Johnston County truck stop going green

Johnston County, N.C. — Truckers spending the night at Big Boys Truck Stop in Kenly can plug in to keep their heat or air running without idling their trucks.

The Johnston County truck stop that sits off Interstate 95 is the first on the East Coast to serve as a "truck electrification station" that will reduce air pollution and save fuel.

Truck drivers can rest and plug in to electrical outlets to run their heat or air conditioning, instead of idling their engines.

The family-owned stop is one of only a handful nationwide now offering the service.

"It's very exciting to be part of this process of changing over to a green environment," the truck stop's owner, Walter Powell, said.

According to AAA, the average cost of a gallon of diesel fuel in North Carolina is $2.57. Keeping the truck running burns about a gallon of diesel fuel per hour.

The cost of using one hour of electricity is $1 per hour, plus a $1 connection fee.

A driver resting for eight hours could spend more than $20 running his or her engine or spend $9 for electricity.