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Medium/Heavy Duty Vehicle Fleet Experiences

Lambert-St. Louis International Airport Committed to Alt Fuels for 20 Year

Last Updated: November 20, 2009
Lambert-St. Louis International Airport began experimenting with biodiesel in 1987. Today, they have close to 400 vehicles that run on B20?including light-duty trucks, runway sweepers, tow trucks, and front loaders. Their aircraft rescue firefighting units and emergency generator also run on the cleaner burning fuel. A new biodiesel electric hybrid bucket truck is used to change out terminal lights. The airport is also in the process of converting a majority of its gasoline-powered fleet to run on natural gas. The onsite CNG fueling station currently serves 35 shuttle buses and 60 airport maintenance vehicles.

"We are trying to educate the public through the airport and through St. Louis Clean Cities about the use of biofuels by doing promotional stuff about us being able to clean up the atmosphere in our area," said Michael Bernich, fleet maintenance manager for the airport. Lambert-St. Louis is one airport where reducing the use of petroleum fuels has been a top flight priority for over 20 years. View the MotorWeek video of this story.

University of Oklahoma Adopts Variety of Alternative Fuels

Last Updated: November 10, 2009
The University of Oklahoma in Norman, Okla., has 160 vehicles that run on alternative fuels, including five low-speed electric vehicles. Two of the electric vehicles are used for on-campus mail delivery. OU also operates 43 electric utility vehicles and golf carts on campus sidewalks and paths that are used by maintenance and physical plant staff.

Beth Gatewood, OU assistant administrator of printing, mailing and document production, said the low-speed electric vehicles save the time and expense of refueling and are ready to go after recharging outside her building. "Besides being fun and quiet," Gatewood said, "we can get in all the small places on campus we need to squeeze through."

Central Oklahoma Clean Cities stakeholders since 1995, the University of Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Services, which includes Fleet Services operations and Cleveland Area Rapid Transit (CART), fuels 53 flex-fuel sedans and SUVs with E85, 41 heavy duty trucks and CART buses with B20, and 15 heavy duty and light-duty passenger vehicles and shuttle buses with CNG at its new Transportation Operations Center, a multi-fuel, state-of-the-art fueling, maintenance and operations facility. The center has four fast-fill CNG hoses at 3600 psi, and eight slow-fill CNG hoses in addition to four pumps for biodiesel and ethanol.

The university also has three hybrid electric passenger cars in its fleet that fuel at the facility which also dispenses gasoline and ultra low sulfur diesel.

At the official opening of the Transportation Operations Center in March 2009, OU President David Boren said the university is committed to the environment and the new Transportation Operations Center is a symbol of that commitment. Boren has made it university policy if an alternative fuel vehicle is available for the type of vehicle needed, the university will purchase the AFV.

OU Fleet Services plans to add five CNG buses to the CART fleet with 2009 federal stimulus money and will purchase and convert two new Chevrolet Impalas with assistance from an award from the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments' 2009 Public Fleet Conversion Grants program. ACOG's Public Fleet Conversion Grants? program is administered through its Clean Cities program office.

New York City Sanitation Uses A Variety of Alternative Fuel Approaches

Last Updated: November 05, 2009
The New York City Department of Sanitation, the nation's largest municipal refuse fleet, is making great strides in using clean, alternative fuels. Among the array of vehicles is the hybrid hydraulic garbage truck, the only one in the country in its weight class. The agency is also testing hybrid electric and natural gas powered refuse trucks.

NYC's 2,000 other diesel refuse trucks run on renewable B5 biodiesel as do 450 of their street sweepers. Another 25 are fueled by compressed natural gas, and the alt-fuel list continues with hundreds of light duty gasoline-electric hybrids used by field supervisors along with 6 all-electric GEMs that move around the repair shop.

Collecting 22 million pounds of garbage a day using vehicles that are less dependent on petroleum is how NYC's Department of Sanitation is keeping it "clean and green" in the Big Apple. View the MotorWeek video of this story.

Chattanooga Shuttle Buses Run on Electricity

Last Updated: October 27, 2009
Chattanooga, Tennessee, sits between a river and a mountain, and the downtown corridor stretches about two miles north to south and between 6 and 10 blocks east to west. The corridor includes the museum district along the riverfront, the business district, and the main shopping district. The Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) was formed as part of a city renaissance program and CARTA decided to switch to electric shuttle buses to transport residents and tourists.

The fleet of 15 22-foot electric shuttle buses run at 5-minute intervals and the ride is free. CARTA transit authorities estimate that the vehicles have covered more than 2.5 million miles saving an estimated 86 tons of pollutants. CARTA also financed and built parking structures at both ends of the route to intercept automobile traffic before it reached the downtown corridor.

Former Secretary of Transportation Rodney E. Slater acknowledged that Chattanooga's innovations in streamlining the connections between automobiles and transit, and introduction of electric buses and other alternative-fueled vehicles as a major contributor in "reducing traffic congestion, protecting the environment, enhancing mobility and revitalizing communities." For more information, contact CARTA.

Propane School Buses Piloted in Gloucester County, Virginia, Schools

Last Updated: October 26, 2009
The first propane school bus fleet in Virginia has been unveiled in Gloucester County during a ceremony celebrated by Congressman Robert Wittman, Delegate Harvey Morgan and the Department of Environmental Quality.

Five diesel-powered school buses were replaced with propone school buses in Gloucester County during a ceremony on Monday, Oct. 26, 2009, at Page Middle School to celebrate the school district's commitment to environmental sustainability, energy independence, and economic security.

"Using propane-powered school buses is a step in the right direction to significantly decrease vehicle emissions and improve the air quality for our students," said Roger Kelly, director of Transportation for Gloucester County Public Schools. "We are excited to be involved in this clean school bus initiative."

The economic, public safety, and environmental benefits of the new bus fleet including:

Gloucester County Public estimates they will save $1.50/gallon in fuel costs and more in maintenance costs due to the cleaner engine and prolonged oil change intervals.
Propane buses produce approximately 18 percent less greenhouse gases than conventional diesel and gasoline vehicles.
Propane has the lowest flammability range of all alternative fuels, making propane an exceptionally safe fuel.
Most of the propane consumed in the United States is produced domestically, so using propane vehicles instead of conventionally fueled vehicles reduces the country's dependence on foreign oil which increases energy security.

"We are pleased and impressed with the forward thinking and actions of the Gloucester County School Board and administration," said Chelsea Jenkins, director of Virginia Clean Cities. "The propane school buses are providing opportunities for students and the community to observe and learn first-hand about alternative transportation technologies."

A $221,355 grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act EPA National Clean Diesel Program funded half of the project and Gloucester County Public Schools funded the remaining amount. To learn more about this project and alternative fuels visit www.hrccc.org.

"Because of DEQ's leadership, five Gloucester County school buses will be powered by propane which produce even less pollution than gasoline or diesel engines," said William C. Early, acting regional administrator, EPA mid-Atlantic region. "We commend the Commonwealth and Virginia Clean Cities in undertaking another innovative project to reduce air pollution."

Dallas County Schools Run on Biodiesel and Propane

Last Updated: October 19, 2009
Dallas County Schools in north Texas has made alternative fuels a priority. With the fifth largest school bus fleet in the country, DCS even makes its own biodiesel. Each week 400 gallons of waste vegetable oil is put through a maze of tanks, tubes, and filters and converted to biodiesel, which is then blended into B10 and B20 to fuel over 1000 buses.

In April, DCS unveiled its Fryer Flyer, a school bus with twin fuel systems, one carrying biodiesel, the other carrying biodiesel made from processed waste vegetable oil. Propane is also being used as an alternative to traditional petroleum fuels. This new propane-powered bus is one of 600 such units, with a further 100 buses due for conversion from gasoline. All of which makes Dallas County Schools a leader in providing clean and green benefits for north Texas and beyond. View the MotorWeek video of this story.

Kansas City Updates With Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Last Updated: October 08, 2009
In 1996, the City of Kansas City, Missouri instituted a fleet-wide alternative fuel program. Today, more than 200 compressed natural gas cars, trucks, and vans fuel up at the city?s central CNG station. Also, their 1,100 diesels run primarily on B20 and B50 biodiesel. In June, 2009, Kansas City received the first 4 of 19 Diamond International trucks upfitted for CNG. Used to repair water main breaks, they are some of the largest rigs to run on CNG. According to Sam Swearngin, "We're kind of proud of the fact that these trucks are the cleanest trucks you can buy on the planet that do what they do and operate right here in our neighborhood. "The alternative fuel program extends to the Kansas City International Airport, where 35 shuttle buses also run on CNG, all to make "KC" cleaner and less dependent on oil. View the MotorWeek video of this story.

