New Jersey Natural Gas
NEW JERSEY NATURAL GAS HOSTS FUEL CELL VEHICLE DEMONSTRATION
03/04/2008 - For Immediate ReleaseLast year, in support of the state’s goals, New Jersey Resources (NJR), parent company of NJNG, pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 20 percent by 2020. A large part of the efforts to meet this target are focused an evaluation of alternative fuels for the company’s fleet vehicles. Fuel cell vehicles, which are fueled by hydrogen and emit only water vapor, are an environmentally friendly option that could help NJNG to meet this goal.
“A major source of greenhouse gas emissions for most families and organizations is transportation,” said Kathleen T. Ellis, chief operating officer at NJNG. “With a fleet of nearly 300 vehicles on the road serving customers and ensuring the reliability of our system, we are no different. That is why we are pleased to host a demonstration of this fuel cell technology, which provides hope for a cleaner, greener future for transportation.”
More than 60 guests representing various industries and business around the state gathered at NJNG headquarters for the event. GM representatives provided a presentation about the company’s Project Driveway program and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, and then offered guests the opportunity to test drive the Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell, as well as a Chevy Tahoe Hybrid.
Through Project Driveway, GM has placed more than 100 fuel cell vehicles in various locations throughout the country, initiating the largest-ever field test of this technology. Currently, residents in the New York City, Washington D.C. and Los Angeles areas can sign up to participate in Project Driveway. According to GM, the program will garner feedback from participants with various driving patterns in differing driving environments.
Since announcing its commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, NJR has taken several steps to meet this goal. Immediately following the announcement, NJR enrolled in the Board of Public Utilities’ CleanPower Choice program to purchase renewable energy for its electricity usage. In doing so, NJR became the largest participant in the program and has eliminated its greenhouse gas emissions from electricity. NJNG has started to use biodiesel fuel in many of the utility’s vehicles, which will reduce emissions from these vehicles by approximately 10 percent according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Additionally, several energy-saving initiatives were implemented in the fall at the company’s facilities. These include the use of high-efficiency lighting, the installation of motion sensors in employee offices and upgrades to motors in the heating and cooling units at the company’s headquarters.
New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG) is the principal subsidiary of New Jersey Resources (NYSE: NJR), a Fortune 1000 company. NJNG is one of the fastest-growing local distribution companies in the United States, serving more than 480,000 customers in New Jersey’s Monmouth, Ocean, Middlesex and Morris counties. This service area’s demographics and quality of life contribute greatly to NJNG’s growth. NJNG’s progress is a tribute to the dedicated employees who have shared their expertise and focus on quality through more than 50 years of serving customers and the community to make the company a leader in the competitive energy marketplace. For more information, visit NJNG’s Web site at njliving.com.
Contact:
Katie Anderson, Media
732-938-1159
Beacon Technologies, Inc.
