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Public transit agencies in San Diego, Calif., Las Vegas and Phoenix have undertaken major expansions of their compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered bus fleets.
Clean Energy Fuels Corp. currently contracts for CNG fueling services with the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System, the Phoenix Regional Public Transportation Authority (RPTA) and the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC). With the addition of new CNG buses to these three transit agency fleets, the combined fuel requirement is anticipated to lead to an incremental increase of approximately 2.5 million gallons per year.
James Harger, Clean Energy senior vice president, says, “Industry acceptance of natural gas-fueled buses is increasingly enthusiastic and widespread. In their moves to replace older diesel buses with new CNG models, transit agencies tell us that lower fuel costs, reduced harmful emissions and improved performance are key factors in their decision to switch to natural gas power.”
The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS), operating 82 fixed bus routes throughout San Diego County, is scheduled to deploy 26 new 60-foot articulated CNG buses as well as 50 new 40-foot CNG buses by the end of November, bringing the agency’s total CNG fleet to well over 400 buses. Clean Energy operates and maintains three fuel stations for San Diego MTS. When the new buses are fully deployed, total annual CNG fuel consumption is expected to top 6.5 million gallons.
The Regional Public Transportation Authority (RPTA) in Phoenix is adding 51 new CNG buses to their current contingent, bringing to 132 the total number of CNG buses deployed by RPTA. Clean Energy provides station operation and fueling service to the CNG bus fleet, which is now projected to use more than 900,000 gallons of fuel annually.
Serving the Greater Las Vegas area, the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) contracts with Clean Energy to operate and maintain two RTC transit fueling stations. These stations currently fuel more than 50 CNG buses and paratransit vehicles. A total of 45 new CNG buses are on order for delivery in early 2009. When fully deployed, the fleet of 95 CNG buses will consume up to 1.5 million gallons annually.
For more information, visit www.cleanenergyfuels.com.
