Thanks to a $315,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Pennsylvania American Water will expand its fleet of compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles to its northeast Pennsylvania operations.

This latest grant – the result of Act 13 funding recently awarded by Gov. Tom Corbett – was secured through a partnership with Greater Philadelphia Clean Cities Coalition and will be used to purchase 18 new Freightliner utility trucks that use CNG fuel. The Act 13 Natural Gas Vehicle grants are financed by impact fees paid by natural gas operators.

Just last November, the company also announced it had received $62,800 in Alternative Fuel Incentive Grant funding from DEP to convert 14 new light-duty trucks to use CNG.

Pennsylvania American Water launched a pilot back in early 2013 with four CNG-powered Ford F-250 trucks based in Punxsutawney and Coatesville. “The vehicles have performed as expected, which is why we continue to pursue grants to purchase more vehicles,” said according to Terry Maenza, director of communications and external affairs for Pennsylvania American Water.

The new trucks, dedicated CNG units, will be rolled out in 2015 and will replace vehicles that have reached the end of their lifecycles, according to Maenza.

The utility’s existing fleet includes makes and models such as the Ford F-250 and Transit Connect, and the Chevrolet 2500, Express Van, and Impala.

Maenza said the company currently has five CNG vehicles on the road, with the 14 bi-fuel models to be deployed this year, and the new dedicated CNG units to come in 2015, which will bring Pennsylvania American Water’s total alternative-fuel fleet count to 37.

The new Freightliner CNG trucks will be stationed at Pennsylvania American Water's operations in Scranton, expanding upon the utility’s existing CNG-powered fleet in Norristown, Royersford, Coatesville, Bangor, Clarion, and Punxsutawney. The vehicles will be operated in various capacities by supervisors and utility workers and will not require any special training, according to Maenza.

While the utility does not have any specific goals for these new units, Maenza noted that it does expect to realize cost savings for fuel, as well as a 25% reduction in carbon emissions compared to gasoline.  

Pennsylvania American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, is the largest water utility in the state, providing water and/or wastewater services to approximately 2.1 million people. In 2013, American Water was recognized as one of the largest commercial fleets in the country, ranking No. 88 on the top 300 commercial fleets listing.

- By Grace Suizo