Mack Delivers natural gas-powered TerraPro refuse trucks to Grand Junction

The City of Grand Junction, Colorado recently accepted delivery of four natural gas-powered MACK® TerraPro™ Low Entry refuse trucks, the first natural gas-powered refuse trucks in Western ColoradoThe City of Grand Junction, Colorado recently accepted delivery of four natural gas-powered MACK® TerraPro™ Low Entry refuse trucks, the first natural gas-powered refuse trucks in Western Colorado

The City of Grand Junction, Colo., recently accepted delivery of four natural gas-powered MACK TerraPro Low Entry refuse trucks – the first natural gas refuse trucks to operate in Western Colorado, according to Mack.

“Grand Junction is committed to clean air technology and we’ve long relied on Mack trucks to handle our refuse collection,” Grand Junction Assistant Financial Operations Manager Jay Valentine said. “The c delivers the performance we’ve come to expect from Mack and allows us to utilize Western Colorado’s abundant supply of natural gas.”

Grand Junction operates an all-Mack fleet of 12 refuse trucks, including the new gas-powered TerraPro models – three automated side-loading units for residential refuse collection and a front loading unit for commercial collection.

“Mack’s natural gas-powered TerraPro combines an industry-leading truck with alternative fuel technology to give fleets the durability they need while at the same time reducing CO2 emissions,” said John Thomas, Mack regional vice president. “It’s an ideal solution for refuse applications, where the vehicles return to a central location every day for refueling. We’re beginning to see a migration toward natural gas and some of our refuse customers envision all-gas fleets in the not too distant future.”

While Grand Junction initially plans to tap Western Colorado’s natural gas resources, they’re also investigating the possibility of a sustainable energy source – converting  methane gas from the city’s Persigo Wastewater Treatment to compressed natural gas. A biogas operation of this type would be the first of its kind in the U.S.