NGVAmerica News Week in Review: March 27, 2017

 

• 12-Liter Low-NOx Natural Gas Engine Operating at Southern California Ports
• NGVAmerica Appoints Allison Cunningham as Director of Federal Government Affairs
• 2017 West Coast-to-East Coast NGV Road Rally Announced
• British Columbia Transit Fleet Completes Transition to Natural Gas
• California Low NOx Engine Vouchers Available Now
• CDP Technologies Offers Aftermarket Cylinder Head Package for GM 6.0L Engines
• Landi Renzo Receives EPA Certification, Launches New Ship-Thru Service
• British Columbia to Increasing Market for LNG and RNG Fuel
• Crowley Launches LNG-Powered ConRo Ship at VT Halter Marine
• New Report Highlights Role of LNG in Cleaner Marine Transport

 

12-Liter Low-NOx Natural Gas Engine Operating at Southern California Ports

March 23, 2017

Total Transportation Services, one of largest drayage trucking companies in the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, has begun using one of the first Cummins Westport (CWI) ISX12 G low NOx natural gas engines for their trucking operations. Available for order later this year, the 12-liter engine’s emissions will be certified by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to produce 90 percent less NOx than the current EPA standard for heavy duty engines, and are equivalent to that of a truck powered by electricity from the electrical grid.

“The trucking industry is facing hard choices on how we are going to reduce our emissions impact, especially here in Southern California,” said Victor La Rosa, CEO and President of TTSI. “We believe the quickest and most affordable way to cut our NOx emissions to essentially zero is with the new CWI engine and renewable natural gas. We’ve successfully operated natural gas trucks in the San Pedro ports since the last Clean Trucks program in 2008, and it’s great that we now have a dramatically improved engine and an even cleaner fuel with RNG.”

In 2016 Cummins Westport began full production of the 8.9-liter ISL G low NOx engine, and has shipped engines to bus and refuse truck OEMs. The ISX12 G low NOx engine is based on the 12 liter ISX12 G first introduced in 2012, and will start production early next year.

South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) and the California Energy Commission (CEC) supported Cummins Westport by providing development funding, recognizing the importance of this technology in helping California reduce emissions from heavy duty trucks. About one-third of California residents live in communities with pollution that exceeds federal standards, according to estimates by CARB.

“We’ve made huge strides in improving air quality around the ports and across our region, but more needs to be done,” said Wayne Nastri, executive officer at SCAQMD. “We applaud companies like Cummins Westport and TTSI for their leadership in adopting these technologies and making an immediate positive impact on the environment.”

NGVAmerica Appoints Allison Cunningham as Director of Federal Government Affairs

March 27, 2017

NGVAmerica is pleased to announce that Allison Cunningham has been appointed to the position of Director of Federal Government Affairs effective March 27, 2017. Allison will lead NGVAmerica’s government advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill and within the federal agencies on issues that impact the natural gas vehicle industry.

“Allison brings strong experience that translates quickly into leadership for the natural gas vehicle industry,” said Matthew Godlewski, NGVAmerica President. “Allison will quickly add value for our members in representing NGVAmerica in Washington.”

  Allison brings experience from Capitol Hill, the corporate government affairs sector and a national trade association. Allison was most recently the Manager of Federal Affairs at Spectra Energy Corp (now Enbridge) in Washington. Prior to this position she served on the government affairs team at the American Gas Association (AGA). Allison also worked on the Hill for five years, most recently as Deputy Chief of Staff to Congressman Steve Pearce from New Mexico. She also worked for Congressman Tom Cole from Oklahoma.

Allison is an alumna of the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL), where she represented the natural gas industry to foreign officials as an ACYPL delegate to Ghana and South Africa. Allison was also part of the Woodrow Wilson Center’s inaugural Foreign Policy Fellowship for Senior Capitol Hill Staff.

Allison has a Master’s in Democracy, Politics, and Governance from the Royal Holloway, University of London and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Oklahoma State University.

