February 26, 2022. The first public compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station in the City of Palmdale, California, is open. City officials joined WM (formerly Waste Management) and SoCal Gas officials and other dignitaries, on Wednesday, for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Antelope Valley Recycling and Disposal Facility, at the Palmdale Landfill.
“This is all-important to be going to renewable gases, to renewable energy, that’s the way of the future,” Mayor Steve Hofbauer said, “and we’re really pleased to have this here in the City of Palmdale.”
Hofbauer, Mayor Pro Tem Richard Loa and Councilman Austin Bishop presented WM District Manager John Welson with a certificate of recognition in honor of the occasion.
Councilman Bishop, who also serves as vice chair of the Antelope Valley Air Quality Management District Board of Directors, thanked WM for its partnership with Palmdale to not only clean up the city but also keep a good service running.
“The WM trucks are all going to be CNG, so they’re not going to be using any of the dirty diesel anymore,” Bishop added. “For those of you that don’t know, the CNG is up to at least 20% cleaner as far as air quality goes. When you add up a fleet this size with all these trucks, it definitely makes a difference.”
Bishop added the CNG station could provide means for some of the Valley’s approximately 70,000 to 80,000 commuters to fill up before they head over the hill if they have a CNG fuel vehicle. “It’s a step in the right direction,” he said.
The AV Air Quality Management District awarded WM a $349,000 grant that was used toward building the CNG fueling station. There was an additional $500,000 grant for the conversation of the WM trash trucks.