WASHINGTON, D.C., May 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The newest generation of diesel technologies offer innovative and sustainable options that help America’s ports achieve near-zero emissions, today.
“America’s sea and river ports underpin roughly 26 percent of the U.S. economy, generating $4.6 trillion in economic activity, and providing jobs for 23 million workers. Moving this trade requires many diesel-powered trucks, trains, ships, cargo handling equipment, barges and marine workboats,” said Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum. “It’s important that we do so in the most economic, environmentally friendly way possible. By using new-technology diesel engines and ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel, port administrators and equipment operators can be sure to deliver fuel efficiency, power, performance and reliability, along with significant emission reductions for the communities near our nation’s ports.”
Starting in 2015, new diesel engines used in large equipment were required to meet Tier 4 emissions standards which, relative to previous generations of technology, reduces emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and fine particle emissions (PM) between 88 and 95 percent.
Recent research conducted by the Diesel Technology Forum and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) confirms that upgrading the engines in two of the key pieces of equipment used in ports – tugboats and switcher locomotives – to the latest clean diesel technology offers the most cost-effective option for reducing diesel emissions. Clean diesel upgrades for the engines on a single tugboat can reduce 96,840 lbs. of NOx and 2,646 lbs. of PM for $4,379 per ton of NOx eliminated. A clean diesel upgrade on a single switch locomotive can reduce 37,602 lbs. of NOx and 974 lbs. of PM for $15,201 per ton of NOx eliminated.
“The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach (LA/LB) offer stunning examples of the incredible impact new-technology diesel engines can have for port communities,” said Schaeffer. “The LA/LB Port Authority estimates that between 2005 and 2015, PM emissions fell by 85 percent (745 tons) per year, while NOx emissions fell by 51 percent (8,325 tons) per year. The overwhelming majority of these clean air achievements are attributable to the introduction of the new generation of clean diesel technology in Southern California. Other ports have also reported similarly impressive emission reductions."
While the latest clean diesel technologies are ready and available to reduce emissions, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that by 2020, only 5 percent of America’s switch locomotives and 3 percent of America’s marine workboats will be the newest generation of near-zero emissions technology.
Visit http://www.dieselforum.org/cleandieselports to learn more about diesel’s role in America’s ports.
Come Learn More about Diesel’s Role in Greening America’s PortsTomorrow, at the inaugural GreenPort Congress America being held in Baltimore, Md., the Diesel Technology Forum’s Director of Policy, Ezra Finkin, will lead a discussion on the most cost-effective methods to reduce port emissions. The session will feature presentations from the Environmental Defense Fund, Volvo Group North America, Progress Rail, and Neste North America.
| WHAT: | GreenPort Congress America Session 4.1 – Using smart technologies to minimize emissions landside |
| WHEN: | Wednesday, May 16, 2018, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. |
| WHERE: | The Baltimore Convention Center, 1 W. Pratt St., Baltimore, MD 21201 |
| WHO: | Ezra Finkin, Director of Policy, Diesel Technology Forum – Moderator Ken Adler, Senior Contributing Scientist, Environmental Defense Fund Useful Life of Large Marine Engines: Implications for VW Mitigation Fund Parthav Desai, Principle Engineer, Volvo Group North America Advanced clean smart truck technology, hybrid and geo-fencing capabilities Amar Chhajed, Director, Locomotive Repowers, Progress Rail Enhancing and greening rail power and switching performance in ports Dayne Delahoussaye, Director of Public Relations, Neste North America Current & next generation of fuels for carbon reduction and clean air benefits |
| RSVP: | Media interested in attending the Forum’s GreenPort session should contact Sarah Dirndorfer at sdirndorfer@dieselforum.org or 301-668-7230. |
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The Diesel Technology Forum is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of diesel engines, fuel and technology. Forum members are leaders in clean diesel technology and represent the three key elements of the modern clean-diesel system: advanced engines, vehicles and equipment, cleaner diesel fuel and emissions-control systems. For more information, visit http://www.dieselforum.org.
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