FRESNO, CA— As the California High Speed Rail Authority just broke ground on the nation's first high-speed rail system, additional attention is being focused on the fact that some of the world's most advanced and cleanest diesel equipment will be used to construct the historic project. "While there is a debate on the merits of the high speed rail project in general, one thing that is not in debate is the readiness of the most advanced construction machines and equipment to build the project," says Allen Schaeffer, the executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum.
"It is fitting that a project of this size will be built with the latest generation of advanced clean diesel technology. This massive project is being done with the most advanced and sustainable green construction practices, which is why the latest clean diesel engines and equipment that meet the nation's most stringent environmental standards - known as 'Tier 4' - are the technology of choice. No other fuel or technology can match the combination of power, efficiency, performance and now near-zero emissions of these machines.
"The standards, established by both the California Air Resources Board and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, have been in effect since 2014 and will deliver significant air quality benefits to the communities surrounding the project and result in a 90% reduction in particulate matter and oxides of nitrogen, an ozone forming compound," Schaeffer says.
The new generation Tier 4 clean diesel technology achieves a substantial reduction in emissions of particulate matter and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) from engines deployed on off-road equipment including construction equipment manufactured beginning in 2014. According to U.S. EPA estimates, by 2030 the national benefits of Tier 4 engines will include:
The 14-year, $31 billion high speed rail project will ultimately span over 800 miles and link Los Angeles and San Francisco, contribute to economic development and a cleaner environment, create jobs and preserve agricultural and protected lands. Construction on parts of the system are already underway along a 29 mile route from Madera to Fresno, with clean diesel powered equipment conducting demolition, drilling and viaduct work as well as water, sewer and storm drain relocation and general excavation. Diesel engines power more than two-thirds of all construction equipment, and power all of the heavy cranes, crawlers and excavators that will be the workhorses used to build the high speed rail network.
Continue Reading for Free
Register and gain access to:
- Breaking commercial real estate news and analysis, on-site and via our newsletters and custom alerts
- Educational webcasts, white papers, and ebooks from industry thought leaders
- Critical coverage of the property casualty insurance and financial advisory markets on our other ALM sites, PropertyCasualty360 and ThinkAdvisor
Already have an account? Sign In Now
© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
Natalie Dolce
Natalie Dolce, editor-in-chief of GlobeSt.com and GlobeSt. Real Estate Forum, is responsible for working with editorial staff, freelancers and senior management to help plan the overarching vision that encompasses GlobeSt.com, including short-term and long-term goals for the website, how content integrates through the company’s other product lines and the overall quality of content. Previously she served as national executive editor and editor of the West Coast region for GlobeSt.com and Real Estate Forum, and was responsible for coverage of news and information pertaining to that vital real estate region. Prior to moving out to the Southern California office, she was Northeast bureau chief, covering New York City for GlobeSt.com. Her background includes a stint at InStyle Magazine, and as managing editor with New York Press, an alternative weekly New York City paper. In her career, she has also covered a variety of beats for M magazine, Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel, FashionLedge.com, and Co-Ed magazine. Dolce has also freelanced for a number of publications, including MSNBC.com and Museums New York magazine.
