Port of Virginia Blog

Environmental Benefits of Green Goat, 64 Express Recognized

Norfolk – The Green Goat and the 64 Express barge service recently received recognition in The Good Haul, Innovations That Improve Freight Transportation and Protect the Environment, an annual report published by the Environmental Defense Fund.

"Several players within the freight movement sector have taken steps to reduce greenhouse gases and other pollutants," said the report's authors Carrie Denning and Camille Kustin in its introduction. "This report aims to showcase these leaders, highlighting innovative programs that are environmentally, economically and socially effective but not yet universally adopted."

The Green Goat is a battery-dominant hybrid diesel locomotive that was purchased by the VPA in October 2008 to replace a 1970s-vintage diesel engine. The Green Goat cuts emissions of particulate matter pollutants by as much as 90 percent and is responsible for saving $58,000 in annual fuel costs. The ultra-low emission locomotive is used in the rail operation at Norfolk International Terminals. (Two more low-emission locomotives are on order.)

The 64 Express, a barge service started in 2008 by the James River Barge Line, connects the marine terminals in Hampton Roads with the Port of Richmond. The tugs in the service burn ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel and are outfitted with modern, low-emission diesel engines. Additionally, the barge service helps to reduce highway congestion by taking trucks off the road, mainly I-64.

The report focused on three primary freight modes: trucking, rail and ships and outlined case studies and best practices in each category. Each case was evaluated on environmental benefits, co-benefits and economic benefits.

"This report provides examples of real-world freight transportation innovations that can help the economy, create and support good jobs and reduce environmental impacts," the introduction said in its closing.

VPA Helps Sponsor Youth of the Year Dinner

Norfolk – The Virginia Port Authority was a sponsor of the Boys & Girls Club of Southeast Virginia's Youth of the Year Awards Dinner at Harrison Opera house March 23.

The keynote speaker was Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech's head football coach. Jeff Keever, senior deputy executive director of the VPA, and Jodie Love, the VPA's community relations coordinator, were among the attendees.

The Youth of the Year Award was established in 1947 and remains the premier youth recognition program for academic performance, moral character, life goals, poise, and public speaking ability. The program also fosters character, personal growth and leadership qualities.

Local clubs from Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Suffolk and the Eastern Shore recognize members ages 14-18 and select a Youth of the Year, who then participates in a state competition.

This year's Youth of the Year award went to LaMarr R. Coles, a Lakeland High School Senior who will use the $2,500 scholarship to pursue an education in physical therapy.

Pictured left to right are: Keever, Tyrell Johnson, Darrion Marsh and D'Angelo Bowie -- all members of the Rosemont Unit of Virginia Beach -- and Love.

 

Craney Island Expansion Clears Final Regulatory Step

Richmond -- The Virginia Port Authority and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Wednesday, March 10, received permit approval from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality for the Craney Island Eastward Expansion.

The permit represents an important milestone for the Craney Island Eastward Expansion development. The VDEQ Virginia Water Protection permit authorizes construction of the expansion and the mitigation plan components.

VPA Board Meeting Scheduled for March 23

Norfolk – The Virginia Port Authority Board of Commissioners will meet in its regular session on Tuesday, March 23, at noon in the board room of the VPA offices on the sixth floor of the World Trade Center building in downtown Norfolk (23510). The agenda and meeting materials can be viewed at the following Web address, though some materials are still being updated: http://www.portofvirginia.com/corporate/board-room.aspx.

CrossGlobe Group, Salvation Army, Tidewater Area Soccer, VPA and Others Pitch-In for Haiti

 

Above: CrossGlobe's Newport News Director of Operations Rich Rekowski (left) and driver Bob McNamera.

Norfolk -- The Haiti relief drive held in February by The Salvation Army and Tidewater Area Soccer Clubs is moving into the next phase of the relief effort: getting the donated goods into the hands of the people in Haiti who need them.

The relief drive (held Feb. 20) collected enough medical supplies, clothing and soccer equipment to fill 21 pallets. Those pallets were then loaded into a 28-foot-long trailer donated to the local relief drive by UPS Freight; the donation will be delivered to The Salvation Army's Haiti Command Warehouse in Miami courtesy of CrossGlobe Group.  

"It's been a very anxious and exciting couple of weeks," said Major Lewis Reckline of The Salvation Army. "We're proud to have had the opportunity to work with the area soccer clubs on this drive and we're very grateful to CrossGlobe Group for offering to ship these items to Miami at no cost to us." 




Local television station WVEC TV13 provided media support in the week leading up to the drive and on the collection day. The collected items were packed in boxes donated by MANCON Inc., Richmond Corrugated Box, and Atlantic Corrugated and then loaded onto the UPS Freight trailer.     


"We're a global company," said Bill Franks, president and CEO of CrossGlobe Group, who was introduced to the effort by Greg Edwards, Virginia Port Authority director of external affairs. "We preach to our company that regardless of the situation, regardless of the cost we need to do the right thing and this is the right thing. We're glad we are able to help."

Governor McDonnell Addresses Ag Workshop

Norfolk -- Governor Bob McDonnell served as the luncheon speaker at an agricultural export workshop that began March 3 in downtown Norfolk. One hundred attendees, including farmers, processors, trade officials and transportation and logistics professionals, heard the Governor's remarks. The second annual workshop --Agricultural Trade: From Farm, to Port, to the Global Marketplace -- was organized by Virginia Tech, the Virginia Farm Bureau, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) and the Virginia Port Authority (VPA).

In recognizing VPA Executive Director Jerry Bridges, McDonnell said: "Our Port is the gem of the East Coast, and it is only going to get better under your (Bridges') leadership. ... We are currently third to New York/New Jersey, but look out; in 10 years, we'll be the best. With the expansion of the Panama Canal and the completion of Craney Island, we'll have one of the greatest ports in the world."

McDonnell characterized agriculture as, "Virginia's greatest industry... contributing $80 billion to the Commonwealth." The Governor shared good news with the audience as Virginia's 2009 agricultural export totals reached a historic high of $2.3 billion in international sales. That represents a 5 percent increase for Virginia while, on average, U.S. agricultural exports were down 14 percent. Leading markets for Virginia's agricultural exports include Canada, China, the Netherlands, Morocco and Indonesia.

Relating to his audience, Governor McDonnell cited a famous quote from President John F. Kennedy: "The farmer is the only man in our economy who buys at retail, sells at wholesale and pays the freight both ways."

In closing, McDonnell said: "Free and fair trade creates market certainty for you and allows you to compete more (effectively) around the world. ... If you find policies and regulations that don't work, that are impediments to your being competitive... I'd like to know about it."

VPA Executive Director Jerry Bridges, Virginia Farm Bureau President Wayne Pryor and Governor Bob McDonnell enjoy their luncheon conversation.