Waste Management adds 1,000th truck to natural gas fleet
Virtually zero-carbon transportation fuel
CARSON, Calif.—Waste Management added the 1,000th natural gas truck to its fleet, making it the largest owner and operator of clean-running, heavy-duty refuse trucks in North America, according to the company.
“This is a special milestone in our journey to develop the cleanest fleet of heavy-duty trucks in our industry,” said Duane Woods, senior vice president at Waste Management. “We are pleased that we have so many natural gas trucks now in service, particularly in Southern California where clean air is such a critical issue.”
The trucks that Waste Management runs out of its Carson service yard—as well as one-third of its California clean fleet—are powered by liquefied natural gas derived from the decomposition of organic waste in its Altamont Landfill in Livermore, Calif., Woods said.
Since November 2009, the landfill has been generating as much as 13,000 gallons of LNG—a virtually zero-carbon transportation fuel—per day.
In one year, Waste Management’s 1,000 natural gas trucks will displace eight million gallons of petroleum and eliminate 45,100 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, according to the company.
Waste Management also has CNG and LNG fueling stations at 17 of its facilities throughout North America, with more under development. Woods added that the company hopes to develop a new landfill-gas-to-LNG facility at its Simi Valley landfill.
Houston-based Waste Management was the first solid waste company to join the California Climate Action Registry, according to Woods. In 2003, the company committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through increased recycling, the use of alternative transportation fuels and the beneficial use of landfill gas.
Carson officials moved ahead Tuesday evening with a lawsuit against Shell Oil Co. calling on the petroleum giant to clean up oil and chemicals oozing up from the Carousel housing tract. The city joined a 2012 suit brought forth by residents living north of Lomita Boulevard between Avalon Boulevard and Main Street demanding that benzene, methane and other raw petroleum chemicals be mitigated, and some compensation be awarded to residents.
Over the past few weeks, President Obama has made comments that seemed to signal his support for expanding LNG exports—a welcome gesture delineating a business-forward attitude that will boost our economy and make our nation more energy secure.
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Two Southland men pleaded guilty today to a federal conspiracy charge involving a scheme in which stolen identities were used to file phony tax returns, claiming thousands of dollars in refunds.
Michael Williams, 42, of Palmdale, and 34-year-old Mike Niko of Carson entered their pleas before U.S. District Judge Dale Fischer. They face up to 10 years each in prison at sentencing Sept. 9.
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The Cal State Board of Trustees today named a Cal State Fresno administrator as the new president of Cal State Los Angeles and appointed the interim president at Cal State Dominguez Hills to the permanent position.
William A. Covino, the provost and vice president for academic affairs at Cal State Fresno, said he was honored by the appointment and looked forward to moving to Los Angeles.
CARSON, Calif. — Attorney General Kamala Harris and the Federal Trade Commission announced today that they have approved Tesoro’s $2 billion acquisition of a BP refinery in Carson.
Harris said the agreement she reached with Tesoro and BP would preserve jobs, ensure environmental retrofitting of the facility and protect from spikes in gas prices.
