Print
Comment
Rate
San Simon business site to help decrease truck emissions
By Carol Broeder/Arizona Range News
The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) announced last week that San Simon would be one of two sites in Cochise County for an Anti-Idling Electrification Project aimed at cutting down on engine emissions along southern Arizona highways.
Thirty units have been approved at Sun-Mart (4-K) Truck Stop located at Exit 378 between San Simon and the New Mexico state line.
Gas City, off State Route 90 near Benson, will have a minimum of 60 electric hook-ups for long-haul diesel trucks that often park at the station overnight or at least for several hours at a time.
A total $1.7 million in contracts has been awarded to Shorepower Technologies to install up to 100 parking spaces, each of which will include cooling and heating units for the long-haul rigs.
The money comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
"This is a major surge for greener truck stops that will pick up speed throughout the state," said ADEQ Director Benjamin H. Grumbles.
"With technology and innovation, we can say no to wasteful idling and yes to clean air and energy conservation."
The project, designed to encourage truck drivers to turn their engines off for extended periods while they sleep or relax, is expected to make a significant contribution toward reducing emissions in Arizona's border counties.
Sun-Mart Truck Stop and Gas City were two of the locations targeted in the project because Cochise, Santa Cruz, and Yuma counties have areas that are in "non-attainment" for exceeding the health standards for particulate matter.
U.S. Department of Transportation regulations require long-haul truck drivers to rest for at least 10 hours for every 14 hours of driving.
To rest, drivers typically park in a truck stop or rest area, leave the engine running, and climb back into their sleeping area to rest for several hours, said Mark Shaffer, ADEQ's Director of Communications.
They idle their engines mostly for heating or air conditioning and to operate on-board electrical appliances, such as televisions, refrigerators, and laptops, he explained.
The electrical hookups at Sun Mart (4-K) Truck Stop and Gas City are like those offered by mobile homes and RV parks. Drivers will be able to hook up to the electrical unit, and get air conditioning, heating, and service for appliances, Shaffer said.
The cost of the electricity is projected to be less than half of what it would cost to power the systems by leaving the diesel engines running.
Companies allowing the electrical units to be installed will not be held responsible for the added electricity costs.
Shaffer said truck drivers would be able to pay for the power supply at on-site kiosks, which will accept credit cards.
"The cost savings are expected to be enticing to truck drivers who normally rest or sleep at rest stops while their trucks idle and emit air pollution for many hours at a time," he said.
Studies have shown that a typical long-haul tractor-trailer idles about 1,830 hours per year.
According to studies provided by the U.S. Department of Energy, this practice annually consumes 838 million gallons of diesel fuel and emits 11 million tons of carbon dioxide, 180,000 tons of nitrogen oxide and 5,000 tons of particulate matter.
Groundbreaking on the project is set for some time in mid-September, with the electrical units slated to be operational by mid-October.
(Reporter Thelma Grimes contributed to this article.)
Thirty units have been approved at Sun-Mart (4-K) Truck Stop located at Exit 378 between San Simon and the New Mexico state line.
Gas City, off State Route 90 near Benson, will have a minimum of 60 electric hook-ups for long-haul diesel trucks that often park at the station overnight or at least for several hours at a time.
A total $1.7 million in contracts has been awarded to Shorepower Technologies to install up to 100 parking spaces, each of which will include cooling and heating units for the long-haul rigs.
The money comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
"This is a major surge for greener truck stops that will pick up speed throughout the state," said ADEQ Director Benjamin H. Grumbles.
"With technology and innovation, we can say no to wasteful idling and yes to clean air and energy conservation."
The project, designed to encourage truck drivers to turn their engines off for extended periods while they sleep or relax, is expected to make a significant contribution toward reducing emissions in Arizona's border counties.
Sun-Mart Truck Stop and Gas City were two of the locations targeted in the project because Cochise, Santa Cruz, and Yuma counties have areas that are in "non-attainment" for exceeding the health standards for particulate matter.
U.S. Department of Transportation regulations require long-haul truck drivers to rest for at least 10 hours for every 14 hours of driving.
To rest, drivers typically park in a truck stop or rest area, leave the engine running, and climb back into their sleeping area to rest for several hours, said Mark Shaffer, ADEQ's Director of Communications.
They idle their engines mostly for heating or air conditioning and to operate on-board electrical appliances, such as televisions, refrigerators, and laptops, he explained.
The electrical hookups at Sun Mart (4-K) Truck Stop and Gas City are like those offered by mobile homes and RV parks. Drivers will be able to hook up to the electrical unit, and get air conditioning, heating, and service for appliances, Shaffer said.
The cost of the electricity is projected to be less than half of what it would cost to power the systems by leaving the diesel engines running.
Companies allowing the electrical units to be installed will not be held responsible for the added electricity costs.
Shaffer said truck drivers would be able to pay for the power supply at on-site kiosks, which will accept credit cards.
"The cost savings are expected to be enticing to truck drivers who normally rest or sleep at rest stops while their trucks idle and emit air pollution for many hours at a time," he said.
Studies have shown that a typical long-haul tractor-trailer idles about 1,830 hours per year.
According to studies provided by the U.S. Department of Energy, this practice annually consumes 838 million gallons of diesel fuel and emits 11 million tons of carbon dioxide, 180,000 tons of nitrogen oxide and 5,000 tons of particulate matter.
Groundbreaking on the project is set for some time in mid-September, with the electrical units slated to be operational by mid-October.
(Reporter Thelma Grimes contributed to this article.)
 |
 |
|
| Community Briefing | Education continues to pay |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of willcoxrangenews.com.
don wrote on Sep 5, 2010 4:53 PM: