12/11/2009 Locomotive repower installations improve environment, keep work in house Recently, KCSR applied for and was awarded a $2.9 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to purchase and install repower kits to extend the useful life of five locomotives, improve fuel consumption and reduce emissions. Recently, KCSR and EPA officials met in Shreveport, La. to tour the shop, see a repowered locomotive and discuss the grant program’s objectives and expectations. Mayor Cedric Glover, who was instrumental in obtaining the grant, also attended. According to Electro Motive Diesel (EMD), repowered locomotives reduce fuel consumption by 25 percent, Nitrogen Oxides by 42 percent, Particulate Matter by 67 percent, Carbon Monoxide emissions by 81 percent and Hydrocarbons by 86 percent over the existing engines. The locomotive rebuild grant is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), an economic stimulus package. The repower kits will be manufactured by EMD and installed by KCSR employees in the Shreveport mechanical shop, demonstrating KCS’ commitment to keeping jobs in Shreveport and confidence in the quality of work produced there. KCSR also received a $50,000 grant from the EPA through the State of Missouri under the Diesel Emission Reduction Act for the installation of automatic engine start-stop devices on five switch engines assigned to the Kansas City area.
