Concrete mixing in the Great Lakes region is increasingly fueled by compressed natural gas (CNG), thanks to the help of the Vehicle Technologies Office’s Clean Cities program. In 2010, the Chicago Area Clean Cities Coalition’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act project covered the incremental cost of 14 CNG cement mixing vehicles for Ozinga Brothers Concrete, the largest privately owned concrete supplier in the U.S. Since then, Ozinga has used its own private funding to add 100 more CNG cement mixers to its fleet. Altogether, these vehicles have displaced more than three million gallons of diesel fuel.  By 2020, Ozinga plans to replace or convert its entire fleet of more than 600 mixing trucks and support vehicles to improve energy security and promote alternative energy in Chicago.

Ozinga had such a strong experience with CNG that it created a whole new branch of its company to encourage and support other fleets that want to make the switch. Through Ozinga Energy, the company has opened four different CNG fueling stations, which are open to local business and government agency fleets.  Because of this increase in fueling infrastructure availability, a local produce delivery company is converting much of its 65 vehicle fleet to CNG as well.

Ozinga is an active stakeholder in both the Chicago Clean Cities and the South Shore (Northern Indiana) Clean Cities Coalitions. Learn more about Clean Cities’ efforts across the country to limit the use of petroleum in transportation.

Positive Impact

The trucks are part of a much larger Recovery Act project, which is expected to reduce 3.1 million GGE/year and 8,429 pounds of carbon dioxide per year.

Location

Chicago, Illinois

Partner

Ozinga Brothers Concrete

EERE Investment

$14,999,658

Clean Energy Sector

Sustainable transportation

The Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) develops and deploys efficient and environmentally friendly highway transportation technologies that will enable America to use less petroleum. These technologies will provide Americans with greater freedom of mobility and energy security, while lowering costs and reducing impacts on the environment.

The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) success stories highlight the positive impact of its work with businesses, industry partners, universities, research labs, and other entities.