Glendale to purchase natural-gas vehicles for some city workers

Glendale has received $300,000 from an air pollution control agency to purchase 10 new natural-gas-powered vehicles for the Public Works Department.

The natural-gas vehicles emit less toxins and particulates into the air than their diesel and unleaded gasoline counterparts, according to a city report. The Public Works Department is in the process of replacing a significant portion of its diesel and unleaded gasoline fleet.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District grant will help Glendale follow up with a sweeping policy that calls for the reduction of greenhouse gases created by city activities. The plan was recently approved by the City Council.

It is more expensive to fuel natural gas-powered vehicles, but the Air Quality Management District rules ban the purchase of new diesel-powered vehicles by the city for trash collection or street-cleaning purposes, the report stated.

-- Brittany Levine, Times Community News

Twitter: @brittanylevine