http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/oct2004/2004-10-06-09.asp#anchor2
West Coast Finds Ways to Shut Down Diesel Engines
SEATTLE, Washington, October 6, 2004 (ENS)
Two cruise ships that make Seattle a port of call will soon plug into shoreside electricity while in port, enabling them to shut down their polluting diesel engines.
The U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says will make a $50,000 grant to Seattle City Light to provide the equipment needed for two Princess Cruise ships to shut off their engines while docked at the Port of Seattle's Pier 30.
Princess will spend between $1.5 and $1.8 million to enable the Diamond Princess and the Sapphire Princess to run on electricity while in port in Seattle. It is estimated this project will reduce by over one-third the air emissions from cruise ships stopping in Seattle.
The presentation, attended by federal, state and city officials occurred at an event last week highlighting efforts of the EPA and a consortium of government agencies, nonprofits and businesses to reduce diesel emissions from trucks, ships, and locomotives along the West coast.
Known as the West Coast Diesel Emissions Reductions Collaborative, the consortium includes representatives of the governments of the U.S., Canada and Mexico, state and local governments, and the non-profit and private sector from California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska and British Columbia.
"Some estimates suggest that up to 85 percent of the lifetime cancer risk citizens face from air toxins comes from diesel emissions," the EPA says.
These emissions also contribute to unhealthy levels of fine particles and ozone, or smog. Fine particles have been associated with an increased risk of premature mortality, hospital admissions for heart and lung disease, increased respiratory symptoms and other adverse effects.
The Collaborative aims to secure $100 million for voluntary efforts to reduce diesel emissions in California, Oregon and Washington further and sooner than the EPA's new national diesel rules mandate.
“Diesel emission reductions represent one of the most important opportunities to achieve rapid and cost-effective health and environmental benefits on the West Coast,” said Ron Kreizenbeck, acting regional administrator for EPA's Northwest office in Seattle. “Reducing diesel emissions will decrease the incidents of asthma and improve overall air quality."
The $50,000 grant is one of eight grant announcements along the West Coast totaling over $7 million in funding from federal, state, local, non-profits and industry groups.
In Oregon and California, several state and federal government agencies, along with numerous industry partners, are announcing similar idle-reduction projects. These technologies will enable truck operators to use electrical energy rather than idling their diesel engines to run in-truck appliances such as air conditioners and microwave ovens.
Grants to implement the I-5 Corridor Truck Idle Reduction Initiative were announced all along the I-5 Interstate Highway in Washington, Oregon, and California totalling $1.36 million.
The funds will be spent on small auxiliary engines that use up to 90 percent less diesel and emit 75 percent less air pollution than idling trucks, and on the electrification of truck stops.
In Bakersfield, California, the EPA and San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District announced a $75,000 grant that will allow Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company and Union Pacific Railroad to retrofit several switcher locomotives in the San Joaquin Valley.
Each company will contribute $75,000 to install technology that switches engines off when they are not needed to reduce nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and diesel particulate emissions. The project will reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by 2.5 tons annually.
In Sacramento, city, state, federal and industry partners are combining a total of $532,000 to install battery and grid powered electric air conditioners into trucks and electrification infrastructure at truck stops. The alternate power enables truck operators to use electrical energy for in-truck appliances like air conditioners and microwave ovens, instead of idling during rest periods.
In San Diego, the EPA has awarded the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District $150,000 for a diesel emissions reduction demonstration project. The project will investigate the costs and effectiveness of diesel retrofit technologies on heavy-duty diesel vehicles that operate in the San Diego-Tijuana region.
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