Marlene Feist, Utilities Communications Manager, No Phone Number Available
Monday, August 3, 2015 at 3:11 p.m.
Mayor David Condon unveiled the City of Spokane's first compressed natural gas (CNG) powered garbage trucks outside of City Hall. Over the next 7 years, the City will convert its entire solid waste collection fleet to CNG, replacing the diesel vehicles that have been the City standard.
The move to CNG vehicles is both environmentally and financially responsible—a strategy that the Mayor and the City's utilities have embraced in the last several years. The move is also part of the City's Sustainability Action Plan, which simultaneously addresses unique opportunities for Spokane related to energy and climate.
“We are continually looking for opportunities to use citizens' dollars more effectively,” says Mayor Condon. “These new trucks provide many advantages, most importantly the ability to keep utility rates more affordable for everyone.”
These CNG trucks are:
The move to CNG coincides with the opening of the City's new Spokane Central Service Center. Later this summer, the City will open that center, a combined Solid Waste Management and Fleet maintenance facility, which includes a CNG fueling station for the trucks. The facility is located on a site in the Chief Garry Park Neighborhood that's west of Nelson and north of Broadway.
The City's vehicle maintenance employees also are going through training to learn how to maintain and repair these vehicles. And by the end of the year, the City will have 20 CNG trucks.
