Mayor Kasim Reed, along with Department of Public Works Richard Mendoza, Office of Sustainability Director Stephanie Stuckey Benfield, Councilmember Natalyn Archibong, Clean Cities Georgia Coordinator Don Francis and Atlanta Gas Light Vice President of Regulatory Affairs David Weaver cut the ribbon on a new Compressed Natural Gas fueling station at the Solid Waste Lakewood Facility. The fuel station in in Southwest Atlanta is one of two new CNG facilities now in operation in the city. The Lakewood refueling station and another station at the Maddox Park Solid Waste Facility will support the Department of Public Works in its goal to transition the city’s entire fleet of solid waste collection vehicles from diesel fuel to CNG fuel.

“The City of Atlanta is committed to protecting the environment by incorporating sustainable practices in city operations,” said Mayor Reed. “Cutting the ribbon on this important new facility promotes cleaner air and reduced fuel consumption by our municipal fleet, and supports our goal to become a top tier city for sustainability in the U.S.”

The 20 trash collection vehicles that will initially use the stations will serve as many as 96,000 residents per week. After refueling at one of the two CNG stations overnight, the trucks will be able to complete their routes each day without needing to refuel.

“We are proud of the new CNG vehicle program,” said Commissioner Mendoza. “By installing and maintaining our own, cleaner-burning CNG fueling stations, the City of Atlanta will see immediate fuel cost savings by as much as 50 percent and a reduction in carbon emissions by 13-21 percent.”

Construction of the CNG facilities was conducted by Atlanta Gas Light Company and funded by a $2.5 million share of the Georgia Public Service Commission’s $11.6 million program to develop CNG stations in Georgia. Each station includes CNG equipment to “time-fill” up to 30 collections vehicles at each site overnight as well as a two-hose “fast-fill” dispenser for topping off the collections vehicles and fueling other CNG vehicles.