ANAHEIM

Anaheim Public Utilities has received a $35,000 grant to install a cleaner source of backup power at its repair facility for the city’s police, fire and public emergency vehicles.

Most backup generators run on diesel fuel, said Dukku Lee, product development specialist for the utility. But the two new 75-kilowatt microturbines--one a derivative of a small jet engine, the other of a vehicle turbo charger--will run off natural gas, which produces fewer emissions, he said. The microturbines also have the capability of running about 3,000 hours a year, compared to the 200 hours of most backup generators.

The microturbines will run during power emergencies and also when market energy prices are high and the energy produced from the microturbines is relatively less expensive.