Grant Funds Disneyland Resort CNG Fueling Station Expansion

ANAHEIM, CALIF. October 19, 2009 —  An expanded clean-burning compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station at the Disneyland Resort began operating this month.  The expanded station, which increases CNG storage capacity at the Resort by more than 50 percent, was made necessary by the conversion of the Resort’s 16 Guest trams to CNG last year.

The project was partially funded by $200,000 in Clean Transportation Funding from the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee (MSRC) – an entity that helps to fund initiatives focused on reducing air pollution from mobile sources.

        “We are pleased to provide Clean Transportation Funding to the Disneyland Resort to expand their CNG station," said Greg Winterbottom, vice chair of the MSRC representing the Orange County Transportation Authority. “We are proud to help operations, such as the Disneyland Resort, become more environmentally friendly, while helping to improve air quality. We applaud the Resort’s efforts to make the ‘Happiest Place on Earth’ one of the greenest ones as well."    

        The December 2008 conversion of the Resort’s 16 Guest trams to CNG eliminates approximately 56,000 gallons of diesel use per year, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. For the 10 years prior to the conversion, diesel-hybrid engines powered the Disneyland trams.

        The Resort also has several attractions fueled by CNG, including the Columbia Sailing Ship, Tom Sawyer Island Rafts, Jungle Cruise boats and all the Main Street vehicles.

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About MSRC

        The MSRC was formed in 1990 when Assembly Bill AB 2766 was signed into law authorizing a $4 motor vehicle registration fee. Thirty percent of the $4 fee or approximately $12 million annually is used for programs administered by the MSRC. All of the programs eligible for funding must reduce air pollution from mobile sources.

        Membership of the MSRC is made up of representatives from the transportation agencies of Riverside, Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Orange County, as well as the Southern California Association of Governments, Southern California Rideshare, California Air Resources Board and the South Coast Air Quality Management District.