Alternative Fuels Are Key to Airport Transportation in Portland

Last Updated: August 24, 2009
The Portland International Airport (PDX) in Oregon has become a dedicated user of alternative fuel vehicles in almost every aspect of operation from baggage loading vehicles to shuttle buses, police vehicles, and street maintenance equipment. PDX began replacing conventional petroleum diesel buses with vehicles fueled with compressed natural gas (CNG) in 1997 and currently has 46 dedicated CNG vehicles including 26 shuttle buses, 6 Ford Crown Victorias, one Honda Civic, one F450 service truck, a forklift, 9 vans and two step vans. PDX also has two bi-fuel CNG/gasoline pickups and two vans. Propane vehicles include four forklifts and 1 small scrubber/sweeper. There are 15 flexible-fuel vehicles fueled with E85 and seven hybrid light-duty vehicles used for police activities.

Biodiesel also plays an important part in the alternative fuel plan. PDX has fueled its diesel vehicles with B20 since 2002 and currently operates 26 heavy-duty on-road vehicles including four buses, 19 trucks and three F450 service vehicles plus 27 additional pieces of off-road equipment.

PDX installed fueling infrastructure to meet its alternative fuel needs. The airport currently has CNG, LPG, and B20 fueling stations on the property, althought it cannot sell fuel to other fleets or the public because of access limitations. PDX is also looking to expand CNG availability by adding an additional fueling station or purchasing back-up components for its existing infrastructure.

Rick Elliott, aviation maintenance superintendent, points to lower emissions and longer operational life, which means more miles between rebuilds, as advantages to the alternative fuel fleet. "Whenever we look at purchasing a vehicle, our first question is 'Is it available in an alternate fuel?'" Elliott said. For more information, contact Rick Elliott at the Port of Portland.

FedEx Converts Delivery Trucks to Hybrids

Last Updated: August 12, 2009
FedEx Corp. has announced the addition of 92 hybrid-electric trucks to its delivery fleet?the result of converting diesel models that were originally put into service in 2000 and 2001. The converted hybrids will increase FedEx's hybrid-electric fleet to 264 vehicles, a 50% increase. This is the largest fleet of hybrid delivery trucks in North America, logging more than four million miles of revenue service and reducing fuel use by 150,000 gallons since hybrids were introduced to the fleet in 2004."The conversion of these standard FedEx trucks into hybrids is the latest milestone in our drive to advance and adopt hybrid technology into our fleet and the broader industry," said John Formisano, vice president, Global Vehicles, FedEx Express. "FedEx and our suppliers have demonstrated that converted hybrids are a viable, lower-cost option compared to purchasing new hybrids."The hybrid conversions were developed with Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation and Eaton Corporation and feature a 200-horsepower 2007 Cummins ISB engine coupled with an Eaton electric motor/generator using lithium-ion batteries. The standard FedEx trucks used in the retrofit program were 2000 or 2001 models driven 300,000 to 500,000 miles. An added benefit of the conversion program is that it not only reduces pollution but also extends the life of the vehicles, helping to eliminate waste production and creating a reduce-and-reuse program.The retrofit hybrid trucks are projected to improve fuel economy by 44%, decrease particulate matter by 96%, and reduce smog-causing (NOx) emissions by 75% compared to the standard FedEx Express delivery truck. The 92 retrofitted hybrid vehicles are being placed into service in California, primarily in the Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco metropolitan areas.For more information, contact Alison Bird at FedEx.

Valley Metro Transit Moves With Natural Gas

Last Updated: July 02, 2009
Valley Metro Transit, the regional transit system for metropolitan Phoenix, serves 60 million passengers per year and operates one of the nation's largest fleets of natural gas transit buses. Valley Metro continues to increase its fleet of natural gas buses and now operates 649 liquefied or compressed natural gas (LNG and CNG) buses, which represent 65% of the fleet. Thirty percent of the fleet operates on ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) and 5% use unleaded gasoline, mainly in small cut-away buses for circulator and shuttle services. Valley Metro uses 10.8 million gallons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and 1.9 gallons of compressed natural gas (CNG) annually to fuel its fleet.

The buses are owned by the cities of Phoenix, Tempe, and Scottsdale and the Regional Public Transportation Authority (RPTA). "We continue to increase our fleet of natural gas buses and are planning to continue both the LNG and CNG fueled fleet whenever natural gas is an option," says Bob Antila, capital planner for Valley Metro/RPTA.

An increase in natural gas buses translates into a need for more fueling stations. The cities of Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale, and the RPTA have joined to establish LNG/LCNG fueling sites for the region. Clean Energy, Seal Beach, CA, has a three-year contract to supply Valley Metro with LNG fuel, some of which will come from a new Spectrum/Desert Gas Services plant in Ehrenburg, AZ.

"The air quality benefits and reduced reliance on traditional fuels continue to be our focus. We see ourselves as setting an example and continuing to improve the public's perception of mass transit," says Antila. Contact Bob Antila by email at bantila@valleymetro.org for more information.

L. L. Bean Delivers With Biodiesel

Last Updated: June 19, 2009
L.L. Bean was the first major Maine-based company to test biodiesel in its distribution fleet, and now boasts a growing fleet of heavy-duty vehicles that operate exclusively on B20, a blend of 20% biodiesel, 80% diesel. Tractor rigs move merchandise between various warehouse and store locations while shuttle buses take customers from the retail store to various Outdoor Discovery School locations operated by the company. Fuel comes from an onsite 800-gallon, skid-mounted tank installed by Frontier Energy, Maine's only full-service supplier of B100 and blended biofuels.

L.L. Bean is committed to environmental stewardship and has made the purchase of B20-capable vehicles a key part of its purchasing policy. In the past two years, the fleet has grown from 8 to 13 tractor rigs and from 8 to 17 shuttles, and now uses approximately 20,000 gallons of B20 annually. The company reports no problems with B20, even during intense winter seasons.

The company also supports other environmental outreach programs. L.L. Bean donated $1 million in 2002 to support Acadia National Park's free, propane-powered bus system as part of its support for protecting the environment. The propane buses have been so well accepted that the company made an additional $1 million donation to finance additional vehicles. L.L.Bean's financial support for Acadia underscores the company's ongoing commitment to responsible recreation, conservation, and preservation. "We hope others will join L.L.Bean in supporting America's national parks," said company CEO Chris McCormick.

While propane was not workable for L.L.Bean's own on-road fleet due to fueling logistics, the company has found that B20 fits its needs perfectly. For additional information about L.L. Bean's use of biodiesel, contact Carolyn Beem at cbeem@llbean.com cbeem@llbean.com

University of Illinois-Chicago Fleet Invests in AFVs

Last Updated: June 01, 2009
Diversity on campus has a new meaning in Chicago. The University of Illinois-Chicago's (UIC) transportation system for innercampus and commuter transport includes a variety of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs). The fleet includes 12 light-duty hybrids, 37 flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs), 26 vehicles that operate on B20, two compressed natural gas (CNG) cargo vans, and a CNG Crown Victoria. In addition, nine CNG Blue Bird buses transport an average of 2,000 people daily around the campus. All in all, AFVs represent 36% of their fleet.

With the help of two Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) grants received through the efforts of the Chicago Area Clean Cities coalition, the university installed CNG infrastructure. "We now have two slow-fill dispensing units and we have added two quick-fill CNG units," says Pablo Acevedo, associate director of facilities management at UIC. The university's program extends its reach even farther by allowing vehicles owned by the City of Chicago to fill up at the UIC facility.

Acevedo explains that there are pluses and minuses to his CNG vehicles. "Parts and maintenance are more costly for the CNG vehicles than for regular diesel vehicles. It's also important to get the right kind of training for our mechanics who work on the CNG vehicles." On the plus side, the AFVs use less expensive fuel and reduce pollution caused by burning diesel.

The CNG and FFVs are purchased based on mandated levels dictated by the state and alternative fuel provider section of the Energy Policy Act of 1992. The CNG-powered vehicles were first purchased in 1997. "The decision back then was based on cost savings and environmental concerns," Acevedo says. "Those are the same reasons we continue to add CNG vehicles to our fleet."

