The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA)—the unified and recognized voice of seaports in the Americas — today is mourning the loss of one of Ohio’s most prominent politicians and citizens, George Voinovich, who died in his sleep early Sunday morning just weeks before his 80th birthday.
According to AAPA President and CEO Kurt Nagle, the former Cleveland mayor, Ohio state representative and Ohio governor who later became one of the most popular U.S. senators of his generation, was instrumental in helping America’s ports enhance air quality in their communities.
“Sen. Voinovich was a unifier who represented the best aspects of a dedicated public servant,” said Mr. Nagle. “Along with Brian Mormino, Sen. Voinovich (R-OH) in 2004 welcomed a small group of loosely affiliated businesses and advocates that wanted to work together to find a way to improve air quality in communities across the U.S. That alliance inspired Sen. Voinovich to help draft what we know today as the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act, or DERA, which was co-sponsored by Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) and passed the U.S. Senate by 92-1 just days after it was introduced in 2005. That small group then grew into the DERA Coalition, which at times has counted hundreds of entities among its supporters, none the least of which are America’s seaports.
“Since its inception, the innovative DERA program has been of tremendous help to U.S. ports in reducing air emissions in their communities,” Mr. Nagle added.
Included among the initiatives advanced through DERA are clean truck programs, retrofitting or replacing yard equipment, installing shore power for vessels at docks, and retrofitting dredges and tugs. These grants also help fund clean air technologies such as emissions and idle control devices, aerodynamic equipment, engine and vehicle replacements, and alternative fuel options.