COLUMBUS, OH-- American Electric Power is the first utility to be recognized as a SmartWay(SM) Transport partner by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the company's efforts to reduce transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions.
Through its participation in the program, AEP has assessed the percentage of freight it ships via SmartWay carriers and measured the greenhouse gas emissions of those freight operations. The company also has committed to ship at least 50 percent of its freight, excluding fuel for its power plants, with SmartWay Transport partner carriers.
Additionally, the company will develop a three-year action plan to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of its mobile fleet.
While the shipment of power plant fuel was not part of the assessment AEP performed for the SmartWay program, more than 90 percent of the fuel AEP ships by rail is sent via SmartWay carriers. SmartWay is not currently designed to measure barge transportation emissions, which is the mode of shipment for 28 percent of AEP's fuel.
In December 2007, AEP began using SmartWay Partnership status as a component in evaluating and awarding shipping contracts. AEP managed the shipment of an estimated 86 million pounds of material over 49 million miles during 2008, excluding power plant fuel.
Through its corporate sustainability program, AEP has launched several initiatives to reduce fuel consumption and emissions from its vehicle fleet. These activities will be part of the three-year action plan that the company implements as part of the SmartWay program.
AEP operates 110 flex-fuel vehicles, 24 hybrid trucks and more than 80 hybrid cars, including three plug-in hybrid electric vehicles that the company is testing to measure performance and determine how they impact the electric system. AEP also is testing new tires that reduce truck weight and tire heat buildup. Early results have shown a 1.5 mile-per-gallon increase in fuel economy savings after the first quarter of tire usage.
In addition, AEP has purchased 800,000 gallons of biodiesel fuel since 2005 and uses an alternative fuel blend instead of regular gasoline at company-owned fueling stations. AEP also has been educating employees about fuel conservation and placed hang tags with fuel-saving tips in all company vehicles to promote smart driving.
SmartWay was initiated by the EPA in 2004 to identify products and services that reduce transportation-related emissions. The program has become a partnership between the government, businesses and consumers to protect the environment, reduce fuel consumption and improve air quality for future generations.
American Electric Power
www.aep.com
Comments, Pingbacks:
No Comments/Pingbacks for this post yet...
