PRESS RELEASE
City of Long Beach
Public Information Office
411 W. Ocean Blvd,
Long Beach, CA 90802
www.longbeach.gov
5/11/2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEPress Release # CM:051117
Subject:
City of Long Beach Unveils First Municipal Near-Zero Emissions Refuse Truck
Contact:
Jacqueline Zhou
Assistant Administrative Analyst
Department of Financial Management
562.570.5431
Jacqueline.Zhou@longbeach.gov
Assistant Administrative Analyst
Department of Financial Management
562.570.5431
Jacqueline.Zhou@longbeach.gov
On May 3, 2017 at the Advanced Clean Transportation Expo, the City of Long Beach unveiled a new municipal refuse truck, the first in the country to employ Cummins’ revolutionary near-zero emissions engine.
“Long Beach is working hard to improve the environment for our residents in every possible way,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “I’m proud that we are again setting the pace with our fleet, this time with new technology that drastically cuts heavy truck emissions.”
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions, especially for heavy trucks driven daily in the Long Beach area, is vital for improving air quality and public health. The Cummins Westport ISL G Near-Zero engine achieves a 9% reduction in greenhouse gases compared to the current standard ISL G engine; and is certified to a nitrogen oxides (NOx) emission standard that is 90% cleaner than the current Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) NOx limit. The engine also emits 90% less particulate matter than a diesel powered version.
“We are committed to making the City fleet as sustainable as possible,” said Dan Berlenbach, Fleet Services Bureau Manager. “This is a huge step in reducing truck emissions that benefits everyone in Long Beach.”
The City’s new municipal refuse truck is the first of 23 identical near-zero emissions refuse trucks that will soon be coming to Long Beach. The remaining 22 new trucks will go into service in the next six months. Thirteen of the 23 trucks will be partially funded by a grant from the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee (MSRC).
Long Beach runs an aggressive green fleet program and 52% of its fuel used in 2016 is renewable. In the near future, the City will begin utilizing renewable compressed natural gas (CNG) in order to maximize the emissions reduction of this new technology engine.
The Long Beach Fleet has been working towards cleaner transport since the 1970’s. It began with the purchase of 50 CNG Ford Rancheros for use at the Long Beach Gas Department. In the 1980’s, CNG Police patrol cars were added to the fleet. In the 1990s, Fleet integrated CNG refuse trucks; and in 2003, Long Beach became the first city in the United States to use liquefied natural gas (LNG) for its street sweepers.
Long Beach Fleet Services has been recognized multiple times for its work toward sustainability, with the following rankings and recognitions:
• #12 in 2016 Leading Fleets competition, sponsored by Government Fleet magazine
• Long Beach Civic Innovation Award winner for 2016 for its “Future Fleet”
• Top 50 in 2016 Green Fleets competition, sponsored by Heavy Duty Trucking magazine
• Top 50 in 2015 Leading Fleets competition, sponsored by Government Fleet magazine
The City is committed to sustainable operations that will improve air quality and help the City reach its climate change goals.
About Fleet Services Bureau
The mission of the Fleet Services Bureau is to provide vehicle and equipment acquisitions, preventive maintenance, repair and fueling services to City departments so they can have safe, reliable, cost effective equipment and vehicles to accomplish their operational goals and purpose.
About Department of Financial Management
The Department of Financial Management administers the financial operations of the City and serves as a financial adviser to the City Manager and City Council. It is the responsibility of Financial Management to help keep the City financially strong. The Financial Management department is organized into seven bureaus: Budgeting, Accounting, Business Services, Commercial Services, Fleet Services, Financial Controls and Treasury. To learn more about Financial Management, visit: www.longbeach.gov/finance.
“Long Beach is working hard to improve the environment for our residents in every possible way,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “I’m proud that we are again setting the pace with our fleet, this time with new technology that drastically cuts heavy truck emissions.”
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions, especially for heavy trucks driven daily in the Long Beach area, is vital for improving air quality and public health. The Cummins Westport ISL G Near-Zero engine achieves a 9% reduction in greenhouse gases compared to the current standard ISL G engine; and is certified to a nitrogen oxides (NOx) emission standard that is 90% cleaner than the current Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) NOx limit. The engine also emits 90% less particulate matter than a diesel powered version.
“We are committed to making the City fleet as sustainable as possible,” said Dan Berlenbach, Fleet Services Bureau Manager. “This is a huge step in reducing truck emissions that benefits everyone in Long Beach.”
The City’s new municipal refuse truck is the first of 23 identical near-zero emissions refuse trucks that will soon be coming to Long Beach. The remaining 22 new trucks will go into service in the next six months. Thirteen of the 23 trucks will be partially funded by a grant from the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee (MSRC).
Long Beach runs an aggressive green fleet program and 52% of its fuel used in 2016 is renewable. In the near future, the City will begin utilizing renewable compressed natural gas (CNG) in order to maximize the emissions reduction of this new technology engine.
The Long Beach Fleet has been working towards cleaner transport since the 1970’s. It began with the purchase of 50 CNG Ford Rancheros for use at the Long Beach Gas Department. In the 1980’s, CNG Police patrol cars were added to the fleet. In the 1990s, Fleet integrated CNG refuse trucks; and in 2003, Long Beach became the first city in the United States to use liquefied natural gas (LNG) for its street sweepers.
Long Beach Fleet Services has been recognized multiple times for its work toward sustainability, with the following rankings and recognitions:
• #12 in 2016 Leading Fleets competition, sponsored by Government Fleet magazine
• Long Beach Civic Innovation Award winner for 2016 for its “Future Fleet”
• Top 50 in 2016 Green Fleets competition, sponsored by Heavy Duty Trucking magazine
• Top 50 in 2015 Leading Fleets competition, sponsored by Government Fleet magazine
The City is committed to sustainable operations that will improve air quality and help the City reach its climate change goals.
About Fleet Services Bureau
The mission of the Fleet Services Bureau is to provide vehicle and equipment acquisitions, preventive maintenance, repair and fueling services to City departments so they can have safe, reliable, cost effective equipment and vehicles to accomplish their operational goals and purpose.
About Department of Financial Management
The Department of Financial Management administers the financial operations of the City and serves as a financial adviser to the City Manager and City Council. It is the responsibility of Financial Management to help keep the City financially strong. The Financial Management department is organized into seven bureaus: Budgeting, Accounting, Business Services, Commercial Services, Fleet Services, Financial Controls and Treasury. To learn more about Financial Management, visit: www.longbeach.gov/finance.