Harrisonburg, VA – Virginia Clean Cities (VCC) at James Madison University was recently awarded $3.5 million by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to lead the Mid-Atlantic NOx Reduction (MANOR) Program II. The funding is made possible by the EPA’s National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program, which is dedicated to the deployment of EPA-certified clean vehicle technologies. The project will run from now until September 2026 in EPA’s Region 3, in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.
VCC will serve as the project lead and grant administrator, working with its host institution James Madison University and other project partners. VCC has a 25-year history working with fleets across the region on petroleum reduction and air quality improvement projects.
“VCC is honored to work with UPS and our partners in the Mid-Atlantic Region to reduce the impacts of diesel emissions through the use of cleaner, alternative fuels,” said Matthew Wade, VCC’s Deputy Director and MANOR II project leader.
UPS, a global leader in logistics, is one of the project’s major partners and will be volunteering 72 vehicles in Region 3 for this project. UPS is working with manufacturers, energy suppliers, government agencies and NGOs to advance new, cleaner fuel technologies, including renewable natural gas and renewable diesel. UPS has a growing fleet of more than 18,000 alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles, which includes electric, hybrid electric and compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles.
“Our work with the VCC aligns with UPS’s broader mission of finding sustainable solutions that work today while we continue to invest in future technologies,” said Ryan Bankerd, UPS director of automotive sustainability. “Deploying more CNG vehicles powered by renewable natural gas helps us meet our goal to decarbonize the UPS network and shows it’s possible to grow a global logistics business while reducing emissions, meeting the needs of customers for more sustainable logistics solutions while also contributing to healthier communities.”
Diesel emission reduction strategies in this project involve the early retirement of combination short-haul heavy duty Class 8 trucks and replacement with CNG trucks. This project will impact fleet vehicles that traverse major interstates linking some of the nation’s most heavily traveled truck routes. MANOR II anticipates improvement in regional and national air quality and increased public-health benefits by reducing over 1,748,779 gallons of diesel fuel per year, nitrogen oxide emissions by approximately 41%, particulate matter by 47%, hydrocarbons by 40% and carbon monoxide by 53% and carbon dioxide by 20%.
This program addresses areas that have pollution levels near National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ozone and PM 2.5 and minimizes diesel exposure to vulnerable communities in Region 3 by (1) focusing on clean diesel and alternative fuel options for long haul heavy duty trucking in regional freight corridors along I-66, I-495, I-77, I-68, I-76, I-79, I-81 and I-95; and (2) ensuring that the emissions reduction benefits occur in highly populated urban areas such as truck stops and distribution centers.
The following UPS distribution centers will be targeted for diesel truck replacement: Hagerstown, MD; Laurel, MD; Carlisle, PA; East Petersburg, PA; Easton, PA; Horsham, PA; Middletown, PA; Philadelphia, PA; Pittstown, PA; State College, PA; West Chester, PA; Williamsport, PA; Bristol, VA; Chantilly, VA; Richmond, VA; Roanoke, VA; Springfield, VA and Charleston, WV.
About VCC
Virginia Clean Cities is a U.S. Department of Energy designated coalition in the Clean Cities and Communities partnership. VCC began in 1996 as a regional coalition in the Hampton Roads area. In 2001, the non-profit Virginia Clean Cities, Inc. was created to manage and expand the coalition. In 2009, VCC formed a partnership with James Madison University enabling both organizations to leverage resources, current initiatives and future opportunities. The Clean Cities and Communities program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy in accordance with the Energy Policy Act of 1992.
Media Contacts
Bruce Vlk: bvlk@vacleancities.org
Jorden McLean: jmclean@vacleancities.org
