Shore power now is available at R Place Trucker’s Plaza at Wendover, Utah, on Interstate 80 at the Utah-Nevada border. The service, with 32 power hookups, was unveiled at a grand opening celebration on Oct. 13 during a ribbon-cutting ceremony, complete with demonstration of the technology, food specials and giveaways of free nights of shore power service.
The Wendover location joins a growing list of truckstops that recently have installed, or plan to offer, shore power in the near future. Many of the locations are part of the Shorepower Truck Electrification Project, a federally funded program aimed at reducing truck idling. R Place is one of 50 locations to receive the power pedestals through the program, which is administered by Cascade Sierra Solutions, a Eugene, Ore.-based organization, in partnership with Shorepower Technologies under contract to the U.S. Department of Energy.
“We are proud to be among the progressive truckstops and plazas offering shore power technology as an alternative to idling,” says Bryan Reed, president of R Place. “Having shore power available reduces the noise, emissions and fuel and maintenance costs that come with idling, and provides one more reason for truckers to stop here. As we transition into the cool nights of fall and go into winter, we expect all the Shorepower pedestals to be used each night. More and more truckers have the prewired convenience of shore power on their truck. And even if they don’t, they can simply plug in a space heater at night to stay warm – avoiding the need to waste fuel idling.”
As part of the STEP program, equipment-purchase incentives are being made available to about 5,000 vehicle owners who commit to using the hookups to reduce engine idling. Truck owners can apply online to Cascade Sierra Solutions for rebates up to 20 percent of the installed equipment price, or a maximum amount by category; up to 25 rebates per fleet are available.
“Adding R Place, on a busy freight corridor like I-80, to the network of truckstops offering shore power is an important step in making this technology a routine part of trucker’s travels,” says Jeff Kim, president and chief executive officer of Shorepower Technologies. “Drivers will now be able to count on another location at which they can get a sound, healthful night’s rest and save money in the process.”
Shorepower pedestals provide access to 120, 208 or 240 VAC power sources, sold at a rate of $1 per hour, and to cable TV at most locations, with wireless Internet available for an additional charge. Access and payment can be handled with a card, smartphone, laptop or telephone activation system. To see the network of Shorepower sites, go to www.plugintosavings.org.
