Lung Health News, Fall 2004 / Winter 2005
Efforts to reduce dirty diesels in California received a shot in the arm as the Governor set aside $61 million for the Carl Moyer program in his 2004-2005 proposed budget.
The American Lung Association of California applauds the funding. However, hundreds of millions of dollars are needed each year to effectively reduce diesel exhaust, which accounts for more than 70 percent of the cancer risk from toxic air contaminants statewide.
The Carl Moyer program provides incentives to transition from dirty diesel engines to cleaner alternatives and has been responsible for removing up to 11 tons per day of smog-forming pollutants and significant amounts of toxic particles from the air.
While the Carl Moyer funding is a great first step, up to $1.5 billion will be needed by 2010 to effectively reduce diesel emissions through the Carl Moyer program, Lower-Emission School Bus program and vehicle scrapping and repair projects.
