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E-WIRE PRESS RELEASE E-WIRE PRESS RELEASE E-WIRE PRESS RELEASE |
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The Climate Trust Commits $2.2 Million to Purchase Carbon from Reduced Diesel Pollution at Truck Stops |
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PORTLAND, OREGON, Oct. 1 -/E-Wire/-- Today, at a conference with Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, and Oregon State University, The Climate Trust announced a commitment to spend up to $2.2 million to address one of the West Coast's most serious air pollution problems: the emissions from diesel trucks idling at truck stops.
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The project continues the efforts of The Climate Trust, one of the largest purchasers of carbon in the U.S., to mitigate global warming emissions from the transportation sector. The Climate Trust uses money provided through a unique Oregon law regulating greenhouse gases to buy offsets from projects that reduce the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Today, The Climate Trust announced its intent to use $2 million in a collaborative project that implements innovative idle reduction technology at truck stops in Oregon and an additional $200,000 for projects in Washington.
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Truckers are required to keep off the road for at least eight hours per day to combat potential fatigue. While taking their required rest at truck stops, they most often idle their engines to provide heating, air conditioning, and power for equipment in the cab. The idle reduction technology allows trucks to use the power grid's more efficient electricity rather than their own diesel engines to provide a comfortable space and needed in-cab services.
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"Beyond the clear climate change mitigation benefits, this major initiative has other significant environmental, economic and social benefits," said Mike Burnett, executive director of The Climate Trust. "This initiative reduces regional air and noise pollution, reduces diesel fuel use and creates jobs."
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The State of Oregon anticipates that the reduction in carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons and particulate matter to translate to a public health and environmental benefit of at least $6.6 million per year.
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"The bottom line is that this technology will help truckers from all across the country reduce their fuel costs, reduce the health risks that come with exposure to diesel emissions, and increase the quality air that all Oregonians breathe," said Governor Ted Kulongoski. "When we work together, we can meet the interests of business, the environment and public health without sacrificing one for another."
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The Climate Trust funding is the cornerstone of this collaborative Oregon project with a total budget of over $6 million. The collaboration was made possible with a grant that The Climate Trust and its partner, Oregon State University, received from the Environmental Protection Agency. The grant provides the resources to select the technologies and specific sites for this investment. The Oregon Department of Energy's Business Energy Tax Credit and the State Energy Loan Program will provide incentives and the truck stop electrification technology providers will put considerable corporate equity into this project as well. The Climate Trust's funding was provided by Calpine, Avista, the City of Klamath Falls, PPM Energy, and NW Natural.
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This ambitious project targets 600 spaces in Oregon, nearly one third of all the commercial truck stop parking space's in Oregon's I-5 corridor, and an additional 60 spaces in Washington. The Climate Trust plans to solicit projects later this year, and anticipates that construction will start in the middle of next year.
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/SOURCE:
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The Climate Trust |
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10-01-2004 |
/CONTACT:
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Erica C. Graetz,
503-238-1915
egraetz@climatetrust.org |
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