The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) voted to purchase 295 40-foot compressed natural gas (CNG) buses, which will be fueled by renewable natural gas.

The contract includes an option for the purchase of 305 additional 40 foot CNG buses. The buses will replace part of the aging bus fleet and signals a commitment by the transit agency, already the largest natural gas bus fleet in the nation, to continue using natural gas to improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Los Angeles County.

LA Metro will make a similar vote at its board meeting next month to consider adding additional CNG buses or other alternative-fuel vehicles.

Metro plans to transition to renewable natural gas over a five-year period to reduce emissions by 520,000 metric tones over regular natural gas and 900,000 metric tons over diesel.

Clean Energy Fuels Corp. has a contract to supply Metro's transit buses with renewable natural gas made from 100% organic waste.