On April 6, Golden Empire Transit (GET) was the recipient of an award from the Greater Bakersfield Vision 2020 Committee. The Vision 2020 Committee recognized GET because its entire bus fleet is now powered with compressed natural gas (CNG). In addition, GET was also recognized for placing the “Bakersfield, Life as it should be” messages on the buses.

Get also received a proclamation from the offices of Senators Roy Ashburn and Dean Florez.

“We truly believe that living in Bakersfield is life as it should be and we are proud to be a part of this campaign to tell people about our community,” said Chester Moland, GET Chief Executive Officer. “We are doing our part to improve life in Bakersfield with the CNG buses.”

GET started adding compressed natural gas buses to the fleet in 1997. With the arrival of 24 new buses, the last diesel buses will be retired.

“Having an entire fleet of CNG buses is a critical component to making our city a cleaner, healthier, more livable place,” Moland added. “Our environmentally-friendly fleet gives our passengers another great reason to ride with GET instead of driving.”

This is the second award GET has received for its commitment to CNG buses and clean air. GET was the recipient of a Kern Council of Governments Regional Award recently for its dedication to converting the bus fleet from diesel-powered to compressed natural gas.

Each new CNG bus carries 24,000 standard cubic feet of compressed natural gas in covered roof-top tanks. This is enough fuel to power each vehicle for approximately 300 miles.

Operating a natural gas bus instead of a new diesel bus is equivalent to eliminating smog and soot from 17 – 33 passenger cars according to the Coalition for Clean Air. Diesel engines produce nearly 20 percent of the total nitrogen oxides in outdoor air, and are a major contributor to ozone production and smog, the coalition reports.

GET also operates a CNG fueling station that is used by several other agencies. Kern County Superintendent of Schools; Kern Regional Transit; and Consolidated Transportation Services all fuel their CNG vehicles at the GET fueling station.

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