PG&E Corp and Waste Management Inc have joined forces for a program that will use emission reductions in a refuse collection fleet to pave the way for construction of a power plant in San Diego County, California. This is the first time that emission reductions from mobile sources have been used to offset emissions from a major new stationary source.
The companies plan to replace 120 diesel-fueled refuse collection trucks with new Mack trucks fueled by cleaner-burning natural gas. As a result, the companies say air emissions will be reduced by more than 50%.
Air emission credits gained through the reductions will be used by the PG&E National Energy Group to offset emissions from the Otay Mesa Generating Project, a proposed 500-megawatt plant to be built outside San Diego CA.