Kilmer Congratulates Port of Tacoma for Winning a Grant to Boost Efficiency and Reduce Diesel Emissions
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Representative Derek Kilmer congratulated the Port of Tacoma for securing a grant to reduce diesel emissions at their facilities. The port was one of six sites to receive investments from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as part of the opening for the agency’s ‘Advancing Sustainable Ports’ summit.
The award will help Tacoma Rail equip a locomotive with a state-of-the-art engine that will lower the time it spends idling and reduce emissions in the process. According to news reports, in 2013 the Port of Tacoma was the Northwest’s largest container port, surpassing the Port of Seattle. In total, 1.892 million containers moved through the port last year.
“The Port of Tacoma is revolutionizing how we ship goods around the world,” said Kilmer. “Today, it is proving that we can conduct trade and power our economy in a way that sustains resources for the future. I was proud to support this grant for one of the West Coast’s most important gateways to the Pacific. I know the port will continue to play a big role in helping to create jobs and opportunities for our region.”
The Port of Tacoma will receive a $601,949 grant from the EPA for the rail project. The grant is part of the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) which is designed to retrofit, replace, or repower diesel engines to eliminate harmful pollution. Rep. Kilmer recently sent a letter to the agency in support of the port’s proposal for reducing emissions.
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