News

GE-Transportation Endorses New Tier 3 & 4 Emission Regulations For Diesel Locomotive and Marine Engines

March 19, 2008 by Jeff Shepard

GE – Transportation announced that it welcoms the new Tier 3 and 4 emission regulations issued by the United States’ Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The new rules govern the emissions of particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) generated by new diesel engines in rail and marine applications starting in 2012.

Tier 3 emission standards will take effect in 2012 followed by Tier 4 in 2015. Tier 4 locomotive emission standards will start two years earlier than outlined in previous proposals and thereby lead to significant environmental benefits sooner.

"GE - Transportation welcomes the new and well-conceived Tier 3 and 4 emissions standards," said John M. Dineen, President and CEO of GE – Transportation, a manufacturer of diesel locomotives and marine engines. "The EPA set ambitious targets to lower emissions of particulate matter and nitrogen oxides. We value the EPA’s comprehensive and balanced approach which represents wins for all stakeholders involved. The EPA’s new and tough emission standards will drive technological innovation in our industry to significantly lower emissions."

GE’s transportation business joined an inclusive stakeholder group consisting of government and industry, as well as environmental and community organizations to assist in the development of the new Tier 3 and 4 emission standards.

GE – Transportation states that it expects that the EPA’s new emission standards will spawn innovation and benefit its railroad customers and communities worldwide – as much as past regulatory efforts have. In response to the EPA’s Tier 0 through Tier 2 regulations, GE’s transportation business invested approximately $400 million to develop the Evolution® Series locomotive over an eight-year period. Entering the market in 2005, the Evolution Series locomotive is described as the most technologically advanced, fuel-efficient and eco-friendly diesel-electric locomotive in history. It is said to deliver up to 5% higher fuel efficiency and a 40% reduction in emissions over its predecessor. It is claimed that, if every freight locomotive in North America were as clean as GE’s Evolution, the annual reduction of emissions would compare to removing 48 million cars from the road each year.