Estes, the largest, privately-owned freight carrier in North America, and Dynamic Energy Solutions, LLC, a developer, and installer of commercial and community solar projects, recently completed two rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) installations at Estes’ terminals in Lakewood and Pine Brook, New Jersey.
Both installations offset nearly 100% of the energy demands for the facilities. The total savings over a 25-year span is expected to surpass $1 million based on projected energy savings and future energy costs.
“The freight industry is incredibly energy intensive, and efforts like this help Estes offset expenses in this area, while furthering our investment in clean, sustainable energy sources,” said Webb Estes, president and COO. “Dynamic Energy has been a tremendous partner as we continue retrofitting our terminals with solar panels, lessening the impact energy prices have on our operations and profitability.”
The New Jersey terminals are the fourth and fifth solar installations Estes has completed with Dynamic Energy. Similar rooftop solar projects have been installed at Estes’ terminals in West Middlesex, Pennsylvania; Elkton and Baltimore, Maryland,;and Greensboro, North Carolina. A
Additional projects are under way in Norfolk, Virginia, and Joliet, Illinois.
Altogether, the 2.4 MW portfolio is expected to generate approximately 1,667,000 kilowatt hours annually, offsetting approximately 1,180 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) or the equivalent of carbon sequestered by 1,400 acres of U.S. forests each year.
Committee on side underride guards schedules meetings
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced the dates for the next four meetings of its Advisory Committee on Underride Protection (ACUP).
The group is meant to provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Transportation on safety regulations to reduce underride crashes and fatalities related to them.
The next four ACUP meetings will be:
- Feb. 8
- March 13
- April 24
- May 22
Each will be from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Eastern.
Pre-registration is required to attend each online meeting. A link allowing access to each meeting will be distributed to registrants within 24 hours of the meeting start time.
Each meeting will be open to the public and will be held online via Zoom. Information and registration for the meetings will be available on the NHTSA website at least one week in advance of each meeting.
The committee during the Feb. 8 meeting will discuss rear underride crashes, prevention and mitigation technologies, and the committee’s recommendations to the DOT.
The March 13 meeting will cover side underride crashes, prevention and mitigation technologies, and the committee’s recommendations.
The April 24 meeting will cover front underride crashes and prevention and mitigation technologies.
The May 22 will cover underride data needs.
NHTSA last year published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking exploring possibly requiring side underride guards on trailers.
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