The vehicle, which will travel Uribe Refuse Services’ heaviest routes, will debut in Lincoln as part of a national trend to cut fuel costs and reduce tailpipe emissions by converting fleets to run on methane. It will refuel at Stirk CNG facility, which has just opened at Sapp Brothers, 6001 Cornhusker Hwy. Uribe Refuse plans to convert its 17 other trucks over the next few years.
“We’re proud to have the first refuse truck fueled exclusively by natural gas in the entire state of Nebraska and will closely evaluate the performance and economical attributes associated with NGVs,” said Nick Crow, vice president of Uribe Refuse. “We and our RecycleLink curbside recycling company will maximize our efficiencies and cost savings by upgrading and converting our fleets accordingly.”
According to Black Hills Energy, which supplies natural gas in Lincoln and 105 other Nebraska communities, converting one refuse truck to natural gas will yield the same environmental benefits as removing 325 cars from Lincoln’s streets.
“NGVs have actually been in use for decades, and this technology has developed to a point where converting is a practical and cost-effective choice,” said Paul Cammack, an NGV expert with natural gas utility Black Hills Energy. “Black Hills helps local communities develop and sustain economic development and community betterment programs, and helping fleet managers thinking about NGVs by offering ideas and information is an extension of those partnerships.”
The fuel cylinders for the Uribe Refuse’s truck were manufactured by Hexagon Lincoln.
Source: Black Hills Energy