There's always room for more advanced vehicles--and UIC is interested in the all-electric, commercial Ford Transit Connect van, which is expected to have a range of 100 miles per charge and a top speed of 70 miles per hour.

"UIC's commitment to its alternative fuel program and its involvement in the coalition make it an exemplary fleet in the Chicago area," says Chicago Clean Cities Coordinator Samantha Bingham. "We are happy to assist UIC as well as other coalition members with everything from technical assistance to identifying funding."

Lower Merion School District Fuels Student Transportation with CNG

Last Updated: April 23, 2009
The Lower Merion School District in Ardmore, PA, a long-time stakeholder of the Greater Philadelphia Clean Cities coalition, is committed to fueling its bus fleet with compressed natural gas (CNG). The school district operates 73 CNG vehicles to transport school children including sixty-two Blue Bird 72-passenger, rear engine, dedicated CNG school buses powered by 8.1 liter John Deere engines; one 72-passenger, Thomas Built rear engine, dedicated CNG school bus powered by the Cummins/Westport ISL engine; four 30-passenger Ford/Blue Bird dedicated CNG mini school buses powered by Ford 7.3 liter engines; one bi-fuel Chevrolet Express van; and five dedicated CNG Ford Econoline vans. Since beginning service in 1996, the district's CNG fleet has logged more than eight million miles displacing approximately one million gallons of diesel fuel. The district is currently in the process of replacing its first generation of school buses with new CNG models.

The district operates two CNG refueling stations, one each in Ardmore and Rosemont. The district recently rebuilt one its CNG refueling stations after 13 years of service to provide fast fill capability, which has cut fueling time in half. The district's other CNG refueling station is scheduled for replacement in the summer of 2009.

"We have learned a great deal about using CNG to fuel our fleet of school buses," said Michael Andre, supervisor of transportation for the district. "At first mechanics had to be trained to work on our fleet. We've learned to space out refueling of our vehicle and to monitor optimal pressure levels. The vehicles themselves cost more than standard diesel buses, but the Lower Merion community remains committed to the use of alternative fuels. We value the environment, energy security, and the health of our children." For more information about CNG school bus operation, contact Michael Andre at the Lower Merion School District.

Waste Management of Seattle Adds CNG Vehicles for Refuse Collection

Last Updated: March 24, 2009
Waste Management of Seattle has added 106 compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles to its fleet of collection vehicles as replacements for older diesel models. The company plans to replace the remaining 75 diesel vehicles in its fleet within five years. The switch from diesel to CNG comes as Waste Management begins its new collection contract with the City of Seattle. In addition, the company 's new CNG fueling station is nearing completion at its South Seattle operations headquarters. The station will service the new CNG fleet and will be open to the public.

The trucks are expected to dramatically lower greenhouse gas emissions. "Waste Management is committed to helping our region take the bold steps necessary to improve local air quality. We are dramatically reducing our use of CO2 emitting fuels with this substantial upgrade in equipment, said Susan Robinson, director of Public Sector Services for Waste Management, NW. "We are investing in cleaner air."

Waste Management is investing $29 million in the new vehicles and an additional $7.5 million to build the fueling station. The new trucks are six times cleaner than diesel engines manufactured in 2007, and already meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 2010 emission standards for oxides of nitrogen (NOx), producing nearly zero particulate emissions.

An independent environmental review produced by Gladstein, Neandross & Associates, an environmental consulting firm, determined Waste Management's equipment upgrade will reduce smog-causing NOx by 97%, toxic diesel particulate matter by 94%, and greenhouse gas by 20% over current levels.

According to City of Seattle Council President Richard Conlin, "In addition to significantly reducing climate change emissions, this new fleet of cleaner trucks is an important part of the city's plan to dramatically increase recycling rates and improve the service provided to Seattle Public utility customers."

Smithtown Chooses CNG to Cut Refuse Collection Costs

Last Updated: February 04, 2009
Faced with rising refuse collection costs, the Town of Smithtown, New York, decided to require its refuse collection contractors to use compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks. It was the first New York municipality to institute such a requirement. On January 1, 2007, the 30 contractor-owned diesel refuse trucks collecting solid waste and recyclables from the town's 116,000 residents were replaced by 22 CNG models.

Smithtown selected four bidders for seven-year contracts: Brothers Carting, Dejana Industries, Jody Industries, and V. Garafalo Carting. The companies were responsible for buying the new CNG trucks. To offset the higher cost for these trucks versus diesel trucks, the companies had the option of claiming the Federal Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit for up to 80% of the incremental cost. An alliance of local organizations helped the contractors find financing options.

To establish CNG fueling infrastructure, Smithtown partnered with natural gas supplier Clean Energy. With no leasing agreements, access fees, or capital outlay for Smithtown, the contract required Clean Energy to provide the fueling infrastructure and commission local service providers. Because of Smithtown's new contract with the refuse collectors, Clean Energy had to complete the fueling station in six months--two to four months faster than it usually takes to locate a station, obtain permits, and secure a compressor.

To accomplish this, Clean Energy received permission from the New York Department of Transportation (NYDOT) and Office of General Services to allow expansion of a station in nearby Hauppauge, which Clean Energy already operated for New York State. The Hauppauge expansion supported NYDOT's goal to increase natural gas use as a vehicle fuel and brought additional revenue to the state of $0.05 per gasoline gallon equivalent. Clean Energy expanded the Hauppauge volumetric gas flow rate from 15 to 2,000 scfm and opened the station within four months.Smithtown entered into an agreement on fuel pricing with Clean Energy through 2013. CNG costs for the refuse trucks started at $2.33 per diesel gallon equivalent (DGE) through 2008 and increase each year to conclude at $2.94 per DGE in 2013. The contracted CNG price could decrease if the price differential between diesel and CNG goes above a set threshold.

"Controlling refuse collection costs for town residents was the primary reason Smithtown chose CNG," explained the coordinator of the Greater Long Island Clean Cities Coalition. "The commitment from Clean Energy to set a stable fuel price was very important." Switching to CNG provides environmental and energy-security benefits for Smithtown.

The CNG refuse trucks are projected over the life of the contract to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides by 265 tons and particulate matter by 15 tons. Smithtown also expects to displace more than 1.5 million DGE of petroleum-based fuel.The benefits are amplified when other towns adopt a similar strategy. Smithtown's success inspired nearby Brookhaven to plan the deployment of 67 CNG trucks in 2009 in a similar effort.

Clean Cities inspired Smithtown's move to CNG. In May 2006, Russell Barnett, Smithtown's Environmental Protection Director, saw a Clean Cities alternative fuel presentation at the Federation of New York Solid Waste Associations Solid Waste/Recycling Conference & Trade Show in Bolton Landing, New York. The presentation persuaded him that CNG was the best choice for Smithtown's refuse fleet. For more information, contact Russell Barnett.

Meijer Delivers While Reducing Miles Driven and Fuel Used

Last Updated: December 22, 2008
Reducing vehicle miles traveled seems like an insurmountable challenge for a long-haul delivery service that supplies 185 retail super centers throughout the Midwest. Yet Meijer, Inc., based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has increased profitability while reducing miles driven by 2.5 million miles in the past year, saving nearly 385,000 gallons of diesel fuel in the past year. Meijer is a stakeholder in Greater Lansing Area Clean Cities.

The key to its success is a proprietary Web-based e-log system that tracks route efficiency, driving speed, engine performance, fuel consumption, and idling time for each Meijer driver on the road. Idling time that goes over four minutes, for example, results in an exception report. Dave Hoover, Meijer director of logistics, says the e-log system gives management Web-based visibility of driver performance at all times, but he credits his drivers, who have an average of 20 years of seniority, with the success of the program. "We provide training from original equipment manufacturers about progressive shifting techniques and appropriate use of revolutions-per-minute bands. The success of these techniques is in driver performance."

Meijer prides itself on supplying its stores with fresh produce seven days a week. As diesel prices rose over the past year, the company used established systematical criteria to model pickup and delivery scenarios. "We use our own fleet for about 40% of our deliveries and rely on third-party fleets for the remaining 60%," says Hoover. "We use load modeling and frequency to determine whether we should pick up with our own truck or use a third party." The Web-based systems the company uses maximize outbound trailer loads and vendor backhauls to reduce deadhead return trips. Meijer transports goods for other companies on routes that would otherwise mean empty return trips. The Web system also tracks idling time, and the company has been able to reduce its average idling time to under four minutes.

