June 9, 2021. The Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA) has converted 87% of the trucks in its collection fleet from diesel to compressed natural gas (CNG) – an outstanding accomplishment for a local regional authority, according to a release.
The news comes off the heels of Waste Management’s recent boast that it plans to reach its goal of switching 80% of its fleet to the alternative fuel.
“ACUA has and continues to be at the forefront of implementing alternative fuels and technologies,” ACUA President Rick Dovey said. “Public entities are often mistaken for being slow to innovate, but we’ve proven time and time again that we can compete with and surpass the efficiencies of our private competitors.”
ACUA is the public agency responsible for managing waste in Atlantic County. To offset the cost of managing waste and keep rates low, the authority offers a variety of shared services to area municipalities across Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties, including curbside waste and recycling collection.
Since ACUA began transitioning its fleet from biodiesel to CNG, ratepayers have received more than $3.1 million in benefits from fuel cost savings, sales revenues and tax credits combined. Natural gas use also reduces emissions, and ACUA’s switch to CNG has prevented the release of more than 4,800 metric tons of CO2e into the atmosphere. CO2e, or carbon dioxide equivalent, is a metric measure that includes carbon dioxide emissions and other greenhouse gases such as methane and nitrous oxide.
Dovey said the ACUA prides itself as being an innovative public entity that will explore alternative fuels and renewable energy projects to cut costs and improve the environment of the communities it serves.
In addition to greening its fleet, ACUA has operated a CNG fueling station for more than 10 years at its site on Delilah Road in Egg Harbor Township. It was the first CNG facility in South Jersey.