DALLAS- AT&T's corporate fleet deployed its 1,000^th alternative-fuel vehicle on Feb. 18. The deployment is part of a $565 million planned investment announced in March 2009 to replace more than 15,000 fleet vehicles with more fuel-efficient models through 2018. AT&T currently operates a fleet of more than 77,000 vehicles, according to the company.

The 10-year initiative includes an expected $350 million to purchase approximately 8,000 compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles over a five-year period, including the 1,000^th alternative-fuel vehicle, a CNG van deployed in Oakland, Calif.. This represents the largest initiative to CNG to date by a U.S. company. AT&T anticipates spending another $215 million through 2018 to replace 7,100 fleet passenger cars with alt-fuel models. According to the Center for Automotive Research (CAR), AT&T's overall alternative fuel vehicle initiative will:

• Save 49 million gallons of gasoline over the 10-year deployment period.

• Reduce carbon emissions by 211,000 metric tons.

"In a time of deep economic uncertainty, AT&T is making investments in our corporate fleet that are good for our business, the environment and our economy," said Jerome Webber, vice president, AT&T Fleet Operations. "The deployment of our 1,000^th alternative-fuel vehicle signals a demand for cleaner alternative fuels that are less volatile in cost and that can be tapped here in America, right now."