The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is doling out $2.9 million in efforts to boost air quality through the PA State Clean Diesel Grant program. Seven lucky applicants have snagged funds to slash air pollution from vehicle fleets. According to details on the DEP's website, the cash injection is meant to help fleet owners replace diesel-powered beasts with cleaner, greener machines.

Interim Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley broke down the importance of upgrading transportation to tackle air quality woes. "Transportation is one of our biggest areas of impact for improving air quality," Shirley said via the DEP's report. Citing the high percentage of nitrogen oxides churned out by vehicles, she emphasized the need to introduce low- to zero-emission technology, especially in smog-heavy, high-traffic, and adversely impacted communities. The grants awarded were funds for electric delivery trucks, terminal tractors, and electrified parking spaces at one regional distributor.

The program had several heavyweight beneficiaries. Sheetz scored over $100K for 28 electrified parking spots, and UPS landed a cool $1.3 million to swap out old diesel delivery trucks for snazzier battery-electric models. United Scrap Metal and Collins Pine Company, better known for recycling and forestry products, also got their share for upgrading to cleaner machines. DEP's announcement revealed the program's reach, dangling a nearly $3 million carrot to coax fleet operators toward greener pastures.

School kids and beverages got a cleaner route, with Fullington School Bus LLC and Wilsbach Distributors on the receiving end of DEP's green largesse. Fullington's new clean diesel buses and Wilsbach's zero-emission trucks are set to make future rides less smoggy and much more lung-friendly. Ben Weitsman of Scranton didn't miss out either, getting a slice of the pie with funds to electrify its material handling.