Glendale, California has started using renewable energy to fuel their transportation fleet. The city has contracted with the Clean Energy Fuels Corporation to supply its vehicles with compressed natural gas (CNG) over the next 10 years.

Clean Energy, which was founded by the oil billionaire-turned-clean-energy-proponent T. Boone Pickens, will build and operate a CNG station at the Bob Hope Airport, less than 10 miles from Glendale. Glendale’s 30-plus transit buses as well as residential garbage collection trucks will fill up at this station and then be on their way, in the process emitting fewer greenhouse gases and air pollutants than if they ran on the usual diesel.

An added benefit of this location is that it allows taxis running on natural gas to refill while making rounds to and from the airport.

While the city's efforts are admirable, converting to natural gas is only a start when it comes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. At this point, however, this is the best available technology for local governments like Glendale, which are constrained by a limited state budget and relatively small tax base -- the city has about 200,000 residents. Over the long term, more advanced solutions will be necessary. For now, though, hats off to Glendale for implementing positive changes!