State grants will expand alternative-fuel fleets in Western Pennsylvania
Companies in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties will collectively add 32 alternative-fuel vehicles to their fleets with the assistance of state grants.
• Noble Environmental, which operates the Westmoreland Sanitary Landfill and County Hauling, received $600,000 from Pennsylvania’s Alternative Fuel Incentive Grant program. It will add eight compressed natural gas garbage trucks each for its Westmoreland and Allegheny operations.
• United Parcel Service (UPS) received $300,000 to buy 12 compressed natural gas tractors for its New Stanton facility.
• Duquesne Light Co. received $20,000 to retrofit four pickup trucks with a plug-in hybrid electric drive system.
The grant program aims to improve air quality and public health while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The current round of grants, announced this week, are among more than $2.1 million awarded to put 82 cleaner-fuel vehicles into use in 13 counties. Placing the vehicles in service instead of older gasoline or diesel-fueled vehicles is expected to reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 1,349 metric tons.
Jeff Himler is a TribLive reporter covering Greater Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Mt. Pleasant Area and Derry Area school districts and their communities. He also reports on transportation issues. A journalist for more than three decades, he enjoys delving into local history. He can be reached at jhimler@triblive.com.
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