United Airlines gets federal help to reduce diesel emissions at O'Hare

United Airlines just got a bundle of cash to help reduce diesel emissions at Chicago O’Hare International, the carrier’s largest hub. The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) said Monday it is handing over US$640,000 to United to help the carrier purchase 26 pieces of new ground support equipment that will replace older diesel-fuelled equipment. Total cost of the equipment purchases is expected to be $1.43m. The CDA got the monies it is awarding to United via Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) grant funding from the US Environmental Protection Agency. When all of the new equipment is in place and functioning, United estimates it will save a total of more than 1.4m gallons of diesel fuel annually and reduce emissions of carbon dioxide by more than 16,000 tons annually. <br/>