One of the RNG trucks out of our Goshen facility. “Nobody’s ever run a compressed natural gas engine on a log truck,” Gary says.
When a logging truck rumbles down a gravel road in our Oregon timberlands, it usually burns diesel — a reliable but carbon-intensive fuel. That’s beginning to change. This summer, our first fleet of renewable natural gas (RNG) trucks started rolling out of Goshen, Oregon, marking a new chapter in ¹ú²ú×ÔÅÄ’s longstanding exploration of alternative fuels.
“We’re always looking for ways to reduce costs, cut emissions and strengthen the resilience of our operations,” says Gary Romine, Oregon transportation manager. “The timing and technology finally lined up to make RNG viable for log hauling, and we’re excited to see where that gets us.”
LESSONS FROM A PROPANE PILOT
This isn’t ¹ú²ú×ÔÅÄ’s first foray into cleaner fuel. Back in 2019, we tested trucks powered by propane, a cleaner-burning, more affordable alternative to diesel.
While the pickup truck conversions were successful, the log truck pilot faced hurdles. Harsh operating conditions — steep terrain, gravel roads and heavy loads — pushed the dual-fuel system past its limits.
“The propane project didn’t fail because of the fuel,” Gary says. “It pushed us to think differently about alternative fuels and set the stage for what came next.”
The Oregon transportation team in front of one of the RNG trucks.
WHY RNG MAKES SENSE
The breakthrough came when Cummins released a 500-horsepower, 15-liter natural gas engine — the first with the muscle required for heavy-duty log hauling.
At the same time, ¹ú²ú×ÔÅÄ partnered with Fix Infrastructure, which tapped into a nearby Northwest Natural Gas pipeline and built a dedicated fueling station right at our Goshen truck shop. The result: a practical, scalable system that keeps trucks on the road all day with minimal disruption.
“This is the first time we’ve had the horsepower, the infrastructure and the economics all in one place,” Gary says. “And even for sites without a pipeline, compressed natural gas could be delivered by trailer and hooked up to a compressor plant, so this model can be replicated in remote locations, too.”
ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS
Fuel savings are one of the biggest wins. RNG, sourced from agricultural waste like dairy manure, is sold to us at a fixed, discounted rate because Fix monetizes carbon credits on the back end. When fully implemented at Goshen, costs could drop by nearly half.
“For us, fuel is about 15 percent of the total cost of running a truck,” Gary says. “Cutting that in half is a huge deal. Just as important, locking in a stable price means we can plan better and avoid the ups and downs of diesel markets.”
And the environmental impact is even greater. RNG captures methane that would otherwise escape into the atmosphere, turning it into a low-carbon fuel.
ROLLING INTO THE FUTURE
¹ú²ú×ÔÅÄ purchased 10 RNG trucks, with one already in service and more rolling out this fall. The goal is to scale up to 70 trucks at Goshen, representing nearly its entire fleet. Then we’ll look at other locations, such as nearby Longview.
“I think we’ll prove the trucks out with this first 10, then continue scaling it up,” Gary says. “Ultimately, RNG could extend beyond timber hauling into other parts of our business.”
Gary adds that RNG is a bridge fuel — not the final destination. Our teams are always on the lookout for innovative and cleaner opportunities.
A SHARED COMMITMENT
The transition to RNG reflects years of persistence, innovation and partnership, from early propane experiments to collaborations with Cummins, Fix Infrastructure and nonprofits like Northwest Clean Cities, which helps us procure grants for projects like this one.
“¹ú²ú×ÔÅÄ takes carbon out of the atmosphere and turns it into homes,” says Travis Ridgway, director of harvesting and transportation. “Switching to alternative fuels is a natural extension of that mission, and it’s exciting to see these trucks finally on the road.”
Gary agrees.
“This is a large investment, and there’s some risk,” he says. “But it speaks to our innovative spirit that we’re willing to take that risk to align with our sustainability goals.”
