Phoenix-based Republic Services will add more than 200 natural gas trucks to its fleet this spring. The 226 vehicles will be distributed among the firm's Allied Waste divisions in Gardena, Calif.; Sun Valley, Calif.; Anaheim, Calif.; Long Beach, Calif.; Pacheco, Calif.; Chula Vista, Calif.; Bellevue, Wash.; Kent, Wash.; and Boise, Idaho.

Republic will build natural gas fueling stations in Gardena, Sun Valley, Chula Vista and Bellevue to support the vehicles. Seal Beach, Calif.-based Clean Energy will oversee the design and construction of the facilities. With the purchase of the trucks, Republic will have nearly 460 alternatively fueled vehicles in its fleet.

“Dedicating 20 percent of our 2010 new truck orders to [natural gas vehicles] definitely makes a statement about our commitment to protecting the environment,” said Jeff Andrews, senior vice president of Republic's West Region, in a press release. “It's only fitting that we start deployment of these fuel-efficient, environmentally-friendly vehicles in April, the month of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.”

Of the new vehicles, 173 run on compressed natural gas and the other 53 run on liquefied natural gas. The chassis are built by Autocar and the engines by Cummins Westport.

“We believe it takes this type of leadership to get America moving toward using this cleaner, domestic fuel, and look forward to helping Republic implement its [natural gas vehicle] growth in these states,” said Ray Burke, vice president of Clean Energy, in a press release.

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