FedEX becoming a Clean Energy Leader

FedEx announced this week that it would be building the second largest private solar power system in the U.S. atop its Oakland, California hub.

Scheduled to begin operations in May, 2005, the 904-kilowatt system will provide about 25 percent of FedEx's annual power at the Oakland airport hub, which employs about 1,700 workers.

"We should do this because it makes economic sense and because it makes the environment cleaner," stated Mitch Jackson, FedEx's environmental director.

Additionally, FedEx will also be increasing its hybrid truck fleet to 18 vehicles. The new vehicles developed by Eaton Corporation, will decrease particulate emissions by 90 percent, smog emissions by 75 percent, and reduce fuel costs by 50 percent.

Unlike the popular Toyota Prius hybrid car, the FedEx hybrid vehicles will use diesel fuel, rather than unleaded fuel, in the combustion portion of the gas-electric powertrain.

FedEx has some 70,000 vehicles in its express and medium duty fleets, and the success of the first 18 trucks will determine the future of the hybrid program for FedEx. If the program succeeds, as many as 30,000 trucks could be developed by Eaton.