Lake County, Indiana's first garbage truck powered by compressed natural gas (CNG) will be unveiled at a news conference Monday (August 18) in Hobart. Mayor Brian Snedecor and city officials along with representatives from BP Whiting Refinery, Indiana Department of Environmental Management, South Shore Clean Cities and others involved in the acquisition and fueling of this garbage truck will attend the event, which begins 10:00 a.m. CT at the Hobart Public Works Building; 1840 E. State Road 130.
Hobart's new automated CNG garbage truck was funded by the city with significant contributions from two grant programs, the BP Whiting Refinery's Cleaner Air through Diesel Emission Reductions program (BP-CADER) and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management's DieselWise program. South Shore Clean Cities Inc. assisted the City of Hobart in assessing alternative fuel vehicle options and securing grant funds. The BP-CADER grant program is the result of an agreement between BP, the Sierra Club and a consortium of environmental groups.
"The new automated CNG fueled garbage truck will result in fuel cost savings as CNG on a diesel gallon equivalent basis is significantly less expensive than diesel fuel,” said Carl Lisek, executive director of South Shore Clean Cities. "Mayor Snedecor, Public Works Director John Dubach and other leaders in the City of Hobart are committed to seeing a brighter future for Northern Indiana, and South Shore Clean Cities is committed to being part of the community to achieve that goal."
The City of Hobart joins the City of Michigan City as pioneers in Northwest Indiana, exploring the many benefits of converting their heavy-duty fleets to cleaner, greener and cost-effective compressed natural gas vehicles.
"Reducing air pollution emissions from diesel engines is one of the most cost effective things we can do to continue improving our air in Northwest Indiana," said Kathy Luther, Director of Environmental Programs at the Northwestern IN Regional Planning Commission. "When cities like Hobart invest in using cleaner technology for their public services, it is a win for the entire region."