UPS makes biggest purchase of renewable natural gas in US history

UPS has agreed to buy the equivalent of 170 million gallons of renewable natural gas (RNG) from Clean Energy Fuels Corp. According to the company’s press release, it’s the largest purchase of RNG in the history of the US.

UPS will be supplied through to 2026, which amounts to between 22.5 and 25 million per year. It’s part of a strategy to increase the company’s alternative fuel use to 40% of ground fuel purchases by 2025, and to reduce the absolute greenhouse gas emissions of its ground fleet 12% by the same year. The new scheme will lead to a reduction of 1,074,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases over the next seven years—the equivalent of taking 228,000 cars off the road.

The company has used 24 million gallons of RNG for its ground fleet since 2014, which is roughly the same as a year’s worth under the new plan.

“The world has a trash problem. And the world has an emissions problem,” said Mike Casteel, UPS’ director of fleet procurement. “Renewable natural gas, produced naturally from bio sources such as landfills and dairy farms, not only turns trash to gas, but turns it into clean gas.

“Since RNG is supposed by existing national infrastructure used to transport natural gas, it’s a winning solution that will help UPS to reach our ambitious sustainability goals. At the same time, we hope our unprecedented seven-year commitment serves as a catalyst for wider adoption of RNG by other companies.”

Source: UPS

Header image: UPS