“The GPA has voluntarily undertaken many projects to decrease diesel fuel consumption, resulting in improved air quality,” said GPA Executive Director Curtis Foltz. “Some of those projects include our innovative eRTGs or electric rubber tired gantry cranes, the repower of diesel RTGs with variable alternators, and the retrofit of 11 switch locomotives by GPA’s partner, Rail Link.”
In December 2012, the Georgia Ports Authority unveiled its first four electrified rubber-tired gantry cranes. The GPA board recently approved spending $8 million for Phase II of the eRTG project, which will convert 10 additional diesel RTGs to electric power, and install conductor rails at 12 more container blocks. GPA’s transition to an eRTG fleet should be complete by 2024.
Foltz said greater attention paid to environmental stewardship pays off in financial savings and improved efficiency.
“Cutting diesel consumption means not only cleaner air, but also lower energy costs,” he said. “Better cross-terminal truck transit means less idling and quicker turn times, but also reduced emissions.”
The SEDC award is presented annually for projects that best exemplify extraordinary leadership in promoting the goal of the collaborative – which is to improve air quality and public health by reducing emissions from existing diesel engines.
In addition to the SEDC announcement, the EPA awarded Georgia Ports with a $600,000 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act grant to be used for a dray truck financing program.
“We are pleased to see peer recognition of superior corporate stewardship by organizations that are improving air quality in the region,” said Stan Meiburg, Acting Regional Administrator for EPA’s Southeast region. “Your strategies have involved operations throughout the port, and show both a strong commitment by the Georgia Ports Authority to the environment and your desire as a leading U.S. port to use best practices that increase efficiency and save time and money.