DEP Announces State's First Electrified Truck
Stop
Paulsboro Project Reduces Harmful Diesel Emissions
(04/122) PAULSBORO -- Highlighting the
importance of reducing diesel idling, Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell today
announced a diesel emission reduction project, the first
of its kind in New Jersey. Under this DEP-led project, the
Travel Centers of America truck stop in Paulsboro, Gloucester
County has installed 98 truck electrification bays, providing
truck drivers a cost-effective means to reduce harmful emissions
from diesel idling.
"The introduction of electrification technology at
the Paulsboro truck stop marks another step toward the protection
of public health in New Jersey," said Commissioner
Campbell. "Particulate pollution causes more premature
deaths than homicides or traffic fatalities among residents
of our state. By offering truck drivers an affordable alternative
to diesel idling, we can reduce the amount of harmful soot
in the air that we breathe."
The IdleAire electrification system enables truck drivers
to enjoy amenities that are otherwise available only by
continuously operating a vehicle's engine and releasing
harmful diesel fumes. Using a console that can be mounted
on the cab's passenger window, the system delivers heating,
ventilation, and air conditioning to the truck cab and sleeper
compartment. The console also provides power to the trailer
refrigeration unit, appliances inside the cab and hookups
for cable television, telephone, and internet service.
Coastal Eagle Point Oil Company agreed to provide $1 million
toward the installation of the truck stop electrification
technology as part of a 2003 settlement with DEP and the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
"Truck idling consumes about one billion gallons of
fuel annually, costing almost $2 billion and emitting more
than 11 million tons of pollution, which poses serious threats
to air quality and human health," said Jane M. Kenny,
EPA Regional Administrator. "This innovative electrification
project represents a very positive outcome to an enforcement
action and will protect the air we breathe. EPA and the
New Jersey DEP will continue to oversee these types of projects
and will encourage their implementation throughout the State."
Reducing idling saves money by conserving fuel and reducing
the frequency of maintenance and replacement of trucks.
Idling vehicles unnecessarily consume fuel and increase
long-term engine maintenance costs. Idling is also an occupational
hazard as it exposes drivers to dangerous levels of particulate
matter and other toxins.
The Paulsboro travel center electrification project is
part of DEP's coordinated program to decrease diesel idling
through education, enforcement and outreach. DEP aims to
eliminate engine idling to help fulfill Governor McGreevey's
pledge to reduce harmful soot by 20 percent during the next
decade.
DEP is urging school districts and school bus operators
to voluntarily eliminate school bus idling while waiting
to load and unload students. In addition, DEP recently conducted
a compliance and enforcement sweep that targeted excessive
idling of diesel-powered vehicles at locations including
bus staging areas, convenience stores, truck yards and warehouse
distribution centers. DEP will identify truck stops located
throughout the state and develop strategies to reduce idling
at each site.
As part of the Paulsboro truck stop electrification project,
the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management
and MetaComet Systems developed a web-based software application
that will enable the DEP to quantify the potential environmental,
energy, economic and operator benefits of the electrification
of the Paulsboro truck stop.
Diesel exhaust ranks among the air pollutants that pose
the greatest risk to public health. Diesel emissions are
a likely carcinogen, and include fine particles, commonly
called soot. Research has shown that fine particles are
harmful because they bypass the body's natural defense mechanisms
and penetrate deep into the lungs. These pollutants are
known to cause asthma, bronchitis, lung cancer, heart disease
and premature death.
"IdleAire is the only comprehensive electrification
technology that provides immediate value to all our customers,
while conserving fuel, improving drivers' lifestyles and
reducing emissions," said Peter Greene, Travel Centers
of America's Senior Vice-President of Development and Franchising.
"We are thrilled that the New Jersey Department of
Environmental Protection contributed toward the installation
of this technology at our Paulsboro travel center. This
partnership is a great example of government and private
enterprise working together to help our environment. We
hope that other states and the federal government look at
this partnership as an model for future projects."
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