GOV. MARKELL AND THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION ANNOUNCE OPENING OF DELAWARE'S FIRST ELECTRIFIED PARKING AREA FOR TRUCKS

SMYRNA, Del., April 19 -- Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control issued the following news release:

Today, Governor Jack Markell, DNREC Secretary Collin O'Mara, Acting DelDOT Secretary Cleon Cauley and the Delaware Congressional Delegation of Senator Tom Carper, Senator Chris Coons and Representative John Carney announced the grand opening of Delaware's first electrified parking area for trucks. The site includes 24 electrified parking spaces, which will eliminate the need for drivers to idle their diesel engines by allowing truckers to shut down their engines completely and attach to external consoles mounted on pedestals powered by grid-supplied electricity, which can meet all heating and cooling needs and provide access to the internet.

"Electrified parking areas make environmental and economic sense," said Governor Jack Markell. "Truckers won't have to idle their engines, reducing harmful diesel emissions and saving money on fuel consumption, which is a win for Delaware's environment and for our truckers who keep commerce moving."

The electrified parking area, a partnership project among the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, the Delaware Department of Transportation and the U.

S. Environmental Protection Agency, was funded by a 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grant.

"Diesel emissions from idling trucks are a health hazard to Delawareans - especially those living near rest stops, like Smyrna - and contribute to respiratory problems, heart disease, cancer, and other serious health problems," said Senator Carper. "The good news is that we can reduce these emissions and save truckers money at the same time. The clean diesel program funded through the Recovery Act, provides critical resources to electrify rest stops and provide a cleaner alternative to idling diesel engines. I'm proud of the collaboration that created several construction jobs in the short-term while cleaning up Delaware's air for years to come."

"Moving towards cleaner, domestic sources of energy is important for our economy, environment, and national security," said Senator Coons. "This innovative project demonstrates that it is possible to transition from burning diesel fuel to using electricity to meet the energy needs of trucks at rest. The project will provide a more cost-effective alternative for heating and cooling, improve air quality by reducing emissions, and reduce demand for foreign oil - a true win-win-win."

"The electrified parking area is an excellent example of state and federal governments working together to address a very serious concern for Delawareans," said Congressman Carney. "Air quality impacts the health and safety of people all across the state, and innovative solutions like this project will not only improve public health, but reduce costs for businesses. I'm committed to working at the federal level and with representatives from state and local government to find safe, effective ways of improving air quality and reducing health risks."

Federal safety regulations require that drivers of heavy duty diesel trucks rest 10 hours for every 11 hours that they drive. Most truckers idle at truck stops, so that they can continue to use their heaters, air conditioners and other accessories.

Idling diesel trucks burn about 1 gallon of fuel an hour, releasing significant amounts of air pollutants that can cause lung damage and chronic respiratory problems, heart disease, cancer and other serious health problems.

"Moving from diesel fuel to electricity as the primary energy source for heating and cooling trucks produces significant health and environmental benefits, as well as immediate cost-savings," said Secretary O'Mara. "If just half of the electrified parking spaces are used for ten hours per day, truckers will save 44,000 gallons of diesel fuel annually, eliminate 500 tons of carbon dioxide emission and significantly reduce nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbon emissions that cause serious respiratory conditions and particulate matter that contributes to heart disease and cancer."

"I am proud that this facility will not only work toward improving air quality, which is important to DelDOT, but also enhances safety on our roadways, the primary mission of our agency," said Acting Secretary Cauley.

"While we take stock during Earth Week of the great progress that has been made, we must also realize there are still environmental and public health challenges facing us. Today, we are taking another step in the right direction to improve Delaware's air quality by reducing emissions from idling diesel engines," said mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin.

"The American Lung Association has invested many years in advocating for idle-free truck stops - diesel exhaust really hurts our health," said Deborah Brown, President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Lung Association of the Mid-Atlantic. "This electrified parking area is an exciting step forward for Delaware. Lung health is largely determined by what we breathe. Soot is the most dangerous component of diesel exhaust, and eliminating the need for truckers to idle their diesel engines will translate to healthier air and healthier Delawareans."

Idling also increases truck fuel and maintenance costs and produces substantial levels of noise and vibrations that can prevent truckers from getting a restful night's sleep.

"On behalf of the Delaware Motor Transport Association, I want to thank Governor Markell, the state of Delaware and the federal government for providing electrified parking spaces here at the Smyrna Rest Area," said Denny Piper, 3rd Vice Chairman. "The trucking industry supports electrified parking spaces not only for the environmental benefits and cost savings for our drivers, but for the safety aspects - less noise and vibrations help our drivers to rest and will help keep our roads safe."

The parking area will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week using an automated system that allows truckers to use a Smyrna Rest Area credit card to gain access to the service. For $20 they can purchase a reusable window adapter, which includes the credit card with 8 hours of usage time. Additional hours can be purchased for $2.50/hour, as compared to about $4.00 currently, for a gallon of diesel fuel, the amount a diesel truck would typically burn while idling for one hour.

More information about Delaware's air quality and clean diesel program can be found on DNREC's Division of Air webpage, http://www.awm.delaware.gov/Info/Pages/MobileSourcesLinks.aspx. For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at htsyndication@hindustantimes.com

Melanie Rapp, 302/739-9902