Republic Opens Latest CNG Station in Long Beach, Calif.

Republic Services unveiled its latest compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station in Long Beach, Calif.

The new fueling station is designed to support the recent addition of 56 new CNG-powered collection trucks that serve customers throughout greater Long Beach. The additional CNG trucks have replaced older diesel-powered trucks, and bring the total number of alternative fuel vehicles operated by Republic Services of Long Beach to 147.

"Our growing fleet of alternative fuel vehicles in Long Beach enables us to offer cleaner and quieter operations,” Heath Eddleblute, area president of Republic Services, said in a statement. “It also embodies our commitment, as one of the largest vocational fleet operators in the country, to doing our part to reduce carbon emissions whenever possible."   

Republic’s latest move is part of the overall industry trend to adopt compressed natural gas, even as diesel fuel costs have subsided.

The new fueling station is Republic's second alternative fuels facility in Long Beach. Republic has been committed to introducing alternative fuel vehicles into its Long Beach fleet since 2008.

"Republic's CNG program is a perfect fit with our ‘Sustainable City Action Plan,’" Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia said in a statement. "Climate change is indeed real and we must adapt the way we produce and use energy, supporting transportation that is not reliant on fossil fuels and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Republic is a leader in sustainability, and I commend them for developing this CNG facility here in Long Beach, which will further aid in the continued conversion of their fleet to natural gas."

Republic partnered with Clean Energy on this new fueling station project. More than 75 percent of Republic's fleet of 191 collection trucks in Long Beach is now powered by CNG fuel.

"I have always believed that with the right leadership in government and the private sector we can be both business and environmentally friendly," State Assemblyman Patrick O'Donnell said in a statement. "Republic has demonstrated that leadership by developing this CNG fueling facility and transitioning their fleet to clean natural gas. This is just one more example of how Republic Services has been an excellent community partner for Long Beach and the region."

Nationwide, Republic operates a fleet of nearly 2,500 CNG-powered vehicles which are supported by 38 natural gas fueling stations. As of the end of the second quarter, Republic said 17 percent of its fleet now operates on natural gas (up from 15 percent a year ago). In addition, 73 percent of its residential fleet is automated.

Last year, Republic's CNG fleet helped save roughly 21 million gallons of diesel fuel.

Republic recently announced its second quarter results. It posted revenues of $2.35 billion in the second quarter, a year-over-year gain of 1.7 percent. Average yield was 2 percent and volumes increased 0.5 percent.