 

2017 West Coast-to-East Coast NGV Road Rally Announced

March 27, 2017

NGVAmerica is excited to announce plans for this year’s 2017 Drive NatGas ‘Sea-to-Shining-Sea’ NGV Road Rally Across America. The benefits of using CNG, LNG, and RNG in transportation and the variety of vehicles available today that operate on natural gas will be incorporated into multiple stops throughout the country over a two-week period this June.

The west coast-to-east coast road rally will also draw media attention to the historic VW settlement program and serve to educate state officials on how NGVs are the most cost-effective use of funds for clean transportation projects outlined in the $2.9 billion Environmental Mitigation Trust Fund.

We are seeking sponsorships from membership to defray costs to make this national media event a success. There are three ways to support this effort:

1. A $1,500 Venue Sponsorship
2. An Event Sponsorship (Absorb the cost of a destination location of your choice)
3. Vehicles: We need NGVs at each stop in addition to volunteers to provide several vehicles to participate in the road rally, whether it be driving the entire coast-to-coast route or simply participating in one or more legs of the trip along the way.

Last year’s successful Long Beach, California-to-Washington, DC, ten-day, 13-stop road trip accomplished several goals:

• Created a celebratory atmosphere around the benefits of NGVs that supporters of the rally used with customers and policymakers
• Provided a venue to present ~ 50 awards to state officials and stakeholders who championed natural gas issues
• Served to educate attendees on NGVs’ value proposition
• Proved that NGV range anxiety is a myth
• Garnered positive media attention

For more information or to support this initiative, contact Tom Sheehan at tsheehan@altfuelsolutions.com or (207) 925-1136.

 

British Columbia Transit Fleet Completes Transition to Natural Gas

March 22, 2017

The delivery of 19 XN40 Xcelsior New Flyer buses this winter means that the City of Kamloops now operates a fleet powered completely by compressed natural gas. The new buses are part of the almost $160 million in federal and provincial funding for BC Transit projects that was first announced in June 2016, together with Premier Christy Clark and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

“Through developing greener operations with the adoption of best in class technology, BC Transit is demonstrating a commitment not only to environmental stewardship, but also to supporting meaningful, family-supporting jobs for British Columbians in the renewable energy sector,” said Todd Stone, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. “I am immensely proud of the benefits this brings for all British Columbians, including right here in Kamloops.”

According to FortisBC, using CNG reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 15 to 25 percent, and it also costs 25 to 50 percent less than traditional diesel fuel. Production of clean burning CNG also supports British Columbians across the province, providing employment in both rural and urban communities. The buses are fueled at a station built and maintained by Clean Energy Fuels.

The first 25 CNG buses arrived in Kamloops in 2014-2015, and in that time have resulted in a six percent decrease in operating costs per trip and an eight percent operating cost recovery increase in 2015-2016.

The purchase of the 19 new vehicles represents an investment of $12 million in the Kamloops Transit System. To help offset the initial costs associated with the purchase of the new CNG buses, FortisBC will provide funding of up to $378,000. This funding represents 40 percent of the cost differential of the CNG buses over their diesel counterparts. The 19 new CNG-powered buses are being delivered to Kamloops throughout the spring of 2017.

 

California Low NOx Engine Vouchers Available Now

March 27, 2017

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is now accepting new vouchers for all categories of the Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP). CARB, in partnership with CALSTART, launched the HVIP program in 2009 to accelerate the purchase of cleaner, more efficient trucks and buses in California. HVIP provides incentives for zero-emission and hybrid trucks, buses and low NOx natural gas engines like the Cummins Westport ISL-G Near Zero NOx emissions natural gas engine.

HVIP is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of cap-and-trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy and improving public health and the environment. The cap-and-trade program also creates a financial incentive for industries to invest in clean technologies and develop innovative ways to reduce pollution. At least 35 percent of these investments are made in disadvantaged and low-income communities.

