Reducing Pollution From Off-Road Engines

Nearly 40% of the diesel exhaust in the Puget Sound region comes from off-road engines, which includes construction, aircraft support, and cargo-handling equipment* used at seaports and rail yards.We help companies reduce diesel emissions from off-road engines through:

• Cleaner fuels
• Engine replacements
• Retrofit technologies (exhaust and idle-reduction)

*Note: For emissions inventory purposes, our agency includes cargo-handling equipment in the maritime sector and not in the off-road sector.

Projects

Cargo-Handling Equipment Idle-Reduction Retrofits

• Description: Retrofit cargo-handling equipment with idle-reduction technology at the ports of Tacoma and Seattle
• Clean Air Strategies: Preheaters that warm up the engine and engine fluids instead of running the equipment's main engines
• Air Pollution Reductions: To be determined based on program participation
• Project Period: In progress
• Funding:
  • Up to $515,000 - Washington Department of Ecology
  • Up to $100,000 - Port of Seattle
• Project Manager: Beth Carper

Cargo-Handling Retrofits & Replacements

• Description: Retrofitted 100 and replaced 10 cargo-handling equipment at the ports of Tacoma and Seattle
• Clean Air Strategies: Diesel oxidation catalysts, diesel particulate filters, and new vehicles
• Air Pollution Reductions: 
  • PM_2.5: 7 tons per year
  • NO_x: 28 tons per year 
• Project Period: January 2009 through May 2012
• Funding:
  • $850,000 - Environmental Protection Agency
  • $100,000 - Port of Seattle
  • $100,000 - Port of Tacoma
  • $198,500 - PS Clean Air Agency
• Project Manager: Beth Carper