Natural gas or electric buses? Neither, for now

The town of Rochester is placing the brakes on the plans for an environmentally friendly tour bus fleet. With two persuasive options on the table - compacted natural gas and electric power -- the Rochester City Authorities opted to wait and collect more information.

The decision also means town staff will ask the actual Minnesota Department of Transport to withdraw a $3. 2 million bonding demand the state department had planned to place forward on Rochester's part. The bonding request might have spurred the city's investment decision in a CNG fueling train station.

City staff, including Flow Manager Tony Knauer as well as Public Works Director Rich Freese, came forward using the recommendation to withdraw the particular bonding request at Monday's city council committee conference.

"This decision is pretty essential. It's going to be one we endure for 20 years, or much better, " Knauer said.

The actual question for the council had been whether a move to compressed gas would meet the city's extensive environmental goals.

"What would you like in the way of the environment for your upcoming? How sustainable do you want to obtain? " Freese asked. "The move to CNG was preserving us fuel; it was priced at us less; it was one step in that direction. Going to the all-electric (buses) is many steps in which direction. "

Electric busses are still relatively unproven. Just 85 electric units are printed the road, and the technology may need another two or three years prior to it is well tested for your city's investment, Knauer stated.

The city had invested $34, 000 in a detailed research of transitioning the city's fleet to CNG, along with staff time spent examining the transition.

Council Associate Mark Hickey was not prepared to move away from a very carefully studied path forward : compressed natural gas - whilst hoping for electric technology in order to advance.

"It all appeared good, " Hickey mentioned of the CNG study. "Now … it looks like we're tossing it all out the window based on the sales pitch here. There's a lot of issues with electric, and they're not all getting fixed in the next three to five many years. "

City staff experienced the opportunity to inspect an all-electric bus in June whenever vendor Proterra demonstrated among its models in Rochester. The electric unit featured up to 120 miles associated with driving range on a single cost and a charging time regarding 5-10 minutes.

Transitioning typically the city's fleet to electrical also would come with expenses, including up to $1 mil to fully outfit a getting station, Knauer said.

Local authority or council President Randy Staver has been interested in a fuller price analysis of moving to be able to electric versus compressed propane. In addition , Staver asked for more info on the recent improvements within diesel power, to measure whether that might be an acceptable link between the current fleet along with a future investment.

Council Fellow member Ed Hruska also preferred gathering more information before making any leap in one direction as well as other.

"We need to be accountable towards all the taxpayers. That isn't something we feel totally more comfortable with, so I think the responsible action to take is step back, " Hruska said.

The council, less Hickey, agreed to direct personnel to withdraw the state connecting request.

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