FirstEnergy Adds Cleaner-Powered Hybrid Electric Bucket Trucks to Help Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Rhea-AI Summary

FirstEnergy Corp. introduces its first hybrid electric bucket trucks to enhance service reliability for JCP&L customers in New Jersey while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Five trucks are undergoing inspections, with plans for fleet electrification targeting 30% by 2030 and 100% by 2050. The initiative aims to eliminate approximately 10,000 metric tons of GHG emissions annually, equating to removing nearly 2,200 cars from roads. These vehicles reduce noise pollution and operational costs, signaling a commitment to environmental stewardship as part of FirstEnergy's broader climate strategy.

Positive

• Introduction of five hybrid electric bucket trucks enhances service reliability.
• Targeting 30% electrification of fleet by 2030 with the goal of 100% by 2050.
• Reduction of approximately 10,000 metric tons of GHG emissions annually.
• Potential savings of over 3.8 million gallons of fuel from 2021-2030.
• Battery-powered operation reduces engine idling and maintenance costs.

Negative

• None.

AKRON, Ohio, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of FirstEnergy Corp.'s (NYSE: FE) efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the first cleaner-powered hybrid electric bucket trucks in its vehicle fleet will be on the road soon, helping to provide reliable electric service to Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) customers in New Jersey.

A total of five new hybrid electric bucket trucks are receiving final inspections at JCP&L line shops – three in Flemington and one each in Washington and Newton.

Hybrid bucket trucks reduce emissions using a high-capacity battery pack motor to power the hydraulic lift rather than idling the diesel engine. Truck manufacturer Altec estimates that utility vehicles idle in park for about 65% of their total engine hours, with an hour of engine idle equivalent to 25 miles of driving. The electric motor runs quietly without any background noise, limiting disturbances to nearby residences and making it easier for crews to communicate with each other.

"These hybrid electric bucket trucks are the first of many that will be added to the FirstEnergy utility fleet in the coming years, substantially reducing emissions while supporting the exceptional service we provide to our customers," said Samuel Belcher, senior vice president, Operations, FirstEnergy. "The initial deliveries are part of our previously announced plans to electrify 30% of our approximately 3,400 light duty and aerial fleet vehicles by 2030, with the goal of reaching 100% electrification by 2050."

FirstEnergy's 30% fleet replacement target has the potential to annually eliminate approximately 10,000 metric tons of GHG emissions – equivalent to removing nearly 2,200 cars from the road each year – while saving more than 3.8 million gallons of fuel from 2021-2030.

Additional hybrid electric bucket truck deliveries are expected to be made in areas served by FirstEnergy's West Virginia utilities and Ohio Edison areas early next year.

In addition to powering the aerial bucket hydraulics, the battery pack operates the vehicle's heating and cooling systems while workers are on the job site. The idle mitigation feature also helps extend the life of the vehicle by reducing engine operation time, eliminates certain maintenance expenses and cuts fuel costs over time.

The vehicle self-charges up to 80% of battery capacity while being driven from job site to job site. If the hybrid battery ever gets too low, which could happen during a storm or large restoration effort, the diesel will automatically kick in to provide backup power for the hydraulic lift to continue operating.

To achieve full performance, the hybrid trucks will need to be charged at least once a week. The batteries can be charged off a conventional power outlet. As part of the hybrid bucket truck implementation process, quick charging stations also will be installed at various company facilities so the vehicles can be charged rapidly and ready to go within a 45-minute timeframe, if needed.

The hybrid trucks also are equipped with a sophisticated telemetric system that collects data on the amount of emissions, fuel, and engine hours saved, as well as the time the battery was charged, utilized or overridden should the operator use the diesel setting. The information is transmitted to the FirstEnergy fleet managers for tracking and review.

FirstEnergy's overall climate strategy targets a 30% reduction in GHG emissions within our direct operational control across the entire company enterprise by 2030, based on 2019 levels, as we strive to become carbon neutral by 2050. Replacing conventional utility trucks with electric and hybrid vehicles is part of FirstEnergy's forward-thinking perspective and renewed commitment to environmental stewardship that will help enable our customers and communities to thrive in a carbon-neutral economy.

FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its ten electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy on Twitter @FirstEnergyCorp or online at www.firstenergycorp.com.

