NGVAmerica News Week in Review: April 18, 2016

 

• Republic Debuts Expanded CNG Truck Fleet in Oregon
• California Energy Commission Approves $12.6 Million for NGV Purchases
• NGVAmerica Capitol Hill Lobbying Days Next Week
• Freedom CNG Opens High-Speed CNG Fueling Station in Texas
• Nopetro Opens Nation’s Largest Public-Private CNG Fueling Facility
• SoCalGas Opens Public CNG Fueling Station in Los Angeles
• S. Gain Partners with H&S Bakery to Bring GAIN Clean Fuel CNG Station to Baltimore
• Galileo Cryobox Installed for Terra Energy in North Dakota
• Crowley Takes Delivery of Third Jones Act LNG-Capable Tanker
• Wärtsilä to Deliver Gas Solution for Two Canadian Ferries to Be Converted to LNG
• Woodside Charters Australia’s First LNG-Powered Support Vessel

 

Republic Debuts Expanded CNG Truck Fleet in Oregon

April 15, 2016

Republic Services has added 16 CNG solid waste collection trucks to its fleet serving customers throughout the greater Portland area in Oregon. The CNG trucks replace older diesel-powered trucks, and bring the total number of NGVs operated by Republic Services in Oregon to 35.

“Our growing fleet of natural gas-powered collection trucks enables us to offer cleaner and quieter operations in the communities we serve,” said Mike Huycke, area president of Republic Services. “They also represent our commitment, as a large vocational fleet operator, to reducing carbon emissions whenever possible.”

Republic Services’ conversion to CNG supports both the company’s national and regional goals for addressing sustainability and climate change.

In metropolitan Portland, Republic has approximately 90 employees who serve roughly 20,000 residential and 1,200 commercial customers. Republic operates eight hauling locations, three transfer stations, two recycling centers, one composting facility, and one landfill in the state, as well as two CNG fueling stations to support its expanding Oregon-based fleet.

Nationwide, Republic Services operates a fleet of approximately 2,500 CNG vehicles and 38 natural gas fueling stations. Republic’s CNG-powered fleet helps to save roughly 18 million gallons of diesel fuel annually. Approximately one-third of all replacement vehicles purchased by Republic last year were CNG-powered vehicles.

 

California Energy Commission Approves $12.6 Million for NGV Purchases

April 13, 2016

The California Energy Commission approved an additional $12.6 million in funding to the Natural Gas Vehicle Incentive Project (NGVIP), which offers incentives for the purchase of natural gas vehicles. This funding will help reduce the current wait list as well as fund future applications.

The University of California, Irvine, administers the program. Last year the Energy Commission allocated more than $11 million to recipients to purchase NGVs for use in California for at least three years.

The grants for the NGV incentives are funded through the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program (ARFVTP), which aims to reduce California’s use and dependence on petroleum transportation fuels and increase the use of alternative and renewable fuels and advanced vehicle technologies.

 

NGVAmerica to Lead Capitol Hill Lobbying Days

April 18, 2016

NGVAmerica has organized its annual Capitol Hill Lobbying Days on Monday and Tuesday, May 23 – 24, 2016. Educating elected officials about the environmental and economic benefits of NGVs is an important component of NGVAmerica’s Federal Government Advocacy program.  All NGVAmerica members are invited and encouraged to attend and participate.

This year’s event has been coordinated with the Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas.  Both of organizations will meet with Members of Congress and key staff to advance the goal of using more natural gas in transportation.

Activities will start on the evening of Monday, May 23 with a joint reception. On Tuesday, May 24, both groups will meet at 8:00 a.m. for a continental breakfast and brief orientation at NGVAmerica’s headquarters. Each delegation will then disperse and go to their meetings on Capitol Hill with relevant Members and Staff (9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.).

Immediately following the Hill visits, NGVAmerica and the Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas have secured a LIMITED number of tickets to watch the Washington Nationals take on the New York Mets.  We will reconvene at the ballpark after 5:30 p.m.

Please contact Paul Kerkhoven at pkerkhoven@www.ngvamerica.org with questions and to RSVP with your attendance.  Modest sponsorship opportunities also exist.

 

Freedom CNG Opens High-Speed CNG Fueling Station in Texas

April 12, 2016

Freedom CNG has opened a CNG station for trucks powered by the cleaner-burning fuel in the Permian Basin, located between Midland and Odessa off I-20. The CNG station is strategically located between El Paso to the west and Dallas to the east.

