The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

August 25, 2012

GE’s latest locomotive meets new environmental standards

By Michael Roknick Herald Business Editor

GROVE CITY — General Electric Transportation unveiled its new locomotive on Friday that it says will slash emissions to meet strict U.S. environmental standards set to commence in 2015.

The crucial engine for the locomotive will be produced at the company’s Grove City plant, which is expanding and adding employees.

“GE Transportation continues to challenge what is possible and reshape the future of the rail industry in the United States,’’ Lorenzo Simonelli, GE Transportation’s president and CEO said in a news release. “Thanks to the tireless efforts of our employees and the collaboration with our customers, we are the first in the industry to offer a solution that meets the next phase of the EPA’s emissions standards. Our technology is good for our customers and better for the environment.”

The new locomotive, which the company said will cut emissions by more than 70 percent, was unveiled at a ceremony in Erie. As part of its Evolution Series of locomotives, it was designed to meet EPA regulations requiring locomotive manufacturers to lower soot emissions by 70 percent and nitrogen oxide, which have been linked to asthma, by 76 percent, compared to engines introduced in 2005.

GE said it is confident the new engine will meet the standards. One way the standards could have been reached would be to rely on urea additives to the diesel fuel. Urea is found in animal urine but can also be produced artificially.

That would have resulted in requiring railroads to build an extensive network of fueling stations across North America. GE said it developed combustion engine technology that won’t require urea and will save railroads the cost of expensive upgrades.

In all, GE said it took an initial six-year, $400 million investment, followed by an additional two-year, $200 million payout to research, design and engineer the new engine.

After gathering ideas from large railroad companies, known in the industry as Class I railroads, GE said it began developing the engine technology and then tested the new design on rail lines. The behemoth company called on its Global Research Center and other business units for technical support.

In addition to lower engines, the new engine will have increased pulling capability, performance and fuel efficiency, the company said.

GE Transportation plans to build the new locomotive at one or both of its manufacturing sites in Erie and Fort Worth, Texas.

Through the first six months of 2012, profits at the rail division rose 53 percent to $514 million on a 33 percent rise in sales to $2.84 billion.

GE’s Grove City plant employs around 850, making it the largest manufacturer in Mercer County. The company said it expects to hire an additional 150. Its flagship Erie plant employs 5,500.

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