NC Ports Purchase Biodiesel Tanks

Tanks will reportedly reduce operating equipment emissions and diesel consumption.

WILMINGTON, NC: A Raleigh-based company will provide the NC State Ports Authority with three biodiesel storage tanks and fuel systems for operating equipment at the Ports of Wilmington and Morehead City.

The Ports Authority has been working for several years to reduce its environmental footprint. In July 2007, the Authority began using ultra low sulfur diesel (USLD) as its primary off-road diesel fuel – three years before federal requirements. Transitioning to a blend of 20% bio-product/80% USLD in port operating equipment will reduce overall diesel consumption by an estimated 20% annually. Estimated reduction for emissions of particulate matter, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide are as much as 20%.

Two biodiesel tanks at the Port of Wilmington – one 20,000 gallon tank and one 10,000 gallon tank - and one 10,000 gallon tank at the Port of Morehead City will be installed by Jones and Frank Corporation of Raleigh. An NC Clean Air grant is funding $104,000 of the $126,000 cost, with Ports Authority revenues paying for the balance. The Ports Authority Board of Directors’ Executive Committee approved the contract earlier this month.

“North Carolina’s Ports’ implementation of greener and more environmentally-friendly operations demonstrates our environmental stewardship while bringing economic prosperity in jobs and tax revenues to the region and State,” said Ports Authority Board of Directors Chairman Carl J. Stewart, Jr.

The Ports Authority in March received a grant for diesel emission control devises to reduce air emissions by retrofitting cargo handling equipment and machinery from the NC Department of Environmental and Natural Resources. In 2007, the Authority put into service four environmentally-friendly electric container cranes, and is exploring additional grants that would replace other specialized cargo handling diesel equipment with all electric units.

“For North Carolina’s ports and the port industry as a whole, diesel emissions have become a major reduction effort,” said Thomas J. Eagar, CEO, NC State Ports Authority. “The transition to biodiesel advances the Authority’s emission reduction efforts and demonstrates our commitment to overall reduction in dependence on petroleum.”