Pollution along the 710 Freeway has local politicians and air quality officials calling for cleaner alternatives to diesel fuel trucks. Mayors in South Gate, Compton, Commerce, Maywood, and Bell along with the South Coast Air Quality Management District and Southern California Gas Company say trucks on the 710 have an adverse effect on the environment and public health, EGP News reports.
Maywood mayor Eddie de la Riva told EGP that he wants to encourage owners and operators of heavy duty trucks to switch over to cleaner energy vehicles.
One way the mayors hope to do that is with SoCalGas’ natural gas trucks. The gas company says the vehicles could reduce up to 90 percent of smog. SoCalGas offers a truck loan program that uses compressed natural gas, a cleaner burning and cheaper fuel alternative they say.
A 2013 study says 47,000 diesel trucks travel the 710 Freeway every day, exposing residents to a large amounts of diesel and leading to negative health effects, EGP reports.
Southgate mayor Jorge Morales told EGP it’s important to get behind the green movement to make a healthy impact on the air quality for their communities.
