Governor Kulongoski Launches Project to Curb Diesel Emissions on I-5
(Portland, OR) – Today Governor Kulongoski was joined by officials from the Environmental Protection Agency to announce the West Coast Diesel Emissions Reduction Collaborative, a joint effort of federal, state and local government agencies as well as private-sector interests and non-profit organizations from California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska and British Columbia to reduce air pollution emissions from diesel sources along the west coast.
This new Collaborative arose in part out of the Global Warming Initiative the Governor launched in 2003 with the Governors of California and Washington to address the issue of global warming and to curb greenhouse emissions. The EPA identified this effort as an opportunity to create a wider West Coast corridor program for truck stops as part of a still larger effort to reduce diesel emissions in several sectors, including marine and railroads.
"Last year, the Governors of Washington, California, and I initiated the Global Warming Initiative because we knew that the issue of global warming is too big to tackle through an individual state-by-state effort," said Governor Ted Kulongoski. "I am pleased to announce today that the federal government, local governments, business and non-profits have joined our commitment to curb global warming by tackling diesel emissions along the I-5 corridor.”
The Governor also launched Oregon’s Truck Stop Electrification Project to reduce truck idling at commercial truck stops along I-5. This project will make a new technology available that eliminates the need for overnight or extended idling when professional truck drivers stop to rest at commercial truck stop areas. When connected to a hook-up, trucks can access electricity, heating/cooling systems, phones, and even internet access without the use of their engines.
“We have known that the technology to eliminate truck idling overnight is available, but today we are moving forward to make it accessible,” continued Governor Kulongoski. “This project shows that we can work across private-public sector lines to find sound solutions that benefit everyone - business, the environment, and the health of the people of Oregon.”
Earlier this year Governor Kulongoski designated an Oregon Solutions Team to identify strategies to reduce truck stop idling. The Team partners include the Oregon DEQ, truck stop owners, the Oregon Trucking Association, PacifiCorp, Oregon State University, the Oregon Environmental Council and the Climate Trust. The Team identified the proposal and secured the funding discussed today with the goal of creating three pilot electrification projects in commercial truck stops along Oregon’s I-5 corridor.
The end goal of the Oregon Solutions Team is to equip 600 parking spaces at truck stops along I-5 in Oregon with this electrification technology. There are 1977 commercial truck parking spaces on the Oregon segment of I-5 alone and about 5000 commercial spaces across the entire state. As the advantages of electrification become better known and tested, and as demand grows, the broader goal of the Collaborative is to install this technology in the majority of truck stops in the state as well as throughout the West Coast.
“Implementing this technology is a top environmental priority for both the state and federal governments,” said Mike Burnett, executive director of The Climate Trust. “Oregon’s environment, economy, and communities will all be improved by this major global warming mitigation initiative, and The Climate Trust is pleased to help attain these important priorities for society.”
By “electrifying” 600 truck stop parking spaces along I-5, truck drivers will see a net savings of $1.8 million per year in reduced fuel costs and reduced wear and tear. It will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by over 33,000 tons per year and reduce carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons and particulate matter by over 852 tons per year, which translates to public health and environmental benefits of at least 6.6 million dollars per year.
The funding for this project is coming from several key partners: The Environmental Protection Agency is contributing $200,000 to OSU for research on where reducing truck idling is most needed; The Climate Trust announced a commitment to contribute more than $2 Million; the Oregon Business Energy Tax Credit Program, administered through the Oregon Department of Energy, would provide $2.3 Million in credits and the State Low Interest Energy Loan Program, also administered by the Oregon Department of Energy would provide loans for $1.4 Million. Both Idleaire and Shurepower have agreed to contribute to a portion of the overall project costs as a matching contribution, valued at $1.6 Million.
"This project illustrates that when Oregon's agencies and universities collaborate, the entire state benefits," said Ron Adams, Dean of the College of Engineering at Oregon State University. "It's definitely a win-win situation: Trucking companies and drivers save money in fuel and maintenance costs. Truck stop owners improve their service. And Oregon gains cleaner air and less noise. Everyone wins!"
Contact:
Marian Hammond, 503-378-6169
Anna Richter Taylor, 503-378-6496
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