In an effort to continue reducing emissions in metro Phoenix, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Mayor Kate Gallego, and officials from state and local agencies announced steps to advance the national Cleaner Trucks Initiative in Phoenix.
Led by the EPA, the initiative aims to reduce nitrogen oxide and other pollutants from heavy-duty truck engines by establishing more stringent emission standards. The EPA granted the city’s Public Works Department $1 million to replace 10 diesel trucks with trucks powered by compressed natural gas, which emit ultra-low levels of nitrogen oxide.
“We are trying to look at how we can manage taxpayer dollars most effectively to minimize the costs to people who get trash and recycling service from the city of Phoenix,” Gallego said. “We’re also making it a priority to reduce emissions.”
Public Works officials said the grant will fund nine additional CNG solid waste trucks and one CNG long haul truck, saving more than 75,000 gallons of diesel fuel. The new trucks will increase the number of CNG trucks in Phoenix to 162, leaving only 88 diesel trucks in service.
Phoenix will order the trucks next month, and they’re scheduled to be in service by March 2021. “To make these changes and be able to walk the walk and assure that city vehicles have low emissions is really important for our families,” said City Councilman Carlos Garcia, who represents District 8, which covers parts of central and south Phoenix. “We’re really excited that the city is hoping to lead and making sure that the rest of the state is conscious of emissions.”