Open 24 hours a day, the Freedom CNG station is located east of the Midland Airport, is the only CNG fueling station in the Permian Basin capable of fueling eight large vehicles at the same time. The station boasts a fill rate of 12 GGE per minute, and the facility also provides about an acre of paved turning space to accommodate large trucks.

The Texas-based company operates three fueling stations in Houston including its newest north Houston station which also fuels METRO’s new fleet of 50 CNG transit buses.

 

Nopetro Opens Nation’s Largest Public-Private CNG Fueling Facility

April 15, 2016

Nopetro celebrated the grand opening of what the fuel retailer has called the nation’s largest public/private CNG fueling facility in Orlando, Florida.

The facility is part of a public-private partnership (P3) with the Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority (LYNX). The six-acre facility, which includes five CNG dispensers with the capacity to distribute 40 GGEs per minute, features both a private station for LYNX and a second station open to the public at large.

The P3 also included providing environmentally sustainable upgrades to LYNX’s existing maintenance facility, as well as coordinating the conversion of the existing public bus fleet to CNG vehicles. LYNX is projected to have more than 150 CNG buses within the next five years.

As part of the P3 agreement, Nopetro built the CNG fueling station and upgraded the maintenance facility. The fueling facility is completely privately funded and also includes a shared-revenue component with the regional bus service. TECO Peoples Gas also partnered in the project and is responsible for bringing the natural gas utility service to the project.

“This P3 showcases LYNX’s commitment to sustainable public transportation, and puts us at the cutting edge of a nationwide movement,” said Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs, Chair of the LYNX Board of Directors. “Converting LYNX’s fleet to CNG is a complete win/win for our communities. It is positive from a fiscal standpoint, positive from an environmental standpoint, and positive for the millions of riders who utilize the system.”

Nopetro operates one of the nation’s most successful public-private partnerships for CNG fueling—a tri-government P3 in Florida’s capital, with the City of Tallahassee, Leon County and Leon County Schools. Nopetro also has CNG P3 projects in development with St. Johns and Charlotte Counties.

 

SoCalGas Opens Public CNG Fueling Station in Southern California

April 15, 2016

SoCalGas has opened its new Murrieta CNG station in Western Riverside County, California, the company’s 15^th public-access station. The station is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and located at SoCalGas’ operating base near the intersection of two interstate highways, I-15 and I-215. It is conveniently situated for trucks and other commercial vehicles traveling between Southern California locations.

While the Murrieta station is accessible to all NGVs, it is designed to provide easy access for trucks and commercial vehicles. The design features include a wider turning radius and ample space to allow for safe, efficient fueling for multiple vehicles. The new SoCalGas station features four dispenser hoses supported by ample storage for improved fill speed and increased reliability.

“Fuel availability is a key requirement for any NGV fleet operator and SoCalGas has worked to ensure that Southern California has one of the best CNG refueling networks in the U.S.,” said Mike Schneider, vice president of operations support & chief environmental officer, customer service & solutions for SoCalGas. “We are pleased to add the Murrieta station to our network and believe its location and truck-friendly design will make it a vital asset to NGV fleet operators and the growing numbers of heavy-duty trucking customers.”

The Murrieta Valley Unified School District has partnered with SoCalGas to provide natural gas fuel for its fleet of CNG school buses. The district will be an anchor fleet for the newly constructed station.

SoCalGas actively supports the development of the NGV infrastructure, including refueling facilities. SoCalGas also has an extensive NGV program to provide information, education and support to residential and business customers that use, or would benefit from using, clean-burning natural gas as a transportation fuel.

The new station was made possible by financial support from the California Energy Commission, South Coast Air Quality Management District and Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee.

 

U.S. Gain Partners with H&S Bakery to Bring GAIN Clean Fuel CNG Station to Baltimore

April 15, 2016

U.S. Gain announced that it has completed a new CNG station in partnership with H&S Bakery, a bakery provider for McDonald’s and other fast-food restaurants. The fast-fill station is located at the intersection of I-95 and I-895 in Baltimore and is open to all CNG fleets and the public. A $500,000 award from the Maryland Natural Gas Refilling Station Grant Program helped to fund the project.

“This is a great partnership and one we encourage other carriers to consider,” said Michael Jones from the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) and Maryland Cities Coalition. “CNG is produced regionally and throughout the U.S. and that contributes to a less volatile fuel price. In addition, CNG emits fewer air pollutants than conventional diesel fuel, so everyone benefits.”

Located near their distribution center, the Baltimore station not only gives the H&S Bakery fleet a strategic fueling location, but also contributes to their own commitment to improve sustainability efforts.

