Million Dollar EPA Grant Powers Green Locomotive in Upstate New York (NY)
(New York, N.Y.) The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency today unveiled upstate New York’s first
ultra-low emission locomotive at a railroad yard in Selkirk, N.Y.
The cleaner energy locomotive was made possible by an EPA award of
more than $1 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act to the New York State Department of Transportation. New York
State DOT and the CSX Transportation used the funding to replace
the old polluting conventional engine on the locomotive with three
smaller, cleaner engines. Locomotives are a source of pollutants in
the outdoor air, including asthma triggers such as fine particles
(soot) and ozone (smog). The new engines will reduce emissions of
nitrogen oxide and particulate matter from the locomotive by 80
percent using technologies that monitor engine idling and switch to
“sleep” mode after a period of inactivity.
“Trains produce diesel pollution that is
linked to asthma, decreased lung function, and heart
attacks,” said Judith A. Enck, EPA Regional Administrator.
“Using ARRA dollars, EPA was able to help CSX replace an old
polluting train engine with cleaner and more efficient replacement
engines, which helped preserve 12 jobs. This ARRA money has
resulted in cleaner air for residents and workers in the Capital
District.”
“Projects like this will literally help
re-power the Empire State. This new locomotive — with three
smaller engines that cycle on-and-off according to need —
will reduce emissions and save diesel fuel as goods are moved
efficiently across the state. This innovative technology is an
example of Governor Cuomo’s goal of creating a new green
economy with livable communities, new jobs and sustainable
growth,” said New York State DOT Executive Deputy
Commissioner Stanley Gee.
Locomotive engines have traditionally been
significant contributors to air pollution. EPA has set new
standards that will cut fine particle pollution from these and
other heavy duty engines by 90 percent and smog-forming nitrogen
oxides by 80 percent. EPA estimates that the health benefits of
this rule outweigh the costs by 15 to 1. Locomotive engines being
produced today must meet new emission requirements set by EPA.
However, because locomotive engines are very durable and are often
in service for many decades, they continue to emit large amounts of
nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. Projects to replace these
older polluting engines with cleaner ones are a key part of
EPA’s national strategy to cut diesel pollution. The total
project cost was $1,450,000. EPA provided about $1 million of the
funding, with the remainder being provided by CSX, the owner of the
locomotive.
When ozone levels increase, most commonly in the
summer months, they affect people’s health, especially people
with asthma. Ozone can irritate the respiratory system, causing
coughing, throat irritation, and aggravating asthma. When ozone
levels are high, more people with asthma have attacks that require
a doctor’s attention or use of medication. Ozone makes people
more sensitive to allergens such as pets, pollen, and dust mites,
which are common triggers of asthma attacks and lead to increased
hospital admissions and emergency room visits. Fine particles can
penetrate deep into the lungs and pose serious health risks,
including aggravating the symptoms of asthma and other respiratory
problems in healthy individuals.
To learn more about this announcement,
visit: http://www.epa.gov/recovery
http://www.epa.gov/cleandiesel.
Use this new asthma tool developed by the NYS
Department of Health:
http://www.health.state.ny.us/publications/4990/asthma_triggers_tracking.pdf
Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/eparegion2 and visit our Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/eparegion2.
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