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Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD)

In the News

MSD: Walking the "Alternative Fuel" Walk
$83,000 Awarded to MSD for Hybrid Vehicles 

12.12.08 - James Hunt decided in the 90’s that the Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) in Louisville was taking a stand against this country’s dependence on foreign oil.

Once MSD began "walking the walk," they did not miss a step – with fluctuating fuel prices, changing technologies, and tighter budgets, they remained focused.  MSD began purchasing bi-fuel Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles and then dedicated CNG vehicles.

With Hunt overseeing the MSD fleet as Director of Physical Assets, there are currently 23 CNG vehicles, 5 hybrids and MSD is using a 5 percent Biodiesel blend in all diesel engines.  This year, when Ford no longer offered CNG vehicles, an $83,000 Congestion Mitigation & Air Quality (CMAQ) grant was awarded to MSD to purchase 16 additional hybrid vehicles instead.

Realizing the fleet needed CNG fueling on site at their Cabel Street location, Hunt arranged to purchase refueling equipment from LG&E in 2001. To date, the fleet has driven over 1.5 million miles on CNG.

In 2007, Hunt saw the need to address the diesel fuel use in the fleet.  He worked with Thorntons, who carries the fuel contract with MSD, and the three primary refueling retail sites for MSD and the Cabel Street garage location began carrying Biodiesel.

Hunt served as President of the Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition in 2001 and 2002 and has served on the Board of Directors for years as well.  His quiet dedication to this energy arena continues to exemplify leadership at a time when many talk the energy talk but few are walking the walk!