The current Meijer-owned fleet includes Volvo tractors with Cummins ISX engines. In the next year, the company expects to replace its older vehicles with automatic transmission vehicles. "Automatic transmissions will give us more control over speed, rpm bands and idling," Hoover says. In addition, Meijer wants to purchase engines with selective catalytic reduction units designed to meet 2010 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements.

Meijer, Inc., was recently awarded the EPA SmartWay Environmental Excellence Award for its leadership in conserving energy and lowering greenhouse gas emissions from its transportation and freight activities. The company also received the Michigan Energy Independence Award presented by Greater Lansing Area Clean Cities, Detroit-Area Clean Cities Coalition, and the Clean Energy Coalition of Ann Arbor. Meijer was also recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation for its efforts in reducing onroad truck traffic.

Hoover credits the maintenance and operations employees for the success of the program. "They work hard each day to conserve fuel," Hoover says. "Our employees and customers can take pride in knowing our company has taken an aggressive, proactive approach in doing its part to support a cleaner environment."

Sunnyvale Served by CNG Refuse Haulers

Last Updated: July 07, 2008
California-based Specialty Solid Waste and Recycling (SSWR) is replacing its diesel refuse haulers with those that run on compressed natural gas (CNG). Of its fleet of 37 vehicles that provide trash collection service for the City of Sunnyvale, California, 30 are powered by CNG.

SSWR made a corporate decision in partnership with the City of Sunnyvale to adopt CNG to meet the conditions of the California Air Resources Board refuse rule, which requires particulate filter traps on diesel trucks. Fleets made up of 50% or more alternative fuel vehicles were exempted from the diesel rule until January 1, 2010. "Liquid natural gas was less widely available in California, so we looked to compressed natural gas," says Jerry Nabhan, SSWR general manager.

Good pipeline gas pressure at the company's Santa Clara site allowed SSWR to build and operate a CNG refueling station that is accessible to the public 24 hours a day. The station installation cost approximately $500,000, which was partially offset with $200,000 provided by the California Energy Commission.

SSWR also receives grants from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District's Transportation Fund for Clean Air (TFCA) that help cover the $60,000 incremental costs of a CNG truck over a diesel one. With current CNG prices around $2.70 and the grants from TFCA, SSWR estimates that the payback period is about a year and a half per truck. The CNG refuse vehicles, which feature Cummins Westport 8.9-liter engines and Autocar chassis on Heil or Labrie bodies, drive 275,000 route miles per year and use 172,000 gasoline gallon equivalents of CNG annually.

According to Nabhan, there were some initial concerns about truck performance that proved to be unfounded. "Our city is relatively flat so the trucks have had no performance problems," Nabhan says. "With today's price of diesel at $4.88 and the price of natural gas at $2.70, we're glad we made the choice to go with natural gas."

Nabhan says his drivers like the natural gas trucks because there's no diesel smell, and the trucks are much quieter. Maintenance on the CNG trucks is a bit different than on diesel trucks, Nabhan says. For example, each truck's six spark plugs are replaced every six months at a cost of about $400 per truck. In addition, the trucks are tested for leaks every 90 days and tanks are pressure tested every three years.

"We're proud of our decision to go with natural gas. It's been good for our business and good for the community," Nabhan says. Interested visitors from several California communities as well as New York, Taiwan, and France have visited Sunnyvale to learn about SSWR's success with CNG refuse vehicles.

Contact Jerry Nabhan, SSWR general manager, 408-566-1809.

Fort Collins, Colorado, School Buses Retrofit to Reduce Emissions

Last Updated: April 18, 2008
Poudre School District Transportation Department manages transportation for school children in Fort Collins, Colorado. In 2007, the department received a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean School Bus American program in the amount of $253,875. With this grant, 58 school buses were retrofitted with varying new technologies, including closed crankcase filter systems, diesel oxidation catalyst mufflers, diesel multistage filter mufflers, and diesel particulate traps. The district was the first school bus fleet in the state to install the diesel filter mufflers and diesel particular traps. In addition to installing equipment to reduce emissions, the program was designed to determine the effectiveness of installing readily available aftermarket equipment and to evaluate each of the pieces of equipment during actual daily operation. Nearly all of the buses in the fleet from model year 2000 and later were retrofitted with this equipment.

The district transportation department switched to ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel as soon as it became locally available. In addition, the school district made idle reduction devices a requirement for future district bus purchases and added the devise to 33 of its already existing buses. The device, manufactured by Webasto, is installed in an auxiliary battery compartment where it is connected to the fuel and coolant system. The battery operates a fuel-powered heater that heats and circulates coolant fluid to warm engine parts and bus interior without running the engine. Drivers estimate 31 minutes of idle time per bus per school day was reduced because of the idle reduction devices, amounting to more than 17 hours of diesel idle reduction every school day in Fort Collins.

Poudre School District Cleaner Buses for Children program has reduced the air impact of its fleet as it traveled more than two million miles. According to Tom Chaffin, transportation resource manager, "Our business is the safety of students and this is one more way we can ensure that safety." For more information, contact Tom Chaffin.

Mineta San Jose Airport Expands CNG Service

Last Updated: April 16, 2008
The Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) received the 2007 National Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV) Achievement Award from the NGVAmerica for SJC's efforts toward making compressed natural gas (CNG) its primarily alternative fuel of choice. For example, by mid-2008, all of SJC's shuttle buses will be CNG. The airport's Alternative Fuels Program (AFP) has significantly improved air quality and reduced fuel costs of its ground transportation operations.

In 2008, airport management announced two new projects to encourage more public use of the airport's CNG fueling facility. One project involves encouraging more private taxis and shuttles operating at the airport to convert from gasoline and diesel to CNG through SJC's innovative $154,000 Alternative Fuels Grant Program (AFGP). The AFGP provides grants of $4,000 per taxi and $8,000 per shuttle van as incentives for CNG vehicle conversion. Since 2005, the airport has been conducting outreach to encourage taxi and shuttle van owners to convert to CNG via innovative incentives. Taxicab companies operating at SJC have placed 130 CNG taxis into service out of the airport?s permitted fleet of 300 taxicabs, according to airport spokesman David Vossbrink.

The second project will entail the airport to spend an estimated $727,000 to upgrade the airport's CNG fueling station that has been in operation since 2003. The CNG station upgrade project will double the station's capacity to dispense 4 million gallons of CNG per year, enough to service all of the airport's shuttle bus fleet, all City of San Jose CNG vehicles, any new City CNG vehicles, all CNG taxis and door-to-door shuttle vans operating at the airport, as well as other public/private CNG fleets desiring to embrace SJC's AFP.

The projects will be partially funded by a $606,000 grant from the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. For more information, contact Tom Stoflet, Environmental Manager, Mineta San Jose International Airport.

Safeway Delivers Using Biodiesel

Last Updated: February 15, 2008
Grocery giant Safeway has committed to using soy-based biodiesel fuel in its fleet of 1,000 over-the-road trucks as part of its commitment to cleaner burning fuel and will reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Company president and CEO, Steve Burd, says that while the fuel may cost a few pennies more per gallon, using the fuel will result in lower maintenance costs. Safeway's switch to B20 (20% biodiesel, 80% petroleum diesel) is estimated to reduce its fleet's CO2 emissions by about 75 million pounds per year--the equivalent of taking nearly 7,500 passenger vehicles off the road.

Safeway uses a variety of long-haul trucks including the International 9400i tractor with a Cummins ISX engine; the Caterpillar CAT 13- and CAT 15-powered International 9400s, International Prostar tractors with Cummins ISX ERG engines; and Freightliner Columbia tractors powered by MBE 4000 engines by Detroit Diesel.

Safeway started testing B20 in July 2007 and has logged over 25 million miles of trouble-free B20 operation in California since the tests began, according to Tom Nartker, Safeway vice president of distribution. The biodiesel launch was celebrated on Jan. 18, 2008, at the Safeway store in Dublin, Calif.

