Clean Diesel Success Stories

Tidewater Barge Lines and Shaver Transportation: Leading the way towards a greener freight corridor

The Columbia River has served as a transportation corridor for over 10,000 years. Initially movement of freight was human powered, but today millions of tons of freight are moved every year by barge on the Columbia and Snake rivers contributing to making this the third largest grain export gateway in the world. The diesel engines that make this economically possible are powerful, durable and reliable but also emit significant amounts of pollution with numerous impacts on public health and the environment.

Two regional shipping companies, Shaver Transportation and Tidewater Barge Lines are significant participants in the effort to reduce emissions along the Columbia and in the scenic Columbia River Gorge. In the past few years they've collectively repowered nine boats, each achieving up to a 70 percent reduction in haze-forming nitrogen oxides and particulate matter.

These efforts started in 2008 when then Governor Ted Kulongoski of Oregon and Washington's Governor Christine Gregoire convened a bi-state solutions group to focus on lowering emission from freight movement along the Columbia River. This effort continues today under the sponsorship of the Port of Portland and Port of Vancouver.

Bernert Barge Lines Kathryn B: A flagship for a sustainable shipping corridor

Bernert Barge Lines is a family owned business based in Portland that has been operating on the Columbia River for more than 100 years. In 2009, Oregon DEQ earned a federal grant to repower the engines on Bernert's Kathryn B, a towboat responsible for transporting barges loaded with freight up and down the third largest grain export route in the world.

The new engines on the Kathryn B will remove 2.4 tons of particulate matter and 24.3 tons of nitrogen oxides, a precursor to smog and haze, from the air each year. Haze is an issue of concern since towboats travel extensively through the Columbia Gorge, the country's first national scenic area.

The bottom line and making ends meet in a tough economy is also an issue of concern. The new engines will save 32,625 gallons of fuel each year and require less time and money to maintain and operate.

With the fuel savings, the upgraded engines also eliminate 329 metric tons of carbon dioxide and 1,210 metric tons equivalent of black carbon, which is considered the second largest human contributor to climate change each year.

With the engine replacement project complete the Kathryn B has become a flagship for the effective use of public funds to promote public health, strengthen Oregon's economy and lower fuel consumption.

Anchorage Launch Services: Thirty years of innovation

Anchorage Launch Services is a woman-owned, small business founded almost 30 years ago and has carved a market by defying conventional wisdom. Traditionally, tug boats, expensive to operate and in high demand, would transport river pilots and customs officials to and from arriving ships. Anchorage now provides transport services, carrying crews and supplies in lighter, faster boats that use less fuel.

In 2009, Oregon DEQ earned a federal grant to replace the old diesel engines in four launch boats with new engines that meet EPA's highest standard for emissions from diesel engines.

Now, with four new "repowered" launch boats, Anchorage is poised to reap the benefits of lower operational costs and significant fuel savings while eliminating 2.2 tons of particulate matter and 24.9 tons of nitrogen oxides, a precursor to smog and haze, from the air each year. In addition, fuel savings of 10,492 gallons per year from the upgraded engines will annually eliminate 109 metric tons of carbon dioxide and 126 metric tons equivalent of black carbon, which is considered the second largest human contributor to climate change.

Port of Portland's channel dredger "repowered"

Oregon DEQ secured a competitive award from EPA in 2010 to replace the engines on the Port of Portland's dredge, the Oregon originally built as a Mississippi River towboat. Two 1400 HP diesel engines have been operating on the vessel since 1949 and served as the propulsion power when the vessel was used as a towboat. Today, these engines are used as power generators to provide onboard electricity as well as power for the electrical engine that runs the auger – the piece of machinery that does the actual dredging.

After the two engines are replaced, the Port will also replace the 5000 HP engine that powers the suction pumps that moved almost 3 million cubic yards of material from the main shipping channel last year.

Upgrading the engines to engines that meet the "Tier 3" emission standard – EPA's highest standard for diesel emissions- will reduce a variety of air pollutants by over 50 percent, including diesel particulate, a known health risk, as well as black carbon.

Advances in engine design and manufacture also mean that the Port will see, from these first two new engines alone, a savings in fuel consumption of 104,000 gallons per year. These fuel savings not only lower the bottom line they cut emissions: Three quarters of a ton of diesel particulate and 2,612 metric tons of carbon dioxide and black carbon equivalent per year.

 
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, burn less fuel

Diesel engines are unparalleled for their efficiency, reliability, power and durability. However, diesel engines emit large amounts of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter and toxic air pollutants.

Most locomotives idle continuously, even when not in use. Nationally, this amounts to an enormous amount of fuel and pollution each year: over 1.1 billion gallons of fuel and 11 million metric tons of carbon dioxide—a major global warming contributor. DEQ collaborated with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, installing four anti idling devices on switch locomotives, saving approximately 15,000 gallons of fuel/year/locomotive, with a significant reduction in emissions.

Biodiesel, propane, compressed natural gas, ultra-low sulfur diesel.

Throughout Oregon, many fleets are using cleaner fuels such as biodiesel, propane and compressed natural gas. The Oregon Clean Diesel Initiative works with fleets to help them understand the benefits and considerations of using cleaner fuels.

• The Port of Portland was the first fleet in Oregon to use Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel (ULSD) in nonroad cargo handling engines at Terminal 6. The Port uses compressed natural gas to power its parking lot shuttle buses.
• Catlin Gabel School was the first fleet to use ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel in school buses.
• Portland Public Schools have used propane to fuel many of its school buses since the 1980s.

Install advanced exhaust controls (retrofit), replace engines (repower) and upgrade vehicles and equipment

• Diesel School Buses
  Most school buses are diesel-powered, and children riding school buses over a number of years are at increased risk of cancer, according to the Children's School Bus Exposure Study sponsored by the California Air Resources Board. DEQ secured financing to retrofit hundreds of school buses throughout the state making it considerably healthier for children to ride to and from school. The Environmental Quality Commission adopted a target to install exhaust controls on all appropriate 1994-2006 school buses in the state by the year 2013.
• Garbage Truck Exhaust Controls
  Rogue Disposal and Recycling completed nine garbage truck retrofits and are working on their entire fleet.
• Construction Company Exhaust Controls
  Exhaust controls have been installed on construction equipment used in the Oregon Department of Transportation bridge replacement project.
• Engine replacement. DEQ worked with several marine companies to replace large diesel engines, reducing pollution by 50-80%, saving up to 150,000 gallons of fuel/year/boat.