When T. Boone Pickens went to San Antonio in January, you might say he talked a lot of trash.  Together with San Antonio Mayor Phil Hardberger, City Manager Sheryl Sculley, and City Director of Environmental Services David McCary, they dedicated a new compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station to service a fleet of 30 new CNG-powered refuse trucks.

At the ribbon cutting event, Pickens said, “A growing number of local governments are recognizing the important role they play to help reduce our foreign oil dependency through greater use of domestic resources such as natural gas.  I certainly applaud San Antonio’s leadership in that regard.  This will lead to significant economic and environmental benefits long term that cannot be underestimated.”

The City contracted with NGVAmerica member, Clean Energy Fuels, to design and construct the new CNG refuse truck fuel station.  Clean Energy’s operation and maintenance contract is for five years with a five-year option. The City used federal and state funding opportunities to assist with CNG station and new vehicle expenses, including a grant from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to help offset station construction costs.

By March, San Antonio will operate a fleet of 30 CNG-powered refuse trucks, making the city's CNG refuse fleet the largest in Texas.  The CNG powered trucks will be used to collect solid waste and recycling from about 75,000 homes primarily in the northeast service area.  The city has an option to purchase 60 more CNG refuse trucks in FY 2009 and could potentially construct two more CNG refueling stations at two additional city maintenance facilities.

San Antonio joins an increasing number of municipalities including Washington, D.C., and New York City, that use CNG in their service fleets.  Less than 18 months ago, only California had refuse operators using natural gas fuel.