Los Angeles Clean Fueling Station Supplies LNG and CNG

Last Updated: December 18, 2007
On August 30, 2007 a new combined liquefied natural gas (LNG) and fast-fill compressed natural gas (L/CNG) clean fueling facility opened in South Los Angeles. LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was on hand to explain how the station will help serve the City's growing fleet of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs), which now includes 307 LNG solid refuse collection trucks, 54 CNG street sweepers, and various other city-owned AFVs. Los Angeles has the largest municipally-owned alternative fuel solid refuse collection fleet in the U.S. The South LA Fueling Station has a storage capacity of 45,000 gallons of LNG, and is the third in a series of similar stations. The first two stations were constructed in the West San Fernando Valley (45,000 gal.) and East Valley (60,000 gal.). All 3 stations were partially funded using $450,000 in Clean Cities U.S. Department of Energy grant awards received through the California Energy Commission. A fourth station is operating in the Harbor area, at a 6,000-gallon capacity.

The project took over 18 months to build. The station was then put into demonstration/testing mode for 8 months prior to the grand opening. The greatest challenge during the project was the site preparation and cleanup required prior to construction. Some 27,000 tons of contaminated soil were removed and cleaned up over a period of three months at a cost of $330,000.

A total of over $15 million in grants have been secured by the Environmental Affairs Department to help the City's solid resources collection fleet grow in size, and over 4 million gallons of diesel have been displaced since 2000, when the City started using LNG and L/CNG in its alternative fuel in its solid resources collection fleet.

For more information view the PDF about the South Los Angeles Clean Fuel Fleet Project. PDF 586 KB

UPS Adds 306 Alternative Fuel Vehicles to Fleet

Last Updated: November 13, 2007
UPS placed an order for 167 CNG delivery trucks and took delivery of 139 new propane delivery trucks for its North American delivery service. In addition, the company has launched an initiative to use biodiesel fuel in its ground support vehicles at its air hub in Louisville, Ky.UPS's worldwide AFV fleet includes 1,629 vehicles, the largest such private fleet in the transportation industry. The fleet includes CNG, LNG, propane, electric, and hybrid electric vehicles. UPS already operates 800 CNG delivery trucks in the U.S. and plans to locate the new CNG vehicles in Dallas; Atlanta; Los Angeles; Ontario, Calif.; San Ramon, Calif.; and Fresno, Calif. The propane vehicles will join the nearly 600 propane trucks already operating in Canada and Mexico. "While there's a great deal of interest in the research we're doing with new types of hybrids, 70 years of testing alternative fuel vehicles has taught us there are multiple technologies that can effectively reduce our dependence on fossil fuels as well as our carbon footprint," said Robert Hall, UPS's director of vehicle engineering. "Adding this many propane and CNG vehicles is going to have a very positive impact."The propane and CNG trucks currently in the UPS fleet were converted from gasoline and diesel vehicles in the 1980s to run on alternative fuels. The new trucks are originally manufactured for alternative fuel use. The chassis for the CNG trucks are being purchased in two sizes from Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation. The trucks will feature engines from Cummins Westport that are expected to yield a 20% emissions reduction and 10% improvement in fuel economy over the cleanest diesel engines available in the market today.The new propane-powered vehicles were manufactured by Workhorse Custom Chassis and feature the latest technology in clean burning propane engines provided by Baytech Corporation. Propane vehicles emit about one-third fewer reactive organic gases than gasoline fueled vehicles. Nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide emissions also are 20% and 60% less, respectively, than conventional vehicles.The biodiesel initiative in Louisville is being funded with the support of a $515,000 federal grant that is helping to offset some of the cost of building a fuel infrastructure at the airport. The infrastructure will provide B5, a 5% biodiesel blend, to operate 366 UPS ground support vehicles starting early in 2008.

B99 Fuels States Logistics Services

Last Updated: October 26, 2007
States Logistics Services, based in Buena Park, Calif., is a family-owned business that is in it for the long haul. The third-party packaging and transportation company has taken a giant step into the future by deciding to fuel its Class 8 trucks with B99, a blend of 1% diesel and 99% biodiesel. The company made the move after its customer, Clif Bar Inc., inquired about biodiesel fuel. States Logistics did the research and decided to jump in at the B99 level.

"Reduced emissions was the key motivation in our decision," says States Logistics sales manager Matt Montford. "Our drivers report that the trucks are quieter, are smoother to operate, and there's no black smoke." The International trucks have Cummins ISM 425V 410 engines. States Logistics Services uses approximately 10,000 gallons of B99 annually. On-site fueling is provided by General Petroleum Co. The company also leases trucks, and these vehicles operate on B5 based on limitations set by the leasing company.

"We see the move to B99 as a way to support our customer and it sets us apart as a forward-looking business. We believe it's the right thing to do," Montford concludes.

For more information, contact Matt Montford at States Logistics Services.

Propane Powers Portland Public School Buses

Last Updated: October 03, 2007
Porland Public Schools in Portland, Oregon, transports more than 10,000 students each year with buses traveling 3 million miles a year. During the 1980s, high gasoline prices led the district to explore alternative fuels. In 1983, as an experiment, the district converted three conventional buses to propane. Pleased with their performance, the district decided to convert the rest of its bus fleet to propane. Today, 84% of the district-owned fleet and 88% of contractor-owned buses operate on propane.

"Lower fuel costs are the key to successful operation of our propane fleet," says Phil Weber, director of student transportation for Portland Public Schools. "We buy 740,000 gallons of propane per year and that allows us to negotiate a price close to $1.20 per gallon." Ensuring a dependable supply of fuel at a competitive price is critical to the decision to use any alternative fuel. "We've found that there is a five-year payback for the capital costs of the small buses," says Weber. "The price of fuel is what makes that possible." Smaller districts and fleets that have fewer vehicles may be able to piggyback onto a large contract such as Portland's when delivery is in the same area as the larger user.

The propane-powered buses have helped the district reduce exhaust emissions and lower fuel costs. The overall performance of the propane buses is excellent, and the average life span of engines is almost twice as long as that of conventionally fueled buses. "Until recently, we have found it hard to identify conversion companies for gasoline to propane conversions. But now Bluebird has entered the market with a factory built propane-powered bus, and IMPCO has received certificatios for the 6.0 liter GM engine," Weber says.

"Fifty percent of our bus routes are for special needs children, and we use the smaller buses for those routes," Weber says. Each propane-powered small bus has a fuel economy at or just below that of an equivalent petroleum bus. All are fueled on-site from a 2,800-gallon tank truck. An onsite 1,000-gallon stationary tank is the backup fueling source.

For more information about the propane bus fleet of Portland Public Schools, contact Phil Weber at pweber@pps.k12.or.us.

Salt Lake City International Airport

Last Updated: September 27, 2007
The Salt Lake City International Airport is a major western U.S. hub serving 18 airlines that operate 450 scheduled daily departures. Its location within the city limits of Salt Lake City puts it in an EPA air quality nonattainment area for particulate matter. The airport has instituted a Clean Fuel Program in an effort to reduce airport vehicle emissions by using alternative fuels.

The airport parking shuttle fleet includes 13 35-foot buses and six 40-foot buses that are CNG powered. Due to a recent rapid growth in airport parking, the airport purchased five used diesel buses that are running on B20 biodiesel. Altogether, the fleet operates 24 hours a day and travels more than 600,000 miles per year.

The airport has begun to replace its aging 35-foot buses and the five diesel powered buses with a fleet of 19 40-foot low-floor CNG buses. The rest of the airport fleet consists of 96 light-duty vehicles (49 CNG, 10 electric, 8 hybrid, and 39 biodiesel) along with the CNG buses and three CNG heavy-duty trucks. Through these combined efforts, the airport has reduced its regulated emissions output by approximately 17,498 pounds per year when compared to a similarly sized fleet running on gasoline and diesel.

The airport also has CNG fueling infrastructure as the result of the combined efforts of the U.S. Department of Energy's State Energy Program, Utah Clean Cities, Salt Lake City Corporation, Questar Energy Services, Utah Energy Office, Utah LP Gas, and Utah Hotel & Lodging Association. The fueling facility was positioned to accommodate the airport's CNG fleet as well as private ground transportation providers. It is open 24 hours a day and is also available to the public.

The airport offers private ground shuttle companies a $2,500 credit for driving an alternative fuel vehicle on airport property and using the passenger pickup restricted access lane. By working together with private fleets and the public, Salt Lake City International Airport has succeeded in its quest for clean air through the use of alternative fuels and vehicles.

For more information about alternative vehicles at the Salt Lake City International Airport, contact Ed Napier at ed.napier@slcgov.com.

