It’s almost spring, and it’s more than the trees that are putting out green shoots. AT&T Inc. is back with more money-spending news, saying it plans to invest up to $565 million as part of a long-term strategy to deploy more than 15,000 alternative-fuel vehicles over the next 10 years.
The carrier said it’s aligning with priorities in President Obama’s stimulus plan, including promoting green technologies and job creation, while streamlining its own operations by saving money on operating costs. The 7,100 passenger cars that will be replaced over the next 10 years will offer up to a 39 percent improvement in fuel economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 29 percent.
About $350 million will go to purchase 8,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles, which emit 25 percent less greenhouse gas emissions, and approximately $215 million to begin replacing its passenger cars with alternative-fuel models. This year, AT&T will put almost 800 CNG and hybrid electric vehicles on the road as part of its service fleet.
The new roadmap will bring AT&T’s alternative-fuel fleet to more than 15,000 vehicles by 2019. The Center for Automotive Research (CAR) in Ann Arbor, Mich., estimates that the new vehicles will save 49 million gallons of gasoline and reduce carbon emissions by 211,000 metric tons over the 10-year deployment period. That is equivalent to removing the emissions from more than 38,600 traditional passenger vehicles for a year.
"AT&T and other U.S. corporations have a unique opportunity to partner with the new administration as it works to lead the country out of this economic downturn," said Randall Stephenson, chairman and CEO. “While there are no easy solutions to the challenges facing our nation, this investment is a first step on our part to help boost other industries while at the same time encouraging wider use and production of efficient vehicles and domestic fuel alternatives.”
Is AT&T hoping for some of those broadband stimulus funds?
