More than $1 million in public grants has funded 23 compressed natural gas trucks and a new Trillium CNG fueling station in Pottsville, Pa., set to open on Earth Day. The CNG trucks are being leased by Penske Truck Leasing to Penske Logistics, NFI and Wegmans Food Markets and will replace diesel trucks in their respective fleets.

Nearly $500,000 in funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Natural Gas Energy Development Program is subsidizing Penske TRuck Leasing's purchase of 23 Freightliner Cascadia tractors equipped with Cummins Westport 12-liter engines. Penske Logistics is leasing five of the trucks, NFI is leasing 15  and Wegmans is leasing three of the trucks.

Replacing 23 heavy-duty diesel trucks with CNG equivalents will result in a 1.25-million pound annual reduction in CO2 emissions, according to Penske. This is equivalent to the annual emissions of over 150 homes.

More than $800,000 in funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s Alternative Clean Energy Program was used to subsidize Trillium’s new public fueling station. The new station can accommodate Class 8 trucks and features Trillium’s fast-fuel pumps with a dual hose dispenser to allow two trucks to fuel simultaneously.

The station will be open at all hours and accepts all major credit cards and fleet cards.

“Today is an excellent example of how several organizations can work together and create a success story for the transportation industry to transition to alternative fuels,” stated Drew Cullen, Penske senior vice president of fuels and facilities services. “We appreciate the opportunity to take a lead role in making this day a reality.”

To accommodate natural gas demand, Penske Truck Leasing modified its nearby 10,400 square-foot Highridge Business Park facility to accommodate natural gas vehicles at each of its four maintenance bays.

“Trillium CNG is excited to be partnering with NFI, Penske and Wegmans Foods to make CNG available in the area,” said Mary Boettcher, Trillium CNG president. “We’re confident other fleet operators in the tri-state region will take advantage of the environmental and economic benefits that natural gas provides.”