SJC has a comprehensive Alternative Fuels Program (AFP) that provides incentives to encourage tenants to convert their vehicles to CNG or other alternative, cleaner burning vehicles. In an effort to reduce Green House Gas (GHG) emissions, the Airport converted the entire fleet of airport shuttle buses from diesel to CNG.
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is one of the cleanest burning alternative fuels available. In 2002 the Airport installed a CNG fueling station to provide an alternative fuel option for Airport shuttle buses, and taxis. The station also sells fuel for public consumption and pumps the equivalent of over 600,000 gallons per year.
CNG is a much cleaner fuel source than diesel, reducing our emissions by 100 tons of CO2 annually. We will further reduce our impact on local air quality in 2011-2012 with the intention of reducing our fleet of 24 shuttle buses to 11 buses. The combination of the fleet reduction, CNG conversion, and centralization of facilities will ultimately reduce emissions and improve air quality at the Airport.
Through policy we require one quarter of all taxi trips to use alternative fuels including CNG and hybrid vehicles. CNG fueled vehicles emit 70% less carbon monoxide than gasoline powered vehicles. The airport taxi fleet has 91 CNG vehicles and twenty hybrid cars.
According to the United States Department of Energy, using CNG vehicles have the following benefits http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/vehicles/natural_gas_emissions.html to the environment:
- Reduces carbon monoxide emissions 90%-97%
- Reduces carbon dioxide emissions 25%
- Reduces nitrogen oxide emissions 35%-60%
- Potentially reduces non-methane hydrocarbon emissions 50%-75%
- Emits fewer toxic and carcinogenic pollutants
- Emits little or no particulate matter
- Eliminates evaporative emissions
Out of 300 taxis permitted to operate at the Airport, currently 119 are now CNG taxis. Since 2000, the Airport has only purchased alternate-fuel vehicles. Approximately 25% of the Airport fleet of vehicles is now CNG vehicles.