Delta Air Lines Gets Grant for Electric Baggage Loaders at Raleigh-Durham Airport

North Carolina officials awarded Delta Air Lines $268,248 to switch six baggage loaders from diesel to electric power at Raleigh-Durham International. The new machines will cut emissions while handling passenger bags.

The funds come as part of a bigger $1.14 million package split between nine groups in North Carolina. Through the EPA's Diesel Emissions Reduction Act, the state wants to slash pollution from diesel machines.

Six electric units will replace old diesel loaders, though 12 diesel machines stay in service for now. The switch means big cuts in harmful emissions. Over their working life, the new loaders will stop 1,316 tons of carbon dioxide from reaching the air. They'll also block 3.36 tons of nitrogen oxides and 560 pounds of tiny particles.

"The transition to electric will help the company achieve its goal of producing net zero carbon emissions by 2050," said Lauren Eigel, Delta spokeswoman, per The News & Observer. "The state grant helps accelerate that process at RDU."

Delta's push for cleaner equipment shows in the numbers. Since 2020, they've added over 2,000 electric machines to move bags and support planes. Now, 39% of their main ground fleet runs on electricity instead of diesel.

This grant builds on $132,420 Delta got last year. That money helped switch four diesel machines to electric at their Raleigh-Durham base.

The town of Carrboro also got a slice of the funding pie with $6,951 to swap an old utility vehicle for an electric one. These changes stem from a 2005 push by Congress to cut diesel fumes across the country.