The Dallas-based dealer that sells
and rents industrial forklift trucks received a grant from the Railroad
Commission of Texas as part of a $1 million statewide air emissions reduction
program.
Briggs Equipment received the first
grant awarded under the new program, which is aimed at helping companies
upgrade forklifts and reduce harmful emissions of smog-forming nitrogen
oxides. It is designed to help Texas improve its air quality by giving
incentives to companies to replace older propane-fueled lift trucks. Briggs
is the largest forklift rental company in the United States.
The program is funded through the
Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) by the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP).
Under the $133,830 grant, Briggs
will buy 17 new, low-Nox forklifts fueled by clean-burning propane gas.
Dallas supplier Northwest Propane fuels the forklifts.
“This grant program will help
Texans breathe easier,” says Michael Williams, Texas Railroad commissioner.
“Briggs’ 17 new forklifts will benefit Texans in the Dallas area by lowering
nitrogen oxides emissions by almost 27 tons over their lifespan. That is
equivalent to taking more than 1,000 passenger cars off Dallas streets
and highways.”
Under the RRC program, forklift
owners receive an incentive to send their old lifts to the scrap yard and
replace them with new lifts that meet the latest federal emissions standards.
A forklift with typical operating hours could be eligible for an incentive
of about $7,500.
“We are excited to be the first
recipient of the grant for the Metroplex,” says Chris Meinecke, general
manager of Briggs Equipment. “Aside from the obvious incentive from enhancing
our rental fleet, we are gratified to participate in efforts to improve
air quality in Dallas. Briggs Equipment is one of the oldest and most reputable
dealers of material handling equipment in Dallas and we are pleased to
take a leadership role in enhancing quality-of-life issues for our customers
and fellow Dallasites who are also our friends and neighbors. I am personally
gratified to be able to directly help create a cleaner environment for
our children and future generations.”
Briggs Equipment is a leading provider
and renter of material handling equipment. Briggs was originally a division
of Briggs Weaver founded in 1896, which was acquired by Sammons Enterprises
Inc. in 1956. Briggs became a separate entity of Sammons in 1996.
PERC/DOE Funds Available for
SEP Special Projects (PERC press release)
In 2004, the propane industry received nearly $1.1 million of the $5.4
million of SEP grants available in five categories, including coalition
support, niche markets, infrastructure, school bus, and truck idling. Project
proposals must be submitted by state energy offices by early May through
the Industry Interactive Procurement System.
For more information, contact your
state energy office staff, Clean Cities coordinator or PERC’s Brian Feehan
at (202) 452-8975 or brian.feehan@propanecouncil.org.
FLEET
LAX to Receive Six New CNG Airfield
Buses (Alternative Fuels Today)
Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA)
recently announced that the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners
is funding the purchase of six high-capacity compressed natural gas (CNG)
airfield buses for use at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
According to LAWA, the bus contract,
worth $4.2 million, went to North American Bus Industries, Inc. LAWA noted
that the 60-foot-long buses, which can carry up to 140 riders, are needed
to accommodate larger modern aircraft, including the 500- to 800-passenger
Airbus 380.
Under the contract, LAWA said LAX
can order up to six more buses in 2006.
Contact: Harold Johnson, Los Angeles
World Airports, phone 310-646-5260.
Hybrid Diesels Are on the Way
(Driving Force)
A new generation of hybrid diesel
prototypes being developed by General Motors, DaimlerChrysler and Ford
will offer new choices in fuel-sipping vehicles, according to a report
on Wired.com.
Diesel hybrid technology is already
being used in large vehicles that transport heavy loads, including buses
and locomotives, according to the report. General Motors subsidiary Allison
Transmission produces hybrid diesel engines used by several municipal bus
services.
Diesel and hybrid technologies
have synergies, said Charlie Freese, executive engineering director at
GM Powertrain. Hybrid systems reduce fuel consumption by relying on the
electric motor while idling and during acceleration of stop-and-go traffic.
Diesel engines are optimized for hauling heavy loads and for steady-speed
highway driving.
Earlier this year, GM unveiled
the Opel Astra Diesel Hybrid, a sedan concept vehicle the company claims
would increase fuel economy by 25 percent over a comparable diesel car,
or approximately 59 miles per gallon. The vehicle uses a hybrid system
with two electric motors being co-developed with DaimlerChrysler, according
to GM.
DaimlerChrysler produced 100 Dodge
Ram hybrid electric vehicle diesel pickup trucks in December. DaimlerChrysler's
future diesel hybrids will be based on the hybrid technology being developed
with GM and would be available in late 2007 or early 2008, according to
spokesman Cole Quinnell.
Automakers are more likely to offer
diesel hybrids in Europe before the United States gets them because diesel
fuel is much more expensive there. And diesel vehicles have a much higher
market penetration there, according to Benjamin.
Integrating both hybrid and diesel
technology could add up to $8,000 to the price of a vehicle, which may
limit its appeal to American consumers. "Even (with gas at) $3 a gallon,
$8,000 (more) is a lot to pay."
Meeting California's tougher emissions
requirements, which have been adopted by four other states, may present
more of a challenge.
