Message From Sen. Solobay: Seats Still Available for Holiday Bus Tour

Seats are still available for my annual Holiday Bus Tour of the Harrisburg area.

The event has become a popular way for local residents to see the Capitol dressed up for the holidays and visit some of the popular sites in the Harrisburg region.

This year, the trip will take place on Dec. 13 and will include visits to the Capitol, the Governor's Mansion and Hershey’s Chocolate World. The price is $65 per person and seating is limited.

The tour bus will stop at Canonsburg Shop 'n Save at 6:30 a.m., the Greene Plaza in Waynesburg at 6:30 a.m.; the J. Barry Stout Park-n-Ride on East Beau Street in Washington at 7 a.m. and the Pilot Gas Station in Bentleyville at 7:30 a.m.

The bus will return to the region at around 10 p.m. the same day. For more information, call my Washington satellite office at 724-223-2114.

Waste Management Opens CNG Fueling Facility

Waste Management of Western Pennsylvania recently celebrated the grand opening of its public-access compressed natural gas fueling station in the City of Washington.

The new Clean N’ Green Fuel public-fueling station will be operated by PetroCard and will sell CNG to commercial fleets as well as individuals with CNG-equipped vehicles.

The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that using CNG reduces a vehicle’s particulate matter emissions by 86 percent, carbon monoxide emissions by 80 percent, nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 32 percent, and greenhouse emissions by 25 percent.  

CNG trucks also run 50 percent more quietly than diesel trucks.

Waste Management of Western Pennsylvania recently acquired 25 CNG collection trucks and expects to have 40 CNG vehicles in service by next year, representing nearly half its Washington-based fleet and covering routes in Washington, Greene and Allegheny counties. 

The vehicles will help Waste Management achieve its goal of reducing fleet emissions by 15 percent and increasing fuel efficiency by 15 percent by 2020.

The state Department of Environmental Protection awarded Waste Management $700,000 in Alternative Fuels Incentive Grants for the project, which supports the development of the state’s natural gas and electric vehicle infrastructure and achieves emissions reductions.

The self-service station, located at 200 Rangos Lane, near interstates 70 and 79, will be open 24/7 and will accept Visa/Mastercard, Wright Express as well as Clean N’ Green fleet cards.