AT&T Announces Dallas Company to Upfit Vehicles With Alternative-Fuel Technology

* Reuters is not responsible for the content in this press release.

Tue Jun 30, 2009 10:00am EDT

BAF Technologies to convert 600 vehicles with CNG technology in 2009;  Part of
10-Year Commitment to Spend up to $565 Million on Alternative-Fuel Vehicles

DALLAS, June 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AT&T* today joined Dallas-based BAF
Technologies to announce that conversion of vehicles purchased by AT&T to
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is underway. BAF Technologies, the premier
provider of natural gas vehicle upfits, will convert 600 Ford E-Series vans to
CNG technology in 2009.  

AT&T expects to spend an estimated $350 million to purchase about 8,000 CNG
vehicles as part of a $565 million, long-term strategy to deploy more than
15,000 alternative-fuel vehicles over the next 10 years. AT&T's investment
represents the largest U.S. corporate commitment to CNG vehicles to date. The
new deployments will bring AT&T's alternative-fuel fleet to more than 15,000
vehicles by 2019. 

"AT&T's commitment to alternative-fuel vehicles reflects our long-term goal to
minimize dependence on imported sources of fuel and explore new automotive
technologies," said Charlene Lake, AT&T chief sustainability officer.
"Together with BAF Technologies, we hope this initiative helps boost other
industries, while at the same time signaling demand for the production of more
fuel-efficient vehicles."  

The vehicles will utilize the BAF CapComp System(TM), a proprietary CNG fuel
system certified by the EPA. CNG vehicles are expected to emit approximately
25 percent less greenhouse gas emissions than those traditionally powered by
gasoline. 

"We're proud to join AT&T in its efforts to introduce more CNG vehicles into
its fleet," said John Bacon, BAF Technologies president. "Not only will the
new vehicles operate on domestic fuel, they also will be among the cleanest
vehicles on the road. This program will soon be the standard other companies
will follow."

The Center for Automotive Research (CAR) in Ann Arbor, Mich. estimates that
for the years AT&T's fleet purchase program is operating, more than 1,000 jobs
in the United States will be created or saved.  

"I'm honored to stand with AT&T and BAF Technologies, two American businesses
doing their part during tough economic times to help lessen our country's
reliance on imported oil and create demand for more fuel-efficient vehicles.
This announcement is good for business, good for the environment and good for
our economy," said U.S. Rep. Joe Barton.  

In addition to the economic benefits, CAR estimates the new vehicles will save
49 million gallons of gasoline and reduce carbon emissions by 211,000 metric
tons over the 10-year deployment period. That is equivalent to removing the
emissions from more than 38,600 traditional passenger vehicles for a year. 

"I applaud AT&T's leadership in supporting clean air and the environment in
Texas. When companies of AT&T's stature make a commitment to low-emission
fuels in an effort to cut down on the emissions polluting our air, others are
sure to follow," said state Rep. Rafael Anchia.

AT&T will work with natural gas service providers to build up to 40 new CNG
fueling stations across its operating region to provide the fueling
infrastructure needed for the new vehicles. 

In addition to deploying CNG vehicles, AT&T has committed to replacing
retiring gasoline-powered passenger vehicles in its fleet with
alternative-fuel models. AT&T expects to replace 7,100 passenger cars over the
next 10 years. The alternative-fuel vehicles, which will be used by employees
in a variety of diverse work functions across AT&T's operations, are expected
to offer up to a 39 percent improvement in fuel economy and to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions by up to 29 percent. 

During the initial phase of the deployment, gasoline-powered passenger
vehicles will be replaced with hybrid models. As technologies evolve,
additional alternative-fuel vehicle types will be considered for inclusion. A
Green Technology insignia will make AT&T's alternative fuel vehicles easy to
identify on the road. 

The new CNG/passenger vehicle commitment follows AT&T's deployment of 105
alternative-fuel vehicles in more than 30 U.S. cities beginning in June 2008.
In addition, AT&T piloted four Ford Escape hybrids, which were deployed in
late 2007 in California.

Through these successful pilot programs, AT&T has learned that a mix of
solutions is right for its fleet and that multiple technologies can help
reduce its operating costs over time, while effectively reducing its fuel
consumption and impact on the environment. 

In addition to taking steps to make its fleet more efficient, AT&T is
committed to helping its customers make their commercial fleets more efficient
via a portfolio of fleet management products and services. Using AT&T's
nationwide mobile broadband network and GPS partner solutions, AT&T provides
fleet managers with the ability to actively manage their vehicles, increase
efficiency and reduce fuel and insurance costs. Nearly all of AT&T's own
technician vehicles are equipped with similar GPS capabilities, which have
provided increased visibility into business operations and allowed AT&T to
uncover opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce costs. 

To view this announcement live, please visit www.att.com/public-policy. For
more information about AT&T's sustainability efforts, please visit
www.att.com/sustainability.  

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and
affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company. Its
subsidiaries and affiliates, AT&T operating companies, are the providers of
AT&T services in the United States and around the world. Among their offerings
are the world's most advanced IP-based business communications services, the
nation's fastest 3G network and the best wireless coverage worldwide, and the
nation's leading high speed Internet access and voice services. In domestic
markets, AT&T is known for the directory publishing and advertising sales
leadership of its Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations, and the AT&T
brand is licensed to innovators in such fields as communications equipment. As
part of their three-screen integration strategy, AT&T operating companies are
expanding their TV entertainment offerings. In 2009, AT&T again ranked No. 1
in the telecommunications industry on FORTUNE(R) magazine's list of the
World's Most Admired Companies. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the
products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is
available at http://www.att.com.

(C) 2009 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T, the AT&T logo
and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual
Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks contained herein
are the property of their respective owners.


SOURCE  AT&T Inc.

Kerry Hibbs of  AT&T Inc., Office, +1-512-870-2005, Cell, +1-512-934-0713,
khibbs@att.com
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