BCC’s Center for Sustainable Energy
 Showcases Clean Energy Refuse Truck

Bronx, NY – Compressed natural gas (CNG) powered engine trash trucks are the environmentally friendly technology New York City public and private fleet owners should explore to lower high pollution levels emitted by diesel powered trucks which spew out exhaust that contains soot, smog-forming nitrous oxides and a variety of carcinogens , according to a group of speakers gathered at Bronx Community College September 20 at an event hosted by the College's Center for Sustainable Energy.

Federal tax incentives and grants from New York State can   offset costs for many of the environmentally cleaner technologies that power more and more vehicles coming into the marketplace today.

That’s the message Clean Energy of California and Hallahan Truck Sales of Suffolk County delivered to an audience in an outdoor presentation on the steps of Gould Memorial Library (GML) on the Bronx Community College campus.

From a lectern between the GML columns, under a shimmering blue sky, speakers included James Quigley, Operations Director of the Center for Sustainable Energy , who emceed the event , Bronx Community College President Carolyn G. Williams,   who offered welcoming remarks,   and   Paul Lipson, Chief of Staff of Congressman José E. Serrano who has helped secure government funds for BCC’s Center for Sustainable Energy, talked of the importance of the new and cleaner vehicular technologies. Also speaking in favor of the new technology was Antonia Bryson former Deputy Commissioner in charge of New York City’s air and noise pollution control and hazardous materials programs. She led one of the largest programs in the country seeking to convert vehicles to alternative fuels. On display, parked near the lectern,  was the compressed natural gas AUTOCAR Xpeditor heavy-duty refuse truck  for the audience to view.

“The Center for Sustainable Energy has over the past couple of years become a leading forum for research and dialogues around energy issues,” said President Williams.  “This exposition provides yet another opportunity for us to bring the cutting edge of research and technology to our communities.  We, at The College, have devoted significant new funds to our Automotive Technician Training program. 

“We know that specific education and training will be required as the nation adapts to new alternative strategies for transportation and jobs and careers evolve. We, The College and the Center, are prepared to provide training which meets national standards and the skill requirements of local employers, both in alternate fuel and automotive technology,” stated President Williams.

“I believe that compressed natural powered engines provide the most environmental benefits. The burning of this energy gives off fewer hydrocarbon, particulates and carbon monoxide which contribute to greenhouse gases,” stated Clement Drummond, BCC’s new Director of the Automotive Technology Program.

“Our students already learn about fuel supply systems. We will be teaching the new technology that powers compressed natural gas and other clean energy technologies fleet owners will be utilizing to comply with new federal Environmental Protection Administration standards which go into effect in January 2007,” added Drummond.  For over 18 years Drummond worked for Keyspan in developing the natural gas vehicle market which included fuel system development, then became Suffolk Community College’s Program Coordinator of Auto Technology before coming to BCC to serve as Director of the Automotive Technology Program.

Reading from a letter from Congressman José E. Serrano who was in Washington, Serrano’s Chief Of Staff Paul Lipson said, “the future of clean fuels, such as CNG and Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) , will, for the immediate future be driven by enlightened municipal governments, key agencies, and forward-looking legislators who understand that their decision-making can move markets very rapidly and have a transformative effect on both air quality and job creation in places that have been left behind on both accounts.

“We want those jobs and environmental benefits to aggregate here in the Bronx, the epicenter of the childhood asthma epidemic and a district that continues to struggle with high rates of underemployment.

James Harger, Senior Vice President, Marketing & Sales for Clean Energy, a California-based company cited the decision by Long Island’s Smithtown to purchase a whole new trash truck fleet powered by compressed natural gas as an example of a municipality that learned the long term benefits of compressed natural gas.

“This is the first large scale compressed natural gas deployment in a refuse application outside of California, which has operated some 2,000 natural compressed gas trucks for the past three years,” explained Harger.

“Every time we replace a diesel engine truck, it’s the equivalent to removing 325 autos off the road. This results in a steep reduction in pollutants that are linked to asthma, bronchitis and other diseases. Research has shown that one in five children in the Bronx have asthma he stated. Vice President Gregory Hallahan of Hallahan Truck Sales of Holtsville, NY in Suffolk County, demonstrated by throwing a white cloth over the exhaust pipe of the idling refuse truck.  The cloth showed no traces of soot after a minute.

“The bottom line,” said Richard Kassel of the Vehicle Pollution Programs Natural Resource Defense Council, “is diesel pollution causes health risks.” Kassell added that estimates show that 4,000 people die prematurely in New York because of diesel pollution.

“The good news is that this is a solvable problem. Clean fuel natural gas is up to date and 95% cleaner than diesel.

An added bonus of natural gas trucks are they are much quieter than diesel trucks. Use of the cleaner, quieter trucks not only safeguards the health and quality of life in communities but it also protects sanitation workers who breathe truck fumes day after day.