To see how much HVIP’s vouchers cover and which vehicles are eligible, click here for the Eligible Vehicles page. For more information and to get on the HVIP mailing list, contact Chase LeCroy.

 

CDP Technologies Offers Aftermarket Cylinder Head Package for GM 6.0L Engines
March 27, 2017

CDP Technologies, the OEM sales division of Crazy Diamond Performance, will offer a new aftermarket gaseous fuels-prepped cylinder head package for GM 6.0L engines. The new CDP cylinder head will be available for GM engines that have been, or are slated to be, converted to a gaseous alternative fuel engine.

One of the components in Crazy Diamond Performance’s upcoming CDP TorqueDrive (TD) engine, CDP’s new cylinder head has been engineered to incorporate higher airflow, strength and durability than the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) unit. The CDP gaseous prep cylinder head includes ultra-high strength stainless steel valves, proprietary hardened valve seats and revised seals.

“The new materials that are now available help to improve performance, heat dissipation and have a high level of corrosion resistance,” said Kevin Fern, Co-Founder of CDP. “The CDP cylinder head package is direct replacement for the OEM unit, meaning that a fleet operator could replace a non-hardened or failed unit with no modifications to the engine.”

CDP’s new cylinder head is manufactured from a high strength rotocast A356-T6 aluminum. Part of the rotocast process involves rotating the cylinder head mold while cooling to ensure that no air pockets occur.

CDP will be releasing its new cylinder head for aftermarket use in the third quarter of 2017.

 

Landi Renzo Receives EPA Certification, Launches New Ship-Thru Service

March 24, 2017

Landi Renzo USA announced it has received receipt of its natural gas bi-fuel and dedicated EPA certifications for the MY2017 Ford F-250/350 6.2-liter engine with gaseous prep engine package.

The new 6.2L bi-fuel and dedicated CNG systems have been developed by leading alternative fuel engineers and are available exclusively through Landi Renzo USA’s distribution network.

In addition, Landi Renzo USA announced a new ship-thru service for natural gas trucks out of Ford’s Ohio Assembly Plant (OHAP). In collaboration with a Landi Renzo preferred ship-thru installer located in Avon Lake, Ohio, ordering a CNG equipped F450/550 or F650/750 Super Duty truck can be done simply by selecting the ship-thru option on a dealer order form.

The cost of the ship-thru option is only $10.00 on the dealer invoice to have the truck pulled, upfitted, then put back into Ford’s transportation system and delivered to the final destination. Ship-thru capabilities will cover all models out of Ford’s OHAP, which include F450-750 and E-Series cutaway.

For more information please contact us at sales@landiusa.com or call (310) 257-9481 to speak with a representative.

 

British Columbia to Increasing Market for LNG and RNG Fuel

March 22, 2017

The Government of British Columbia is taking action under the Climate Leadership Plan to support investments by natural gas utilities that will increase the use of LNG and renewable natural gas (RNG) in the transportation, marine and other sectors and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

“We’re working with utilities to stimulate the use of LNG as a marine fuel in large, ocean-going ships, and to increase the supply and use of renewable natural gas,” said Energy and Mines Minister Bill Bennett. “Building the market for B.C.’s abundant supplies of natural gas offers the opportunity to achieve significant GHG emissions reductions and supports jobs and economic opportunities in British Columbia’s natural gas sector.”

Amendments to the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Regulation (GGRR) under the Clean Energy Act will enable utilities to increase incentives provided to shipping companies for the conversion of vessels to run on LNG, invest in LNG bunkering infrastructure, and increase the supply and use of RNG.

Amendments to the GGRR will allow utilities to double the incentives available to convert vehicles and marine vessels to natural gas when the new incentives go towards vehicles using 100 percent RNG, and enable utilities to recover the costs of acquiring and distributing RNG in rates.

“We are creating market opportunities for British Columbia’s natural gas sector, offering utilities flexibility to create new incentive programs so we can continue to build a strong economy and a cleaner future,” said Deputy Premier and Minister of Natural Gas Development Rich Coleman.

