The Port of Pittsburgh Commission has received a $1.15 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to install less-polluting diesel engines and generators in four towboats used on Pittsburgh area rivers.

According to the EPA, the Port of Pittsburgh and three participating marine towing companies will contribute $1.9 million in matching funding for the repowering project, which was announced today at a news conference aboard RiverQuest's Explorer, an environmentally designed boat that is used as a floating environmental classroom and is docked on the North Shore.

According to the EPA, the project will reduce air pollution and lessen the overall environmental impacts of commercial river traffic on the rivers.

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