehicles that pollute more due to vehicle age, and have great potential to reduce emissions.  Frequently, independent owner/operators and small trucking companies are unaware of the costs and air pollution associated with engine idling.  This program will help bring anti-idling technology to small trucking companies and demonstrate how anti-idling technologies save fuel, lower operating costs, and improve air quality. 

The initiative is funded by a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to the Mid-Atlantic Regional Air Management Association (MARAMA).  Pennsylvania and Delaware support the effort through staff support and program implementation.

Eligible Applicants

An eligible applicant is an independent owner/operator or small trucking company located in Pennsylvania or Delaware.  Owner/operators or small trucking companies must be domiciled and pay taxes in Pennsylvania or Delaware and must be able to prove that they are commercially licensed (CDL) by Pennsylvania or Delaware.  The applicant must be a business enterprise that has no more than 50 vehicles in its truck fleet.

Click here to obtain an application form. 
 

Eligible Projects

Program funds are available to eligible owner/operators and small trucking companies that provide baseline data, reports regarding idling, and install new Auxiliary Power Units (APU).  The APU must:

• Provide both heating and cooling,
• Have a “run hour” meter (or operator must provide a certified log book documenting APU run time hours),
• Be under warranty for at least one year after purchase,
• Be installed by a manufacturer approved installer located in Pennsylvania or Delaware. 

MARAMA has developed a list of manufacturer approved APU installers in Pennsylvania and Delaware.  Click here obtain this list.  Other installers may be used with prior approval from MARAMA. 
 

Amounts and Limitations

The maximum amount of funding that will be awarded to an applicant is $3,000.  Funds will be disbursed to awardees after completion of the following Tasks. 

• Task 1: Baseline data collection and APU purchase and installation ($750)
• Task 2: Submission of a first semi-annual report, January-June 2007 ($750)
• Task 3: Submission of a second semi-annual report, July, 2007-January 2008 ($1,500)

Applicants may use their own funds or funds borrowed or granted through other state or federal programs or private lenders to finance the cost of the APU purchase and installation. 

The total amount of funds to be provided to all applicants under this program is $48,000.  MARAMA expects to award half of the funds to businesses based in DE and half to businesses based in PA.

Fees

There is no application fee.

Required Information

After selection, applicants must provide the following:

• Original invoice for the APU purchase and installation
• A photograph of the installed APU on the truck
• Two semi-annual reports on idling and truck operations

Restrictions

1. No Delinquencies

Neither the small business nor its principals may be delinquent on or in default of any taxes, loans or other obligations to the Pennsylvania or Delaware.  For purposes of this program, a “principal” is a person who possesses an ownership interest of at least 20 percent in the small business.

2. Penalty

MARAMA will impose a penalty for the late submission of semi-annual reports of $75 per week.  Semi-annual reports are due 30 days after the end of the reporting period. 

3. Termination

MARAMA will terminate its contract with an owner/operator or small trucking company under the following circumstances:

• Applicant makes a material misrepresentation in its application, reports, or other communications; or
• Participant does not provide proof of APU installation by an manufacturer approved installer by January 31, 2007; or
• Participant does not install an APU that meets the minimum requirements of the program; or
• Participant does not provide a semi-annual report 45 days after it is due (Reports are due 30 days after the close of the reporting period.). 

Additional Program Information

Click here for a brochure on the Mid-Atlantic Regional Small Business Anti-Idling Initiative.  If you have questions or need additional information on the initiative please contact:

Delaware

Alex Hense, Environmental Scientist
Pollution Prevention Program
Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
89 Kings Highway
Dover, DE 19901
Phone 302.739.9909, Fax 302.739.6242
Email alex.hense@state.de.us
Website: www.dnrec.state.de.us/dnrec2000/P2/Index.htm

Pennsylvania

David W. Barnes, Program Manager
Small Business Advantage Grant Program
Office of Energy and Technology Deployment Department of Environmental Protection
Rachel Carson State Office Building
400 Market Street, 15th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Phone 717.772.5160,  Fax 717.783.2703
Email dbarnes@state.pa.us
Website: http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/

MARAMA

Bill Gillespie, Senior Environmental Scientist
711 West 40th Street, Suite 312
Baltimore, MD 21211
Phone 410.467.0170, Fax 410.467.1737
Email bgillespie@marama.org