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Maine Transit District Opts for Clean John Deere CNG Engines
Citizens in Maine's largest city are breathing cleaner air, thanks to thirteen John Deere compressed natural gas (CNG) engines.
Buses powered by the CNG engines were recently the guests of honor as the METRO Greater Portland Transit District celebrated its entrance into a new era of cleaner air.
The buses, which were recently purchased by METRO, comprise almost half of its 28-vehicle fleet. Each of the new 40-passenger buses features a John Deere 8.1L CNG engine which generates fewer emissions and about 1/9th the noise of a conventional diesel engine.
As part of the celebration, the transit district treated its passengers to free rides and unveiled a new natural gas fueling station. The latter will also be used to fuel buses for the Portland School Department.
Alex Bell from Bell Power Systems, a distributor of John Deere CNG engines, had worked with METRO since early last year on the project. Bell attended the celebration in Portland.
"We're proud that Portland has taken these steps in implementing this program," Bell said. "There are two major benefits – displacing diesel fuel and using natural gas, a domestically produced fuel. And the second is that these are the cleanest and quietest buses available today."
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