Hoover Municipal Government Runs on Alternative Fuels

Last Updated: September 24, 2007
With a population of around 65,000, Hoover, Alabama, is the sixth largest city in the state. The City of Hoover currently operates 179 flex-fuel vehicles as well as 21 other light-duty vehicles, 60 medium- and heavy-duty trucks, two buses, two shuttles, and 96 off-road vehicles on B20, a blend of 20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel. The city currently boasts that 80% of the fuel used by its fleet is alternative fuel.

Hoover's police force operates 130 of the flex-fuel vehicles, which are fueled 100% of the time on E85. The remaining 49 flex-fuel vehicles are used by the city's administative personnel. Hoover has also started a test program to use B20 in its fire trucks and plans to forward the results to the National Fire Protection Association.

Hoover may also be the first municipal government in the U.S. to manufacture its own B100 using waste vegetable oil collected from local restaurants. The city also plans to start home collection of waste vegetable oil by providing gallon jugs to homeowners who want to participate.

"The price of the alternative fuels is below the price of petroleum fuel. With our own B100 production, we might even turn a profit," says David Lindon, fleet management director for the City of Hoover. "The mayor and the city council are committed to clean fuel. It's the right thing to do for our energy security and it's cost effective."

For more information about the alternative fuel program in Hoover, Alabama, contact David Lindon, Fleet Management Director, City of Hoover.

Zion National Park Shuttles Run on Propane

Last Updated: September 21, 2007
Zion National Park in Utah, at the junction of the Colorado Plateau, the Great Basin, and the Mojave Desert, operates 30 propane (LPG) buses that provide transportation along the Zion Canyon scenic drive inside the park and along a route in the neighboring town of Springdale. The park bus route departs the Zion Canyon Visitor Center every few minutes. Approximately 81% of park visitors use the shuttle service during its operating season. According to Kirk Scott, general manager of the Zion Shuttle System, the buses are quieter and emit fewer pollutants into the environment than diesel. At an average 1,076 Btu of energy used per passenger mile, the shuttle buses are also about three times more fuel efficient than passenger cars.

The park purchases high-purity LPG at stable prices from cryogenic storage facilities at a refinery near Salt Lake City. The electronic components that control ignition in the Cummins B5.9 LPG engines seem to work best with at least 95% purity propane fuel and no propylene. Experienced professionals need to install the LPG fueling infrastructure. The park plans to continue using LPG in shuttles and to purchase more LPG buses to replace older buses and expand its fleet.

For more information, visit the Zion National Park Web site or contact Kirk Scott at parkstrans@infowest.com.

Carnegie Mellon University

Last Updated: September 21, 2007
Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in Pittsburgh, Pa. is an environmentally responsible institution on several levels. A key element in its mission to reduce petroleum consumption on campus is to use alternative fuel vehicles whenever practical. In July 2007, six university shuttle buses began operating on B20 biodiesel fuel. The infrastructure for B20 has been established in the Pittsburgh area and the fuel is conveniently available at a local refueling location.

CMU had originally invested in compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles but found that the CNG infrastructure did not develop in the region as anticipated. "We found that infrastructure is an essential component for any alternative vehicle program to become sustainable," said Barbara Kviz, environmental coordinator in Facilities Management Services. The university is now in the process of selling its CNG vehicles.

A campus-wide survey conducted with faculty and staff reinforced CMU's expanded scope of interest in assisting employees with finding alternative transportation to work. Other approaches established to help reduce petroleum consumption include support for public transportation through bus passes provided to students, faculty, and staff and special parking privileges as a carpool incentive for commuters. Facilities Management Services also uses 10 electric vehicles for transportation around the grounds and a new fleet of campus police cars will use E85 ethanol fuel.

For more information, contact Barbara Kviz, Environmental Coordinator, Facilities Management Services, Carnegie Mellon University.

Clark County School District

Last Updated: September 21, 2007
The Clark County School District in Las Vegas, Nevada, is the fifth largest in the nation. It spans more than 8,000 square miles and provides transportation to approximately 138,000 students. The district currently has 1,450 school buses that use biodiesel and plans to add 100 buses every year for the next five years. The fleet travels more than 18 million miles and consumes more than 3 million gallons of biodiesel (B20 blend) each year. That adds up to 600,000 gallons of petroleum displaced annually.

The school district initially tried using biodiesel made from recycled cooking oil, but found that the vehicles performed better with 100% soybean oil. The district was also able to take advantage of the one dollar per gallon tax incentive for using soy oil. The school district currently has 10 biodiesel fueling stations throughout the Las Vegas area. In addition to the school bus fleet, the district operates more than 500 other vehicles including food service trucks, construction equipment, water trucks, backhoes and mowing machines on B20.

"In Nevada, 90% of the vehicles we purchase are required to run on alternative fuels. We could meet that standard by using B5, but we are using B20 and are happy with the results," explains Frank Giordano, director of vehicle maintenance. "We get the same mileage as we would with petroleum, and we believe we are providing a cleaner atmosphere."

For more information, visit the Clark County School District transportation Web site.

Auburn Tigers Switch to Biodiesel

Last Updated: September 21, 2007
Auburn University's orange and blue Tiger Transit buses are now green. The transit fleet of more than 40 vehicles has made the switch from regular diesel fuel to biodiesel. The switch comes at a time when ridership is at an all-time high. The one-day record was set during the first week of fall classes in 2007 with 17,000 riders.

The buses are initially using B10 biodiesel, which is a blend of 10% biodiesel and 90% petroleum diesel. But fleet managers expect to move to B20 in the near future. The biodiesel fuel is made from soybean oil produced by Alabama Biodiesel Corporation in Moundville and distributed by R.K. Allen Oil Company in Talladega.

While the cost of biodiesel is similar to regular diesel fuel, Dave George AU's director of parking and transit services, says there are many advantages to using biodiesel. Biodiesel actually helps keep the inside of the engines cleaner, and passengers and drivers appreciate the reduction in exhaust fumes. "There's almost no odor compared to the smell of regular diesel," George says. "Plus we get better fuel mileage with biodiesel."

"Auburn's leadership on alternative sources of energy starts on campus," according to AU President Jay Gogue. "Tiger Transit's switch to biodiesel illustrates our commitment to improving energy security for the United States and promoting economic growth through development and use of renewable bioenergy."

For more information about the biodiesel switch of Auburn University, contact Mike Clardy at clardch@auburn.edu.

Eastman Chemical Switches to B20 Plantwide

Last Updated: September 21, 2007
In 2005, after only one month of testing B5 biodiesel fuel in its diesel fleet, Eastman Chemical Company moved all of its diesel vehicles to B20, a blend of 20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel fuel. Now, two years later, the entire fleet has transitioned to B30. The diesel fleet, located at the Kingsport, Tennessee facility, numbers about 200 pieces and includes tractor trailers, cranes, medium-duty trucks, bulldozers, dump trucks, backhoes, and farm tractors. Eastman also has more than 150 pieces of diesel-powered stationary equipment, such as welders, air compressors, generators, and water pumps that are fueled with biodiesel.

The decision to move from B5 to B20 and then from B20 to B30 was based on positive comments from drivers about equipment performance and decreased odor and smoke. Darren Curtis, a staff engineer with Eastman's transportation department, says the company switched to biodiesel because it was an excellent opportunity to do something beneficial for the community and the environment at the same time. "It's not often that something this simple and easy comes along that can have a potentially major impact on the environment and the community."

In mid-2007 Eastman took B20 to a new level using it to fuel its onsite locomotives that are used for in-plant switching operations. According to Curtis, the move has been a smooth one. "We moved the rail system first to B10 and then a month later went to B20. We don't anticipate any unexpected problems based on three things: our previous experience with biodiesel blends, our experience thus far with B10 in the locomotives, and Genesee & Wyoming's (GWI) testing of biodiesel." GWI own the locomotives and perform the in-plant switching, and Eastman provides the fuel. Curtis credits GWI with extensive testing using biodiesel blends.

The switch has triggered a lot of interest in the Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia areas, according to Curtis. The general hope is that other large users of diesel fuel will follow Eastman's lead. "Eastman alone can make a small contribution, but it's going to take everyone working together to make the kind of impact we'd like to see," he says.

For more information, contact Betty Payne at Eastman Chemical.

San Marcos Unified School District

Last Updated: August 27, 2007
The San Marcos Unified School District (SMUSD), located in north San Diego County, California, currently uses 13 compressed natural gas (CNG) school buses in its fleet. The school district started using CNG school buses in 1999 when the district decided to begin using alternative fuel vehicles. The district currently operates Bluebird and Thomas buses that are equipped with John Deere CNG engines.

