Stark Area Regional Transit Authority (SARTA) received an Honorable Mention Award for operating the Best Green Fleet in America at the Green Fleet Conference in Washington, D.C. on October 13, 2016.
The Green Fleet Awards were given to the top 50 Government fleets in North America based on a variety of criteria and they were judged by a panel of industry experts. There are over 38,000 fleet departments in North America and 1,900 applications were sent out to fleets identified as being superior by their peers, other national recognitions, site visits by the judges and best business practices.
SARTA received an Honorable Mention Award for operating Ohio's first Hydrogen fueling station and fleet of Hydrogen Fuel Cell buses. When all 10 buses join SARTA's fleet, they will become the third largest operator of fuel cell buses in the US and the largest outside California. They currently have 40 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles and 4 diesel-electric hybrid buses. Additionally, SARTA uses B5 Biodiesel in 50 buses and tested a bus that used CNG and diesel in the engine simultaneously. In 2014, SARTA operated the busiest public-private CNG facility dispensing nearly 800,000 gasoline gallons equivalent CNG.
"SARTA was recognized for operating Ohio's first Hydrogen Fueling Station and Hydrogen Fuel Cell buses. A credit to their commitment to the environment and the future of America's energy independence is shown by the transitioning of their fleet to zero or low emission vehicles," stated Tom Johnson, author of 100 Best Fleets in North America.
"We are involved in alternative fuel to improve air quality and find more effective alternative fuels. Also, the hydrogen fuel cell project will drive investment, research, business development and job creation right here in Stark County and across the State of Ohio," stated Kirt Conrad, executive director of SARTA.
SARTA is committed to the use of green fuels and being at the forefront of commercializing of alternative fuels, like Hydrogen Fuel Cell and CNG to improve the environment and create economic opportunities for our community.
