SMITHTOWN, NY – California-based Clean Energy and Hallahan Truck Sales, a Holtsville, N.Y., natural gas refuse truck dealer, hosted special ceremonies on Sept. 19 to salute Smithtown, N.Y.’s commitment to ensuring a clean-air environment. According to a Clean Energy release, Smithtown is the first municipality in New York State to convert its entire refuse fleet from diesel to environmentally friendly natural gas. Clean Energy operates a public access natural gas fueling station in nearby Hauppauge, which, when current upgrade efforts are complete, will be the largest such facility on the East Coast.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority have awarded a $150,000 contract under the Clean Cities Challenge Program to support the upgrades to the Hauppauge facility. Smithtown has signed a multi-year, fixed- price agreement with Clean Energy to supply natural gas to the trash collection fleet. Hallahan Truck Sales displayed a clean, quiet-running, custom-configured, natural gas powered AUTOCAR Xpeditor WXLL refuse truck at the event.

Trucks of this type will be deployed for Smithtown trash collection duties in Jan. 2007. The New York Metropolitan Transportation Council has approved a grant of up to $2,275,000 to fund 80 percent of the incremental cost of the new natural gas refuse trucks for Smithtown.