Republic Services unveiled a new compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station and over 50 new CNG-powered trucks to serve customers throughout the Twin Cities, Minn. region. The new CNG trucks are replacing older, diesel-powered trucks in the company’s Twin Cities-based fleet.

“We are dedicated to providing our customers and the communities we serve with outstanding service, while doing business in the most sustainable manner possible,” said Republic Services General Manager Jeff Marone in a statement. “We are leveraging alternative fuels and fleet innovation to help reduce fleet greenhouse gas emissions and do our part to preserve our Blue Planet. We believe we have a responsibility to lead by example, with a commitment to reduce carbon emissions whenever possible.”

Republic operates a total of 115 collection vehicles that serve customers in both Eden Prairie and Hennepin County. Nearly 50 percent of Republic’s fleet in the area is powered by the domestic natural gas fuel source. Clean Energy Fuels designed and built the CNG fueling station.

Republic has more than 500 employees in the Twin Cities area who serve more than 200,000 households and more than 10,000 commercial customers. Republic also owns and operates two recycling centers and two transfer stations locally. 

Nationwide, Republic operates a fleet of more than 2,500 CNG vehicles and 38 natural gas fueling stations. Overall, Republic reported during its first quarter earnings results that 18 percent of its fleet operates on CNG, up from 16 percent a year ago.

In addition, 75 percent of the residential fleet is automated, up from 73 percent in the prior year. And 96 percent of the fleet is certified under Republic's standardized maintenance program, up from 81 percent in the prior year. The company expects its entire fleet to be certified under the program by the end of the second quarter of 2017.

Republic has set a goal of reducing fleet greenhouse gas emissions by 3 percent by 2018.