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Office of Communications Gwen Campbell Media, Community & Education Relations Tel. 318.673.5062 / Fax: 318.673.5087 gwen.campbell@shreveportla.gov | ||
$4.7 million in Economic Stimulus Funds from the U.S. Federal Transit Administration gives Shreveport’s SporTran public transit system the “green light” to begin the conversion of its fleet to Compressed Natural Gas or CNG. | “We are set to purchase five new buses that will be powered by compressed natural gas or CNG, pay a large part of the infrastructure change costs, including a fueling station, changes to our facility to handle compressed gas, and training for personnel to safely work with compressed natural gas,” explains SporTran director Gene Eddy. | “We’re also supporting industries, capital investments, and jobs that are being created in our area to recover natural gas,” says Mayor Cedric B. Glover a staunch supporter of CNG even at the state level. “Last year we became aware that we were located on one of the largest natural gas deposits in the country. This is a cleaner-burning fuel that is cheaper than diesel, does not have to be imported, is available locally, and most importantly is an investment in clean air.” | SporTran has established itself as a leader in its constant efforts to provide first-class public service and cost effective environmentally friendly emissions. | In 2006 SporTran began using biodiesel to lower exhaust emissions and became the first transit system in Louisiana to operate hybrid fuel diesel/electric buses to reduce emissions, and save on fuel. | Faced with skyrocketing diesel costs last year, the City Council approved and added $900,000 to SporTran’s budget. “Had we had a CNG fleet, that increase would have been much smaller,” says Eddy. |
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