by on 2014-12-07

The City of Redlands has expanded its alternative fueling station at the city’s corporate yards with the addition of new Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fuel dispensers. The new dispensers will allow up to four alternative fuel vehicles to fuel at the same time. Redlands has operated the Liquefied Natural Gas/Compressed Natural Gas fueling station at its corporate yard located at 1270 W. Park Avenue, since its construction in 2003. Compressed Natural Gas is a clean-burning alternative fuel that helps reduce carbon emissions and costs less than fossil fuels. Assembly Bill 2766, signed into law in 1990, provides for the collection of an additional $4 in DMV fees to fund various air pollution reduction efforts. Thirty cents of each dollar is deposited into a discretionary fund overseen by the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee (MSRC), which is made up of local elected officials as well as state and local government appointees. The goal of the MSRC is to assist local governments to implement timely, effective air pollution reduction projects and directly support cities in meeting and promoting clean air within South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD). In 2011, the City of Redlands applied for funding from the MSRC’s $5 million Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Program and was awarded funds in the amount of $85,000. In July 2014, the Redlands City Council awarded the $222,604 contract for the alternative fuel expansion project to Buena Vista-based Fueling and Service Technologies, Inc. The project groundbreaking took place in September and the new fueling stations, including canopy extension and two fast fill hose dispensers, will open later this week. CNG fueling dispensers are open to the public between 6 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The dispensers accept debit cards as well as American Express, Discover, Mastercard, Visa, Wright Express and Voyager fleet cards.