AT&T can boast one of the most recognizable logos in the world.  Earlier this month, the blue world turned green when AT&T announced the largest corporate fleet commitment to natural gas vehicles to date.  Randall Stephenson, President & CEO of AT&T, announced at an Economic Club meeting that AT&T plans to spend an estimated $350 million to purchase about 8,000 medium-duty CNG vehicles. 

Stephenson said, “While there are no easy solutions to the challenges facing our nation, this investment is a first step on our part to help boost other industries while at the same time encouraging wider use and production of efficient vehicles and domestic fuel alternatives…This is part of a long-term strategy that will help us continue to cut operating costs, reduce emissions in the communities we serve and make our business even more sustainable.”

The medium-duty chassis will be gasoline vehicles built domestically by a U.S. automotive manufacturer, and then converted to CNG.  AT&T will also work with natural gas service providers to build up to 40 new CNG fueling stations across its operating region to provide the fueling infrastructure needed for the new vehicles. 

Rich Kolodziej, President of NGV America, applauded the announcement saying, “Over 98 percent of the natural gas we use in the U.S. is produced in North America.  Given new, more efficient production technologies, America now has over 115 years of recoverable natural gas resources. AT&T’s decision means the use of more U.S. energy instead of foreign oil, and it means more jobs right here at home.”

AT&T’s announcement is the largest commitment to natural gas vehicles to date and they join companies like UPS and Waste Management in their use of natural gas vehicles  to reduce our reliance on foreign oil, clean the environment, and keep more money at home.