US$2.4m funding for Baltimore eco-equipment

The funding will go toward the replacement of approximately 35 dray trucks, 30 pieces of cargo-handling equipment such as forklifts and yard tractors and the repowering of four marine engines. These replacements and repowers will result in the lifetime emission reduction of approximately 37t of particulate matter, 398t of nitrogen oxides, 165t of carbon monoxide, and 724t of carbon dioxide. It will also save more than 64,000t of fuel, said the port.

“Our administration is committed to growing Maryland’s economy while protecting our environment,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “This federal funding will support growth at one of our state’s top economic engines, while significantly reducing emissions and building on the clean air progress that we have made.”

Solid progress

To date, the port has replaced 175 older dray trucks with newer model, cleaner versions. It has also replaced, retrofitted or repowered about 60 pieces of cargo-handling equipment with newer, less polluting engines.

Through initiatives like the Clean Diesel and Dray Truck Replacement programs, the port has been able to reduce the lifetime amount of air pollutants by more than 10,000 tons, it stated.

The EPA funding has been generated from a Diesel Emission Reduction Act grant.

Last year, the port hosted the first North American GreenPort Congress conference.