SALEM, OR – The Oregon Legislature approved a bill intended to clean up old diesel engines in the state. It now moves to Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s office, according to Landline Magazine. Trucks, buses, construction equipment, and farm vehicles would get help from the state to replace and retrofit pre-2007 diesel engines and reduce idling. The bill (HB2172) would provide state grants, loans, and tax breaks to update engines so they emit less pollution.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality estimates cleaner burning engines would reduce diesel emissions in the state by 85 percent and lower the risk of cancer from those emissions from 23 cases to 1 case per million by 2017.

Supporters of the bill say cleaner engines are needed because diesel particulate matter exceeds health benchmarks in 25 of Oregon’s 36 counties.