SMUSD also has a CNG fueling station on site. The infrastructure consists of four large compressors, 12 slow-fill pumps, and one fast-fill pump. The school district has discovered that the CNG fuel is a little cheaper than diesel and that government rebates help reduce operational costs. According to Transportation Coordinator Mike Sawyer, there is very little performance difference between the CNG buses and conventional diesel buses, and being able to fuel on site is convenient.

The CNG-fueled buses involve a slight increase in maintenance because the engines run at a higher temperature than conventional diesel buses. Some of the buses have also had bad sensors that caused problems.

For more information about SMUSD and its alternative fuel use, visit the SMUSD Web site.

Tulsa Public Schools Ride on CNG

Last Updated: August 27, 2007
Several successful bond issues and zero-interest loans from the State of Oklahoma enabled Tulsa Public Schools (TPS) to convert 24 conventional school buses to compressed natural gas (CNG) in 1990. In 1997, TPS was awarded a U.S. Department of Energy State Energy Program Special Projects grant, which also helped TPS fund its alternative fueled fleet program. Oklahoma Natural Gas partnered with TPS and to help add an additional 40 school buses and 30 medium/heavy-duty vehicles (MD/HDVs) to their fleet. "The funding from the government has made implementing CNG vehicles into our fleet a very rewarding process," said Jim Taylor, TPS transportation in-house supervisor.

TPS currently operates 40 CNG school buses, 30 MD/HDVs, and 12 light-duty vehicles (LDVs) on CNG and consumes more than 200,000 gasoline gallon equivalents of CNG every year. TPS has a CNG fueling station on site, which is equipped with four large compressors that can fuel 380 CNG vehicles (slow fill); four fast-fill stations are also integrated into the infrastructure. CNG vehicles have lower emissions and lower operating costs because the fuel is significantly cheaper than diesel. The school district also uses other alternative fuels. It operates all 285 of its conventional petroleum diesel buses with biodiesel (B20), and would like to add an electric bus for testing.

For more information, visit the TPS Transportation Web page.

Santa Fe Trails Transit System

Last Updated: August 27, 2007
Santa Fe Trails Transit System (SFT) is a division of the Public Works Department of the City of Santa Fe, New Mexico. It has operated alternative fuel vehicles in its fleet since 1992. SFT currently operates 35 transit-style buses and one light-duty vehicle (LDV) fueled with compressed natural gas (CNG). SFT also has two LDVs that operate on biodiesel. All the buses are 32 feet long and are equipped with John Deere CNG engines. SFT has a CNG fueling station on site and has recently opened the station to allow public use.

The SFT fleet has traveled more than 5 million miles. "The CNG buses are reliable, have cleaner burning engines, increased oil life, and lower fuel costs than diesel," said James Dillingham, fleet and facilities manager. "We have had just one engine failure that resulted in an engine rebuild." SFT plans to continue using CNG transit buses and to purchase six new CNG transit buses in 2007-2008 to replace some of the older models. SFT is also researching hybrid (electric/diesel) transit buses and hopes to use biodiesel instead of conventional petroleum diesel in the hybrids.

For more information, visit the SFT Web site.

New Haven Commuters Take the Trolley

Last Updated: August 22, 2007
In June 2002, the Greater New Haven Transit District (GNHTD) in Connecticut began operating four Ebus -22-foot, fully electric trolley replica vehicles. Powered by nickel cadmium (flooded) batteries, the trolleys emit zero emissions and can transport a maximum of 22 passengers. Two of the trolleys operate seven hours a day, six days a week on a downtown New Haven circular route. One trolley also runs an additional two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening, carrying people from various business buildings to parking lots.

The trolleys are each nearing 40,000 miles of operation and have an operational readiness rate that's greater than 90%. Using the electric trolleys instead of conventional diesel buses "improves the air quality in an area that is out of compliance with ozone and particulate matter, as well as decreases dependence on foreign petroleum," says Donna Carter, GNHTD executive director. "We are very pleased to be able to keep these trolleys, which were built to run in sunny California, on the streets of chilly New Haven in the dead of winter." GNHTD estimates that, so far, the trolley fleet has displaced 10,000 gallons of petroleum diesel fuel. Route expansions and refinements are currently being explored to offer better connections between local rail service, work locations, and tourist sites in the downtown area. The City of New Haven and the Greater New Haven Transit District are working together to secure funding for expansion of its alternative fuel vehicle fleet to serve the growing need for increased public transit options downtown.

For more information, visit the New Haven Transit District Web site or contact Donna Carter, Greater New Haven Transit District.

CNG Shuttles Become Hit of the Party

Last Updated: August 22, 2007
A fleet of compressed natural gas (CNG) airport shuttle buses has taken on a new life, resulting in even more CNG use in St. Louis, Missouri. Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, a St. Louis Clean Cities stakeholder, recently sold five of its CNG shuttle buses at auction as part of its standard three-year turn-around cycle for shuttles. (The airport replaced the vehicles with new CNG shuttles.) The good news for St. Louis: The buses were bought by Windows on Washington, a popular restaurant and banquet facility in the Washington Avenue Downtown District.

Windows on Washington uses the shuttles to transport guests to and from downtown parking lots and hotels to the banquet and restaurant facilities. The CNG choice made sense for the banquet facility. "CNG is environmentally prudent and a patriotic American response [to energy concerns]," says Windows on Washington owner Tom Klein. And he says the clean running buses are very popular. "We receive compliments from passengers, drivers, downtown corporate and residential neighbors, other employees, and even the Metropolitan St. Louis Taxi Cab Commission."

The shuttle drivers fuel the vehicles with the FuelMaker owned by Windows on Washington and at the Laclede Gas Company Public Fueling Facility in St. Louis.

Unitrans Moves Passengers With CNG

Last Updated: August 22, 2007
Unitrans, a student-run transit system that serves the University of California at Davis and the City of Davis, currently operates 27 compressed natural gas (CNG) transit buses, five CNG shuttle buses, two electric light-duty vehicles, 11 medium- and heavy-duty CNG vehicles, and four light-duty CNG-powered vehicles. Unitrans is among the first fleets in the nation to develop a transit bus that will operate on a hydrogen/CNG mixture; the company plans to begin testing by the end of 2007. Two hundred student employees and 14 career employees run the system, which transports 20,000 passengers each weekday (more than 3 million annually). About 95% of Unitrans' mileage is driven by alternative fuel buses.

Unitrans currently has its own CNG fueling station and plans to complete a new hydrogen/CNG refueling station, as well. "CNG compressors and related equipment are best protected from the elements within an enclosed structure. Completing the planned blended hydrogen/CNG fueling station has been very difficult because local safety personnel have required a wide array of safety elements that were not anticipated during the planning phase," explains General Manager Geoff Straw. "It seems that we're establishing new protocols due to the unique nature of the project. For this reason, the hydrogen compressor had to be located outside the existing CNG compressor/equipment building, which has delayed completion of the project for the past two years."

In addition to the CNG/hydrogen start up challenges, Straw indicated that "the technological learning curve was steep for our technicians. In fact, many of my peers in the transit industry and I are having difficulty finding trained compressed-fuel technicians." Two additional factors have surfaced in the process of operating a CNG fleet. Planning has had to include the increased capital costs of operating CNG vehicles due to the 15-year life of the vehicle's CNG fueling tanks. "We have two options when the CNG tanks have reached their maximum operational life. We can replace the tanks (about $75K per vehicle) or replace the vehicle entirely, both of which require large amounts of funds. With a conventional diesel vehicle, we can replace old/dirty engines with newer/cleaner diesel engines and the bus can operate for a much longer time with little financial investment." Another important factor is the limited number of CNG engine manufacturers in the transit market. Straw indicates that "some of us who have invested in CNG infrastructure are concerned about future pricing and support."

Despite these challenges, Unitrans is committed to clean technology and has selected CNG as its fuel of choice. "The low per-mile fuel cost of natural gas is attractive. It's a proven technology and we've had 12 years of experience with it." says Straw.

Contact Unitrans at http://unitrans.ucdavis.edu/ or Geoff Straw at gdstraw@ucdavis.edu.

