AT&T's Sustainability Drive is Fueled With Alternative Energy

AT&T said it has placed more than 5,000 alternative fuel vehicles on U.S. roads since it embarked in a 10-year commitment of up to $565 million to deploy approximately 15,000 alternative fuel vehicles through 2018, including "one of the largest U.S. corporate commitments to compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles to date." AT&T deployed the 5,000th vehicle, a CNG van, in Palmdale, California. AT&T currently operates more than 70,300 vehicles in its corporate fleet.

"In a short period of time, with the support of community leaders all over the country, we've invested in the deployment of thousands of advanced technology vehicles that promote cleaner air, use less fuel and help AT&T lower its operating costs," said Jerome Webber, vice president, AT&T Global Fleet Operations. "While some may see just another car or truck on the road, we think these vehicles represent the shared values of the communities where we live, work and play."

AT&T was one of the fleet operators to respond to the Department of Energy's Clean Cities' National Clean Fleets Partnership, launched in 2010 as part of President Obama's national challenge to cut America's petroleum imports by one-third by 2025. Through 2013, AT&T anticipates it will have purchased up to 8,000 CNG vehicles at an estimated cost of $350 million. Additionally, over the life of the commitment, AT&T expects to invest $215 million to replace approximately 7,100 fleet passenger cars with alternative-fuel models.

Over the 10-year deployment period, AT&T said it will save 49 millions of gallons of gasoline and reduce emissions by 211,000 metric tons, the equivalent of removing 38,600 passenger vehicles from the road for a year. The calculations were published in a report by the Center for Automotive Research.

The company has also invested in more sustainable garage services through programs that include new recycling scheme that turns old rubber into fuel and consumer products (an estimated 60,000 old tires annually); recycling all primary garage products, including 180,000 pounds of oil filters, 200,000 gallons of oil and 23,000 gallons of antifreeze annually; and eliminating the purchase of 9,000 pounds of lead annually that were being used to balance new fleet vehicle tires at high speeds.

Image credit: AT&T