OKC Embraces Altfuels

Oklahoma City embraces fuel efficiency and alternative fuels across departments

Starting with a fleet of seven (7)  bi-fuel compressed natural gas vehicles in 1997, by 2010 the City of Oklahoma City owned, operated and maintained a fleet of 80 light-duty, compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles many of which were dedicated CNG, two (2) heavy-duty CNG refuse haulers, and 13 fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles. The city also was using 357,000 gallons of B20 blend biodiesel fuel in its medium- and heavy-duty diesel trucks, construction equipment, and commercial mowers, plus another 37,500 gallons of B10 blend biodiesel fuel during the colder winter months.

The city’s General Services Department city installed Clean Cities-funded compressed natural gas fueling infrastructure at its Central Maintenance Facility in 2005 for the growing light-duty natural gas vehicle fleet. General Services most recently purchased five (5) MY 2010, dedicated natural gas Chevrolet Impala sedans for the fleet with the help of 2009 Public Fleet Conversion Grant funding from the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments.

The city’s Water Wastewater Utilities Department will complete construction of CNG refueling infrastructure for its CNG refuse haulers on the city’s far north side in 2011 with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding.

The City of Oklahoma City, its General Services Department and its Utilities Department continue to demonstrate voluntary commitment to the Clean Cities mission of petroleum reduction and vehicle emissions reductions in years of expansion and in years of budgetary contraction.