Converting just one ocean-going tanker, cruise ship, or container ship to run on LNG instead of heavy fuel oil will reduce GHG emissions by about 93,500 tons per year, equivalent to taking over 19,800 vehicles off the road. Utility investments in LNG fueling infrastructure will help establish B.C. as a marine bunkering center on the west coast capable of providing LNG to an increasing number of LNG vessels. Increased use of RNG could result in up to 450,000 tons of GHG reductions per year in B.C., and will also help build the market for biogas, providing economic opportunities for local governments and farming and forestry operations.

The GGRR was introduced in 2012 and already allows utilities to provide incentives for compressed natural gas and LNG in the transportation and marine sectors to reduce GHG emissions. The amendments increase the allowed expenditure limits and expand coverage of the regulation to include investments related to RNG.

To view the Climate Leadership Plan, click here.

 

Crowley Launches LNG-Powered ConRo Ship at VT Halter Marine

March 21, 2017

Crowley Maritime and VT Halter Marine launched Crowley’s new Commitment Class ship El Coquí, one of the world’s first combination container/roll on-roll off (ConRo) ships powered by LNG in Pascagoula, Mississippi.

Putting the ship into the water on Monday was the first in a series of milestones expected to be achieved this week as part of Crowley’s $550 million project to expand and modernize the company’s shipping and logistics services between Jacksonville, Florida, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Fueling the ships with LNG will reduce emissions significantly, including a 100 percent reduction in sulphur oxide (SOx) and particulate matter (PM); a 92 percent reduction in nitrogen oxide (NOx); and a reduction of carbon dioxide emissions of more than 35 percent per container, compared with current fossil fuels.

The U.S. Jones Act requires vessels in domestic waterborne trades to be owned by American citizens, built in the U.S. and crewed by US mariners, thereby supporting investment in maritime infrastructure and more than 500,000 jobs and $100 billion a year in annual economic output.

El Coquí will now proceed through the final topside construction and testing phase before beginning service in the U.S. Jones Act trade during the second half of 2017.

 

New Report Highlights Role of LNG in Cleaner Marine Transport

March 23, 2017

The International Gas Union (IGU) has released a new report on the crucial role of LNG in enabling cleaner marine transport. Unveiled at the G20 Energy Sustainability Working Group, the latest report highlights the detrimental impact of marine transport on air quality levels, emphasizing the positive role LNG can play in combatting these impacts as an alternative and cleaner fuel for shipping.

Urban air pollution has become a top priority for local, national, and international governments in both developed and developing countries. Marine transportation is an often overlooked contributor to negative air quality levels. In Hong Kong, ship traffic is responsible for half of the city’s total toxic pollutants—more so than those produced by the power generation and transportation sectors. In the world’s top 100 ports, roughly 230 million people are exposed directly to the harmful emissions produced by shipping.

These emissions also create significant economic costs, with emissions of PM2.5, SO₂ and NOx produced by shipping in the world’s 50 largest ports costing authorities more than $13 billion annually.

The use of LNG in marine transport can deliver significant environmental, economic and social benefits. These include significant reductions in emissions of harmful pollutants, and a switch to LNG fuel can generate substantial monetary savings for operators through fuel costs, as well as benefiting local infrastructure through investments and jobs.

Armed with the latest supporting data, and various global case studies, the report outlines a number of recommendations for G20 Governments:

• Increasing regulation of emissionsfrom marine transport
• Identifying and eliminating gaps in existing regulatory frameworks
• Facilitatingbetter access to financing for the switch to LNG
• Funding LNG technology development and first-mover deployments

The recommendations above would tackle existing barriers to the more rapid deployment of LNG-fuled ships, which the report identifies primarily as: a confusing regulatory landscape; gaps in emissions controls; regional inconsistencies; lack of clarity in future policy direction; as well as commercial barriers, such as access to capital and cost uncertainties.

To download the full report, click here.