This ACUA trash truck runs on compressed natural gas.
EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP – The Atlantic County Utilities Authority was recently named a Green Fleet Award winner by NAFA Fleet Management Association for its continued commitment to using alternative fuels and reducing fuel emissions. The authority ranked seventh among commercial and government fleets in North America.
“We’re honored to receive this award,” ACUA President Rick Dovey said in a release. “ACUA’s commitment to reducing emissions and pursuing alternative fuels has been a win for our operations, our environment, and the communities we serve. From January through September of this year alone, we’ve saved more than half a million dollars by using compressed natural gas rather than conventional diesel fuel. That’s savings we can proudly pass on to our customers – the municipalities of Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties, and their taxpayers – while reducing our impact on the environment.”
The NAFA Green Fleet Awards program evaluates fleets on the composition of alternative fuel and hybrid vehicles, fuel usage and savings, purchasing policy, longterm planning and community education.
ACUA’s fleet is currently comprised of 157 vehicles; 85% of its heavy duty vehicles and 55% of its medium duty vehicles run on compressed natural gas (CNG), and 41% of its light duty vehicles are electric, hybrid or CNG. An electric trash truck will be added to ACUA’s lineup of heavy-duty vehicles in 2023.
“ACUA vehicles drive miles through our local communities every day,” Vice President of Centralized Maintenance and Asset Management Matthew DeNafo said. “It’s essential that we pursue vehicles that not only work but do the least harm on the environment. ACUA has proven this is possible all while providing significant savings to the organization and its customers.”
In 2010, the ACUA Board of Commissioners adopted a Green Fleet Policy to formalize the authority’s commitment to pursuing the most energy efficient vehicles available within budgetary constraints. That same year, ACUA opened the first CNG fueling station in South Jersey. ACUA has since transitioned most of its fleet to this cleaner, cheaper fuel and implemented electric or hybrid alternatives where applicable.
ACUA operates several electric vehicle charging stations that are available for employee and public use at its Environmental Park in Egg Harbor Township and its Wastewater Facility in Atlantic City.
In 2022, ACUA was one of five entities awarded a state grant to purchase an electric trash collection vehicle and accompanying charging infrastructure.
ACUA regularly uses its environmental platform to educate the community on the benefits of alternative fuel vehicles.
The ACUA hosted a Drive Electric car show Sept. 28.
Most recently, the authority celebrated National Drive Electric Week with a webinar that covered state incentive programs as well as an in-person electric vehicle car show on Sept. 27-28.
To learn more about the NAFA Green Fleet Awards program, see https://www.nafa.org/awards/green-fleet-awards/green-fleet-awards-2022/
To learn more about ACUA’s investment in alternative fuels, see www.acua.com.
