Green Trucking is Cleaner Than Green Buildings
The Department of Energy’s Loan Program Office has made a sizable allocation of federal funding available to manufacturers of clean vehicles. In particular, they are helping state and local governments to purchase medium-duty vehicles. The latest and greatest e-trucks might be in the works as early as 2023. The Federal Highway Administration has also been on the ball, awarding grants and incentives to states and local governments to purchase or lease medium-duty vehicles.
One of the more interesting and intriguing technologies in the pipeline is the use of renewable diesel as a fuel source. This is a feat of engineering in its own right, but it’s also a boon to air quality. Specifically, this form of fuel is touted as being able to reduce smog-producing NOx emissions by as much as 90 percent. The best part is that it is being used by a wide variety of local and national transportation companies, including FedEx, UPS and some trucking and freight companies in the San Francisco Bay area.
Not surprisingly, a tad more than a half dozen states and municipalities have signed on to the green transportation revolution. These entities have taken the lead in educating drivers, fleet managers and other fleet personnel about the merits of the new technology. One notable is the City of Oakland, whose public works department is leading the charge. This includes using the aforementioned renewable fuel and other green-oriented initiatives such as electric vehicle charging stations and solar energy on-site.