 

Galileo Cryobox Installed for Terra Energy in North Dakota

April 11, 2016

SPATCO Energy Solutions, North America’s largest distributor for Galileo USA, announced installation completion and two months of successful operation of the first North American Galileo Cryobox Nano Station for Terra Energy Group in North Dakota. The new Cryobox unit, which is a micro-scale natural gas liquefier, in its first month of operation helped prevent the flaring of millions of standard cubic feet of natural gas. The liquefiers are now consistently producing 7,800 to 8,500 LNG gallons per day based on production output from the wells.

“The Galileo Cryobox is an economic, transportable and scalable option that is capable of converting gas that is being flared into fuel used in oil & gas field operations,” said Jeff Dailey, president and CEO of SPATCO Energy Solutions.

Terra Energy group commissioned the Cryobox liquefier to help its customers reduce both natural gas flaring and their overall fuel spend by capturing their natural gas at the well-pad, liquefying the gas on-site, and transporting the gas to other points of their operations where the gas can then be put to use in a number of applications.

 

Crowley Takes Delivery of Third Jones Act LNG-Capable Tanker

April 15, 2015

Crowley Maritime Corp. has taken delivery of Louisiana, the third of four new, Jones Act product tankers being built for the company by Philly Shipyard. Louisiana, which is 50,000 dead-weight-tons and capable of carrying 330,000-barrels of product, is scheduled to be christened in New Orleans on May 5. Crowley’s fourth product tanker is under construction at PSI, and delivery is planned for third quarter 2016.

Louisiana joins sister ships Ohio and Texas, which were received by Crowley in 2015 as the first-ever tankers to receive the American Bureau of Shipping’s (ABS) LNG-Ready Level 1 approval. The approval allows Crowley to convert the tanker to LNG propulsion. The vessel is 600 feet long and is capable of carrying crude oil or refined petroleum products, as well as various chemical cargoes.

“The Louisiana’s delivery continues to enhance the services we are able to provide to our petroleum customers,” said Crowley’s Rob Grune, senior vice president and general manager, petroleum services. “Milestones like today show we can deliver solutions that reinforce the value of the Jones Act vessels and American-built and American-crewed trade.”

 

Wärtsilä to Deliver Gas Solution for Two Canadian Ferries to Be Converted to LNG

April 15, 2016

Wärtsilä has been awarded the contract by Gdańsk Shiprepair Yard (Remontowa) to supply engines, propulsion machinery, integrated automation systems, and gas handling systems required for the mid-life upgrading of two RoPax ferries and their conversion to operate on LNG fuel. The ferries, the Spirit of British Columbia and the Spirit of Vancouver, are the flagship vessels of British Columbia Ferry Services based in Victoria, Canada.

The work on the first of these ships will be carried out during the 2017–18 winter season, and during the following winter season for the second vessel. This means that the time allowed for completing the work is just seven months, including a delivery voyage of more than one month each way.

“We congratulate British Columbia Ferry Services for having the foresight and vision to undertake these mid-life upgrades, and for making the two ships environmentally sustainable by converting them to operate on LNG fuel,” said Aaron Bresnahan, Vice President, Sales, Wärtsilä Marine Solutions.

The full scope of Wärtsilä’s supply includes four Wärtsilä 34DF dual-fuel engines with fuel gas systems, the Wärtsilä LNGPac fuel storage tank, a variety of other fuel system and other components, integration engineering, and crew training.

In December 2014, Wärtsilä was contracted to supply the dual-fuel machinery for three new ferries being built at the Remontowa yard on behalf of British Columbia Ferry Services.

 

Woodside Charters Australia’s First LNG-Powered Support Vessel

April 16, 2016

Woodside has signed a five-year charter contract with Norwegian company Siem Offshore Australia—an agreement that delivers Australia its first LNG-powered marine support vessel in 2017. The deal positions Woodside as an early adopter of LNG as a marine fuel in the region.

“We’re thrilled to be the first company to bring one of these vessels to the southern hemisphere,” said Woodside COO Mike Utsler. “Australia is on track to become the world’s largest producer of LNG, so it makes perfect sense to build dual-fuel capabilities for our marine fleets here.”

Woodside’s new vessel will be greener—reducing vessel greenhouse gas and pollutant emissions and the reliance on imported diesel—while providing safe, reliable support to Woodside’s assets in the Exmouth and Pilbara regions. Woodside says it will continue to seek to expand the application of LNG-fueling in transportation.