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EPA
SmartWay Program Awards $100,000 Grant to Arkansas
U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Mike Leavitt has announced
the award of $100,000 to the Arkansas Department of Environmental
Quality to reduce truck idling. The Partnership is a national voluntary
program developed by EPA and freight industry representatives to
reduce air pollution and greenhouse gases, and to promote cleaner,
more efficient ground freight transportation. A key SmartWay strategy
is to reduce long duration truck engine idling and to establish
national transportation idle-free corridors. This strategy promotes
a nationwide network of idle-reduction facilities along interstate
highway freight corridors and at rail switch yards. EPA and its
SmartWay Partners support pilot projects to evaluate and demonstrate
the fuel-saving benefits of advanced idle reduction technologies,
such as truck stop electrification.
EPA Administrator
Mike Leavitt explained that, Arkansas Department of Environmental
Quality will evaluate the potential emissions reductions resulting
from truck stop electrification. This study will serve as an important
tool for Arkansas to achieve air quality improvements geared toward
reaching air quality attainment goals.
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EPA Administrator Mike Leavitt presents
SmartWay Award to Arkansas Lt. Gov. Win Rockefeller and
Director Marcus Devine.
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Truck stop electrification
eliminates main engine idling while providing the truck driver the
necessary in-cab needs such as air conditioning, heat, and power
for on-board appliances. Extended idling has a significant impact
upon local air quality. On a national scale, extended truck idling
contributes, annually, 11 million tons of carbon dioxide, 180,000
tons of oxides of nitrogen, and 5,000 tons of particulate matter.
Additionally, idling long haul trucks consume over one billion gallons
of fuel, costing over $2 billion annually.
This grant will enable trucking companies to not only save money
through fuel savings, but also to protect the environment. Truck
stop electrification could reduce emissions in Arkansas by as much
as 35 tons of nitrogen oxide, 1 ton of particulate matter, and 2,500
tons of carbon dioxide per year, thereby protecting the health of
Arkansas's citizens as well as the environment.
More information about EPA's SmartWay Transportation Partnership
is available at www.epa.gov/smartway.
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