While many are feeling the impact of rising diesel costs, the Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA) and its customers are benefitting from affordable compressed natural gas (CNG).
ACUA’s collection fleet, which serves 23 municipalities across Atlantic, Cumberland, and Cape May Counties, has run on this cleaner and cheaper alternative fuel since 2010. The Authority paid an average of $1.92 per diesel gallon equivalent over the last year, in comparison to diesel rates which currently exceed $5.79 per gallon.
“ACUA’s early adoption of alternative fuels has consistently delivered savings to its customers,” stated ACUA President Matthew DeNafo. “Instead of passing on unstable fuel prices, ACUA and its customers have benefitted from steady rates for more than 15 years.”
CNG has provided $7.3 million in benefits from fuel cost savings, sales revenues, and tax credits to ACUA and its customers.
The community has also benefited from improved air quality. Since switching to CNG, ACUA has prevented more than 11,746 metric tons of CO2e from entering the atmosphere.
“ACUA’s trucks drive through local neighborhoods several times a week,” said DeNafo. “By using CNG fuel, we’ve significantly reduced vehicle emissions, improving air quality in the communities we serve.”
The foresight to switch to CNG also positioned the Authority to use fuels of the future, like the renewable natural gas (RNG) now being generated at its landfill site.
The RNG facility, a partnership among ACUA, South Jersey Gas and OPAL Fuels, captures and transforms gases created by decaying waste in the landfill. The RNG created enters the South Jersey Gas infrastructure that provides fuel to ACUA’s CNG fueling station.
“ACUA’s fleet now runs on fuel created from the trash they collect, further reducing emissions, and advancing our commitment to sustainability,” said DeNafo.
For more information on ACUA’s CNG fleet or RNG facility, visit acua.com.
