Union Pacific Railroad has been awarded the "Salute to Industry" award by the Harbor Association of Industry and Commerce (HAIC) in recognition for air pollution reduction and environmental stewardship efforts and for contributing to the improvement of the business environment with the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach.
Since 2000, Union Pacific has added more than 3,300 new fuel-efficient, long-haul high-horsepower locomotives and retired more than 2,200 older locomotives. In addition, the company has overhauled or rebuilt approximately 2,800 locomotive diesel engines. More than two-thirds of Union Pacific's 8,400 locomotives are certified under existing U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Tier 0, Tier 1 and Tier 2 emission standards.
Union Pacific developed the technology for the Genset switching locomotive, which reduces emissions of oxides of nitrogen by 80 percent and particulate matter by 90 percent. It also uses up to 37 percent less fuel compared to older switching locomotives. Union Pacific operates 165 Gensets, with 66 of them in service in California.
HAIC is a non-profit professional industrial organization formed to initiate, sponsor and promote policies to further enhance development of commerce and industry in southern California.