Redwood National and State Parks

Last Updated: August 22, 2007
Located near Eureka, California, the Redwood National and State Parks are currently using a variety of alternative fuels in its fleet. They are using biodiesel (B20) to operate 32 heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) used for park maintenance. The park also uses five light-duty electric vehicles and two Toyota Prius hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) for light maintenance and park transportation. In addition, the park has an electric tractor vehicle used to haul cleaning supplies to the restrooms, pick up and transport garbage, and to perform routine maintenance work. "The electric tractor is quieter than a conventional vehicle, and it does not disturb the wildlife as much," says Roads and Trails Supervisor Richard Mayle.Redwood National and State Parks currently has an onsite biodiesel (B20) refueling station. "Biodiesel is inconsistent because it usually takes a few weeks to get a shipment to our remote location. Sometimes the fuel arrives in a few days and other times it takes a couple of weeks," says Mayle. "Biodiesel also costs a little bit more than conventional fossil fuel diesel, but we have noticed that biodiesel is cleaner and seems better for the environment."

For additional information, visit the Redwood National and State Parks Web site or contact Richard Mayle at richard_mayle@nps.gov.

Seattle Tacoma International Airport

Last Updated: August 22, 2007
In 2001, the Port of Seattle Aviation Division adopted a fleet vehicle purchase policy that required the purchase of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs), whenever feasible and practical, to replace conventional petroleum vehicles. The Seattle Tacoma (Sea-Tac) International Airport's fleet is currently composed of 60 compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles, including 16 buses and 41 light-duty vehicles (LDVs)--all of which display the slogan "Doing our share for cleaner air naturally." Sea-Tac's fleet also includes seven propane LDVs, nine hybrid LDVs and 91 ground support units that operate on electricity. In 2005, the Sea-Tac Airport received the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Air Excellence Award in recognition of the implementation of air quality programs such as the fleet vehicle purchase policy.

The Port required airport taxi and shuttle services to switch to CNG vehicles. Shuttle Express currently has 27 CNG shuttle vans serving the airport. Shuttle Express operates more than 33% of its total trip mileage using the CNG vans. The Seattle-Tacoma International Taxi Association operates all of its 166 taxi cab fleet with CNG-fueled Ford Crown Victorias. The Port of Seattle's Air Quality Web site reports that the CNG fleet is expected to produce 149 fewer tons of carbon monoxide and 24 fewer tons of oxides of nitrogen each year compared to conventional vehicles.

The Port partnered with Clean Energy to install, operate, and maintain a full-service CNG fueling station at Sea-Tac, which is open to the public and operates 24 hours a day. Sea-Tac currently has plans to add an additional public CNG fueling station, as well as increase the number of CNG buses in its fleet.

For more information, contact Russ Simonson, senior environmental program manager, Port of Seattle, Aviation Division, at simonson.r@portseattle.org.

Garbage Fumes Fuel LNG Transit Buses

Last Updated: June 11, 2007
Prometheus Energy and Bowerman Landfill in Orange County, Calif., are turning landfill gas (LFG) into liquefied natural gas (LNG) that will soon be used power local transit buses and garbage trucks.

Completed in December 2006, the new plant--the first of its kind--is currently producing about 1,000 gallons of LNG per day and expects to increase daily production to 5,000 gallons during its first phase. At this production level, the plant will reduce carbon dioxide output by the equivalent of 10,000 tons per year.

As landfill materials decompose, methane is generated. If allowed to escape, methane is 23 times as potent a greenhouse gas as carbon dioxide. Therefore, air quality regulations require landfills to flare the methane if not put to use. Flaring options include burning methane to generate electricity or purifying it to add to natural gas pipelines. However, if landfills are in areas where electricity is inexpensive or far from electric transmission lines and gas pipelines, landfill gas can economically be converted to liquid transportation fuel.

Such is the case for Bowerman Landfill, which is located just five miles from the Orange County Transit Authority (OCTA). The two organizations formed a partnership--Bowerman will produce the fuel and OCTA, which is already running its buses on LNG, will use it.

All told, OCTA now uses about 13,000 gallons of LNG per day. It will soon use all the LNG produced at the Bowerman plant. The rest of OCTA's LNG will continue to be supplied by other manufacturers.

Although Bowerman currently produces only 1,000 gallons of LNG per day, it generates enough LFG to make about 50,000 gallons of LNG per day. Prometheus is actively seeking grants to eventually increase production to 40,000 gallons per day in subsequent phases (it is already permitted to do so). The company hopes to take on other fuel customers as the project continues.

Prometheus is approved to proceed with another LFG-to-LNG project in Sacramento. In this case, the fuel produced will be used in garbage trucks hauling waste to the landfill and by other municipal and private fleets. The project is being made possible by a $549,000 Clean Cities grant. Prometheus is an active member of the Puget Sound coalition and a member of its steering committee.

For more information, contact Prometheus Energy at 206-267-0800.

Louisville School Buses Fueling with Biodiesel

Last Updated: March 15, 2007
Since mid December 2006, all the buses operated by the nation's nineteenth largest school district have been fueled with B2--a blend of 2% biodiesel, 98% diesel. With approximately 97,000 students, Jefferson County Public School (JCPS) District in Louisville, Kentucky, operates 1,100 school buses, which travel more than 85,000 miles a day. According to School Superintendent Stephen Daeschner, the district expects to "significantly reduce" exhaust emissions through the use of more than 50,000 gallons of biodiesel per year.

The Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition (KCFC) played a key role in initiating biodiesel use by JCPS. It helped the district develop bid specifications for the fuel and line up distributors. More importantly, KCFC helped convince Marathon Oil Company to start blending biodiesel at its fuel terminal in Louisville and obtained grants (from the Kentucky Soybean Board, National Clean Cities Inc., and the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program) to help it do so. This is only the second fuel terminal of the nation's fifth largest refiner to blend biodiesel. Marathon is now distributing B2 and B5 (5% biodiesel, 95% diesel) for a variety of other customers. "Fuel availability was a huge factor for the school district's move to biodiesel; it started using it shortly after Marathon started blending it," says KCFC Coordinator Melissa Howell.

According to Howell, JCPS fuels the buses from its own fleet facilities at seven depots where many of the district's students transfer from one bus to another. This depot system makes the air quality benefits of using biodiesel particularly important because students have to switch buses in a location where hundreds of buses are operating.

With an incremental cost of only $.02 per gallon, 35 Kentucky school districts are now using biodiesel in their buses. The state offers a tax credit for biodiesel producers and is looking forward to the opening of a major biodiesel production plant within the coming months. Owensboro Grain expects to have a 50-million-gallon-per-year facility--far larger than existing plants in the state--operational in Owensboro, Kentucky, sometime this summer.

For further information, contact Melissa Howell, KCFC Coordinator, 502-452-9152.

Education Center Features Prototype CNG/LNG Fueling Station

Last Updated: September 13, 2005
Since 2005, about one-third of Fresno's school buses have been filling up at a new state-of-the art natural gas fueling station at the Southwest Education Support Center in Caruthers, California. Not only is the station helping to decrease the use of imported petroleum, it a test facility for new compressed and liquified natural gas (CNG/LNG) fueling technology.

The 16,000-square-foot education support center was built in November 2004. Half the space is used for school administration, the other half for bus maintenance. The administration portion includes the offices of the Southwest Transportation Agency, which operates the buses and is a member of the San Joaquin Valley Coalition.

Fourteen years ago the fleet included only 10 CNG buses, says Kirk Hunter, agency director. The agency worked through an experimental phase with those buses and realized that CNG was a viable alternative to diesel. To date, Hunter says, CNG is cost-effective, costing the same as or less than diesel. Now, 29 of the agency's 90 school buses are fueled with CNG. The agency serves 15 school districts, transports 7,000 children each school day, and the buses travel 1 million miles a year.

When it was decided to build the new center, Hunter says he wanted it to have a CNG/LNG fueling station to support expansion of alternative fuel buses in the fleet. With the blessings of "a very forward thinking agency board," he sought funding. The agency obtained $1 million in funding from two programs run by the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District: the Heavy-Duty Engine program and the Reduce Motor Vehicle Emissions program.

The Idaho National Laboratory and Pacific Gas and Electric helped develop the prototype CNG/LNG station and will be using the site to test fueling technology yet to be developed.

The public and other private fleets can also use the station. So far, Hunter says some Fresno Area Express buses are using the station and that he hopes use by public and private fleets will increase.

In the meantime, the Southwest Education Support Center's CNG/LNG fueling station will continue powering buses to get children to school so they can learn and, at the same time, educate area adults about the benefits of natural gas vehicles.

For more information contact Kirk Hunter at 559-644-1020.

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U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center