News & press archives

August 24, 2005

Regional Businesses and Governments Take Aim at Reducing Emissions

As part of a comprehensive strategy to improve air quality in the Knoxville Non-Attainment Area, several businesses and governments have began undertaking measures aimed at reducing emissions.

Speed Limit Reduction for Heavy-Duty Trucks
The Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) and Regional Transportation Planning Council (RTPC) along with Anderson, Blount, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, and Sevier Counties have adopted resolutions supporting the speed limit reduction of heavy-duty trucks on area interstates and other access controlled highways to 55mph. The Tennessee Department of Transportation has stated that due to safety concerns, highways where the 55mph truck speed limit is in affect would be accompanied by a speed limit reduction for all other vehicles to 65mph.

Air quality modeling shows that heavy-duty diesel trucks are a major contributor to air pollution and reducing the speed limit for heavy-duty trucks to 55 mph on interstates and other access controlled highways throughout the Knoxville Non-Attainment Area could result in a reduction of approximately 5 tons of Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) emissions per day.

Truck Stop Electrification
Funding for Truck Stop Electrification units has been provided by both Knox and Jefferson Counties to match Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) grants. When the Jefferson County project is completed, approximately 250 units will be in operation throughout the Non-Attainment Area.

Knoxville Area Transit (KAT)
KAT continues to offer free bus rides on Air Quality Action Days and operates several biodiesel buses through its Clean Fuels Program. KAT has indicated that bus ridership has increased on Air Quality Action Days.

Smart Trips
Smart Trips is working with employers in the Non-Attainment Area to help develop incentive based commuter programs for employees. Smart Trips encourages employees to use alternative transportation modes to commute to work, such as carpool, vanpool, taking KAT buses, telecommuting, walking and biking. Currently, Smart Trips employers include Alcoa, City of Alcoa, City of Knoxville, Covenant Health, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Denso, Home Federal Bank, Kimberly-Clark, Knox County, KUB, SAIC, TVA, University of Tennessee, and Y-12. These employer commuter programs work to help reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMTs) leading to reductions in emissions.

Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
TVA instituted the Green Power program that provides a portion of renewable energy with solar, wind, and methane gas and has installed scrubbers at the Bull Run and Kingston plants to reduce emissions.

ALCOA, Inc.
ALCOA, Inc in Blount County has converted all their mobile equipment to B-20 biodiesel and has retrofitted production furnaces and natural gas-fired boilers with low NOx burners to reduce emissions.

East Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition (ETCFC)
The ETCFC assists governments and businesses across East Tennessee with converting fleets to biodiesel and works with fuel suppliers and retailers to make biodiesel available. To date, five public biodiesel stations have been opened.

Intelligent Transportation System (ITS)
Cameras and message boards were recently installed across the interstate system in Knox County as part of the Knoxville Regional ITS. Located at the TDOT Regional Headquarters at Strawberry Plains Pike, the Transportation Management Center manages the system, and monitors the highways for incidents and administers the proper action to minimize impacts. Message boards offer information on incidents, construction, weather and other information that allows travelers to make a decision to avoid potential congestion. In addition, message boards report when an Air Quality Alert is posted for the next day along with actions that can be taken by travelers.

Government
Knox County has banned the open burning of construction debris and controls the burning of yard waste by permit. Stage 1 vapor controls aimed at capturing harmful vapors that escape when gasoline is transferred from tankers to gas stations have been implemented. Both the City of Knoxville and Knox County have begun purchasing alternative fueled or hybrid vehicles as replacements to their fleet.

The City of Maryville and City of Alcoa have converted several fleet vehicles to alternative fueled vehicles. Maryville recently held a “Clean the Air Day” to promote awareness of improving air quality. McGhee Tyson Airport has converted a portion of its ground fleet to biodiesel.

Sevier County received funding to retrofit school buses with filters that reduce tailpipe emissions. The City of Sevierville, City of Gatlinburg, and Great Smoky Mountain National Park operate several alternative fueled vehicles in their fleet. Sevier County has received funding to develop a bus rapid transit along State Route 66 that aims to reduce the number of vehicle trips.

Anderson County has used CMAQ funding to begin a pilot program that will convert a portion of its fleet to biodiesel. Several alternative fueled vehicles are used at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Anderson, Blount, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, Sevier, and Union Counties all participate in the Air Quality Action Day program by notifying residents and businesses when the air quality is poor and measures they can take to reduce their exposure and reduce emissions.