Clean Energy: LNG and CNG update

Clean Energy Fuels has opened two natural gas highway stations in the US, expanded its CNG (compressed natural gas) network, and signed multiple fuelling agreements.

The company announced that fuelling has commenced at its Valdosta, Georgia, and London, Ohio, America’s Natural Gas Highway stations to serve Raven Transport and Epes’ fleets of heavy-duty liquefied natural gas (LNG) trucks.

Clean Energy has also entered into an agreement with PECO, the largest electric and natural gas utility in Pennsylvania, under which the company will operate PECO’s CNG stations throughout the greater-Philadelphia area.

A number of fuelling agreements were also announced in the transit sector, which build on Clean Energy’s portfolio of natural gas fuel customers across the US.

Texas Triangle

Clean Energy has become the first company to offer both CNG and LNG in the Texas Triangle. With the opening of the San Antonio, Texas, America’s Natural Gas Highway station, Clean Energy opened the Texas Triangle to natural gas fuelling, becoming the first company to offer both natural gases for this transport corridor.

Epes Transport System

Epes Transport System will deploy heavy-duty natural gas trucks to haul goods for Lowe’s regional distribution centre in Valdosta, Georgia. Lowe's recently named Epes Truckload Carrier of the Year for best overall service. Epes intends to convert all regional distribution centre dedicated fleets to natural gas by the end of 2017.

This fleet is expected to consume approximately 250 000 gallons of diesel equivalent (DGEs) of LNG per year. This represents a greenhouse gas reduction of approximately 448 tpa.

Comments

“We stand behind the vision of Lowe’s to be an industry leader in alternative transportation throughout its supply chain. Cleaner-burning and less expensive natural gas makes sense for our fleet and we will continue to explore additional opportunities to deploy natural gas trucks throughout our operations in the eastern United States,” commented Britt Colley, president of Epes.

PECO CNG

Clean Energy will upgrade the equipment at six existing PECO CNG stations and manage all new and existing retail sales and fleet accounts. The stations will remain in operation during the equipment upgrades.

PECO will continue to provide natural gas to the stations and will use these stations for their fleet fuelling needs.

Comments

“The agreement with Clean Energy will help us continue to support and grow the local CNG infrastructure in our region,” commented Craig Adams, CEO of PECO.

Foothill Transit

Foothill Transit has awarded Clean Energy multi-year operations, maintenance and fuelling contract renewals for its two CNG facilities. Foothill Transit operates a fleet of 335 CNG vehicles.

Comments

“Converting our fleet to alternative fuels has been a top priority for Foothill Transit. Our 10-year plan is now complete and our CNG fleet makes cleaner air for everyone a breathable reality,” commented Doran Barnes, executive director of Foothill Transit.

Southern Nevada RTC

The Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) in Southern Nevada has ordered 80 new Ford E-450 CNG passenger-lift-equipped vehicles that will be deployed in 2014 for the RTC’s ADA Paratransit service.

These Paratransit vehicles are forecasted to consume approximately 800 000 gallons of gas equivalent (GGE) of CNG per year once fully deployed. Clean Energy operates and maintains the two RTC-owned private fuelling stations that support the CNG fleet.

Norwalk Transit System

Clean Energy has been awarded a further contract to design, build and operate a new private CNG fuelling station for Norwalk Transit System (NTS). NTS is transitioning its fleet of 30 vehicles to CNG. Currently, almost half of their vehicles are powered by natural gas.

To maintain NTS’ growing fleet of CNG vehicles, Clean Energy will also modify the fleet’s maintenance facility to be code-compliant for natural gas vehicle maintenance. The current fleet of 14 NGVs is forecasted to consume approximately 150 000 GGEs of CNG per year.

Comments

“Cities across America are making the switch to natural gas to fuel their fleets because it is fiscally responsible and better for the air we breathe. Norwalk grasped the potential of CNG fuel early on and we’re happy to be working with Clean Energy to continue our fleet’s transition to this economical and cleaner-burning fuel,” commented James Parker, director of transportation, City of Norwalk.

Morongo Basin Transit Authority

Morongo Basin Transit Authority (MBTA) has awarded Clean Energy a CNG facility maintenance contract for its expanding fleet. Serving ten communities in California, the MBTA operates a fleet of 28 compressed natural gas vehicles which fuel at MBTA’s private CNG fuelling station.

This growing fleet consumes approximately 120 000 GGEs of CNG per year. Clean Energy currently operates and maintains the two RTC-owned private fuelling stations that support the CNG fleet.

Comments

“Environmental stewardship is a key priority for MBTA, which is why our entire fleet is powered by CNG. We are proud to do our part in keeping the desert skies clear for citizens of the Morongo Basin to enjoy for years to come,” commented Joe Meer, general manager at MBTA.

Adapted from press release by Katie Woodward

Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/small-scale-lng/01042014/clean_energy_lng_and_cng_update_373/