More and more municipalities continue to recognize the many benefits of switching from imported diesel fuel to cleaner burning domestic natural gas. Earlier this week, Dallas Area Rapid Transit voted to authorize the purchase of 600 CNG-powered buses. Yesterday, the City of Los Angeles awarded a 10-year contract to design, build, and operate a new public access CNG fueling station at Ontario International Airport (ONT). The new CNG fueling station will serve the growing fleets of CNG-fueled airport courtesy shuttle buses, taxicabs and shuttle vans.
Airport Manager Jess Romo said, “We are committed to helping reduce our carbon footprint, in support of the City of Los Angeles GREEN LA Action Plan which focuses on fighting global warming by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We believe that the planned transition of airport vehicles to clean-burning natural gas power will contribute significantly to the success of this effort.” Natural gas produces up to 23 percent lower greenhouse gas emissions than diesel fuel in heavy-duty vehicles and up to 30 percent lower greenhouse gas emissions than gasoline fuel in light-duty and medium-duty vehicles.
Ontario International is home to nine major airlines and offers over 550 flights a week. Located 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles in the center of Southern California, ONT is a medium-hub, full-service airport with commercial jet service to major U.S. cities and through-service to international destinations. The airport is owned and operated by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), a unit of Los Angeles municipal government.
The airport provides courtesy shuttle service between the airline terminals, daily parking lots, and the consolidated rental car facility. In addition, plans call for the conversion of the entire fleet of airport shuttle buses to CNG power in 2011. The airport has also mandated that all permitted taxicab operators convert 100 percent of their cabs to alternative fuel in the next two years.
The new station, located near the RCF, will also be accessible 24/7 to CNG-powered vehicles operating in surrounding communities. CNG fuel requirements at the new station are expected to top 800,000 gallons each year at full build-out.