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BNSF CHAIRMAN CALLS FOR CONTINUED GREEN GROWTH
AT FASTER FREIGHT CLEANER AIR CONFERENCE
BNSF Railway Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer Matthew K. Rose spoke recently at the Faster Freight Cleaner Air conference, where he highlighted the railroad's increased investment in — and commitment to research and development of — cutting-edge technology that will reduce emissions and improve air quality at its facilities.
Mr. Rose cited BNSF's proposed Southern California International Gateway (SCIG), an intermodal rail yard four miles from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, as an example of the company's leadership in the industry.
"Our commitment to growing green is illustrated by our vision to build and operate the cleanest, greenest and most environmentally friendly intermodal facility in North America," said Rose. "The Southern California International Gateway will set a new standard for environmental stewardship."
SCIG is an integral component of meeting the looming capacity shortfall at the ports, where cargo could double by 2020 and triple by 2030. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's Los Angeles Economy and Jobs Committee urged the Port of Los Angeles to approve SCIG to meet the mayor's green growth initiative. Until recently, the ports have focused on the environmental initiatives and are now considering proposals to improve goods movement and accommodate cargo. The Port of Los Angeles is currently preparing SCIG's environmental impact report.
"Our ability to grow green in Southern California requires the SCIG environmental process to move forward now," Mr. Rose said. "BNSF is taking an industry-leading position with SCIG to respond to local, regional and state concerns to balance growth with environmental sensitivity. We need your help."
"Our ability to grow green in Southern California requires the SCIG environmental process to move forward now."
SCIG will set new standards for environmental stewardship and promote economic progress for the region. Once completed, 1.2 to 1.5 million annual lifts will be added to current rail capacity. Additional trains will use the underutilized Alameda Corridor, eliminating millions of truck miles annually from the 710 Freeway.
SCIG will employ low-emission LNG or equivalent hostlers to move cargo around the yard, rail-mounted wide-span electric cranes to transfer containers from trucks directly to trains, directional lighting on the cranes to minimize light from the facility, ultra-low emissions locomotives to build trains, Smart Start technology will automatically shut down idling switch and road engines and a clean truck fleet will exceed the port's Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP) standards.
Moreover, if SCIG is approved, BNSF has committed to monitoring trucks to ensure drivers stay out of residential neighborhoods, building a sound wall and planting an urban forest along the yard's eastern perimeter and funding a jobs training program.
BNSF has demonstrated a long-term commitment to incorporating the most advanced technology at its facilities. Since 2000, BNSF has achieved a 30 percent reduction system-wide in nitrogen oxide emissions and by the end of 2008, 99 percent of BNSF's intrastate locomotives will be equipped with idle-reduction technology. The company has also entered into voluntary and enforceable agreements with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to further reduce emissions.
BNSF's rail facility commitments show that green growth plans can work if both sides are willing to take a long view down the tracks.
"We cannot just grow, we need to grow green," Mr. Rose said.
During the three-day conference, BNSF demonstrated its new technology, taking bus loads of people from the conference to the Hobart Intermodal Yard. On display were examples of GenSet switch locomotives, LNG hostlers, LNG switch engines and Tier 2 locomotives, the cleanest locomotive on the market.
Prior to the conference, BNSF hosted receptions aboard its vintage rail cars for the Boys & Girls Club of the Los Angeles Harbor and the Gang Alternatives Program. View the photos of the Boys & Girls Club event in our photo gallery below.
SEE PHOTOS FROM OUR
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB EVENT
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