The South Intermodal Yard (SIM) in the Port of Tacoma has received six electric cargo trucks, as part of its electric truck project, which represents a US$2.2 million investment for electric equipment purchase and infrastructure installation.
Each electric yard truck will be used to move containers on chassis to and from container stacks and rail cars, according to a statement.
NWSA managing member co-chair and Port of Tacoma commission president Don Meyer stated that the arrival of the first all-electric yard handling equipment to Tacoma is a part of NWSA’s commitment to reduce maritime emissions through the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy, while also increasing operational efficiency.
This project is supported by funding from Tacoma Power, a public utility providing electrical power to Tacoma, the logistics company Rail Management Services (RMS) and Diesel Reduction Act (DERA) grant funds.
In 2020, the NWSA was awarded US$732,000 in Diesel Reduction Act (DERA) grant funding, which supported the purchase of six electric yard trucks by RMS. The project has been further supported by Tacoma Power’s cargo and material handling equipment and hostler trucks programme with US$132,000 for infrastructure developments.
The SIM Electric Yard Truck project is expected to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) and diesel particulate matter in the NWSA gateway by approximately 259 tons per year and 1.41 tons per year, respectively.
Electricity is not only cleaner and more sustainable than traditional diesel equipment but it is also less expensive to operate and requires less maintenance due to fewer moving parts.
“Transportation is the top polluter in our region, and we can help combat that by transitioning the fueling of vehicles to our clean, renewable hydroelectric energy,” commented Clay Norris, power manager for Tacoma Power.