Forward-Looking Statements: This news release includes forward-looking statements based on information currently available to management. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. These statements include declarations regarding management's intents, beliefs and current expectations. These statements typically contain, but are not limited to, the terms "anticipate," "potential," "expect," "forecast," "target," "will," "intend," "believe," "project," "estimate," "plan," and similar words. Forward-looking statements involve estimates, assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, which may include the following: the completion of the transactions contemplated by the agreements governing the sale of the minority interest in FET and the common stock issuance on the anticipated terms and timing or at all, including the receipt of regulatory approvals; the potential liabilities, increased costs and unanticipated developments resulting from governmental investigations and agreements, including those associated with compliance with or failure to comply with the Deferred Prosecution Agreement entered into on July 21, 2021 with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Ohio; the risks and uncertainties associated with government investigations regarding House Bill 6, as passed by Ohio's 133rd General Assembly, and related matters, including potential adverse impacts on federal or state regulatory matters, including, but not limited to, matters relating to rates; the potential of non–compliance with debt covenants in the company's credit facilities; the risks and uncertainties associated with litigation, arbitration, mediation and similar proceedings; legislative and regulatory developments, including, but not limited to, matters related to rates, compliance and enforcement activity; including the final approval by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio ("PUCO") of the Unanimous Stipulation and Recommendation filed by the Company and eleven other parties with the PUCO on November 1, 2021; the ability to accomplish or realize anticipated benefits from the company's FE Forward initiative and its other strategic and financial goals, including, but not limited to, maintaining financial flexibility, overcoming current uncertainties and challenges associated with the ongoing government investigations, executing the company's transmission and distribution investment plans, greenhouse gas reduction goals, controlling costs, improving the company's credit metrics, growing earnings, and strengthening the company's balance sheet through the sale of a minority interest in FET and the common stock issuance; economic and weather conditions affecting future operating results, such as a recession, significant weather events and other natural disasters, and associated regulatory events or actions in response to such conditions; mitigating exposure for remedial activities associated with retired and formerly owned electric generation assets; the ability to access the public securities and other capital and credit markets in accordance with the company's financial plans, the cost of such capital and overall condition of the capital and credit markets affecting the company, including the increasing number of financial institutions evaluating the impact of climate change on their investment decisions; the extent and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and the impacts to the company's business, operations and financial condition resulting from the outbreak of COVID-19, including, but not limited to, disruption of businesses in the company's territories and governmental and regulatory responses to the pandemic; the effectiveness of the company's pandemic and business continuity plans, the precautionary measures the company is taking on behalf of its customers, contractors and employees, its customers' ability to make their utility payment and the potential for supply-chain disruptions; actions that may be taken by credit rating agencies that could negatively affect either the company's access to or terms of financing or its financial condition and liquidity; changes in assumptions regarding economic conditions within the company's territories, the reliability of its transmission and distribution system, or the availability of capital or other resources supporting identified transmission and distribution investment opportunities; changes in customers' demand for power, including, but not limited to, the impact of climate change or energy efficiency and peak demand reduction mandates; changes in national and regional economic conditions, including inflationary pressure, affecting the company and/or its customers and those vendors with which the company does business; the risks associated with cyber-attacks and other disruptions to the company's, or its vendors', information technology system, which may compromise the company's operations, and data security breaches of sensitive data, intellectual property and proprietary or personally identifiable information; the ability to comply with applicable reliability standards and energy efficiency and peak demand reduction mandates; changes to environmental laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, those related to climate change; changing market conditions affecting the measurement of certain liabilities and the value of assets held in the company's pension trusts, or causing the company to make contributions sooner, or in amounts that are larger, than currently anticipated; labor disruptions by the company's unionized workforce; changes to significant accounting policies; any changes in tax laws or regulations, or adverse tax audit results or rulings; and the risks and other factors discussed from time to time in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") filings. Dividends declared from time to time on FirstEnergy's common stock during any period may in the aggregate vary from prior periods due to circumstances considered by FirstEnergy's Board of Directors at the time of the actual declarations. A security rating is not a recommendation to buy or hold securities and is subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating agency. Each rating should be evaluated independently of any other rating. These forward-looking statements are also qualified by, and should be read together with, the risk factors included in FirstEnergy's filings with the SEC, including, but not limited to, the most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. The foregoing review of factors also should not be construed as exhaustive. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict all such factors, nor assess the impact of any such factor on FirstEnergy's business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. FirstEnergy expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise, except as required by law, any forward-looking statements contained herein or in the information incorporated by reference as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

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SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

FAQ

How does FirstEnergy's hybrid truck initiative affect GHG emissions?

FirstEnergy aims to eliminate about 10,000 metric tons of GHG emissions annually with its hybrid electric trucks.

What are the goals for FirstEnergy's fleet electrification?

FirstEnergy plans to electrify 30% of its fleet by 2030 and achieve 100% electrification by 2050.

Where are the new hybrid electric bucket trucks deployed?

The hybrid bucket trucks are deployed to serve JCP&L customers in New Jersey.

How much fuel does FirstEnergy expect to save with its hybrid trucks?

FirstEnergy anticipates saving over 3.8 million gallons of fuel between 2021 and 2030.

What operational benefits do hybrid trucks provide FirstEnergy?

Hybrid trucks reduce noise pollution, lower maintenance costs, and extend engine life through reduced idling.