NGVAmerica News Week in Review: July 17, 2017

 

• Red Deer Transit Rolls Out New CNG Bus Fleet
• California City Celebrates Opening of Renewable CNG Station
• Early Bird Registration Open for HHP Summit 2017
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory to Host Upcoming NGV Research Workshop
• Greenkraft Sees Increased Demand for Clean Energy Trucks
• American CNG Energy Plans for Expansion, Adds New CNG Consultation Manager
• Disney Cruise Line Announces Construction of LNG-Powered Ships

 

Red Deer Transit Rolls Out New CNG Bus Fleet

July 11, 2017

Red Deer Transit, located in Alberta, Canada, rolled out 17 new CNG buses that will join the Red Deer Transit fleet as they are phased in over the next few weeks. The CNG buses will lessen Red Deer Transit’s impact on the environment with reduced greenhouse gas emissions, while saving on the costs of fuel and regular maintenance.

The City used $5 million of its federal Gas Tax Fund allocation, as well as $10.1 million in provincial GreenTRIP funding toward this project. The City funded approximately $600,000 from fuel and capital reserves to cover the remaining costs.

“These new CNG buses in Red Deer will help ensure residents have access to modern, clean and reliable public transit services,” said the Honorable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities. “The Government of Canada is committed to investing in local infrastructure that helps to create eco-friendly services while providing a way for Canadians to efficiently get to where they’re going and then back home to their families at the end of the day.”

In addition to the purchase of new CNG buses, the project also included construction of a CNG fueling station and upgrades to the bus storage facility and maintenance garage at Civic Yards.

Red Deer Transit will expand the CNG fleet by replacing aging diesel buses with new CNG buses as they reach the end of their lifespan. Six new CNG paratransit buses are expected to arrive this November to replace older vehicles that have reached the end of their life cycle for the Red Deer Transit Action bus fleet.

 

California City Celebrates Opening of Renewable CNG Station

July 11, 2017

Members of the City Council of the City of Culver City, California recently joined Transportation Department officials and representatives of Clean Energy to open the City’s newly upgraded CNG fueling station. The event marked the completion of a $1 million facility improvement project, which included the replacement and installation of two natural gas compressors that will enable Culver City to more efficiently fuel its more than 100 CNG City vehicles.

The fast-fill CNG station will support the fueling needs of Culver CityBus, City refuse vehicles, and many other municipal vehicles that allow Culver City to have one of the cleanest fleets in the state.  Culver City has operated CNG vehicles since 1998, and in 2004, Culver CityBus transitioned to 100 percent CNG fuel, becoming the first transit fleet in the South Coast Air Quality Management District to do so and the second in the State of California.

“This CNG fueling station is key to our commitment to sustainability and the environment,” said Culver City Mayor Jeffrey Cooper, who recently toured the facility. “The City’s ability to utilize this station, a key component to clean transportation infrastructure, helps to improve air quality in Culver City and the region.”

 

Early Bird Registration Open for HHP Summit 2017

July 13, 2017

Conference organizers of the 2017 High Horsepower (HHP) Summit, North America’s largest event focused on the economic and environmental benefits of natural gas for high horsepower applications, has opened early bird registration for the sixth-annual event. The event showcases the innovative and growing use of natural gas across a wide variety of energy-intensive downstream applications, including rail, marine, mining, E&P, and power generation.

“In the last 12 months, transformative growth has swept the North American natural gas market for high-fuel-use applications,” noted Erik Neandross, CEO of Gladstein, Neandross & Associates, the U.S. clean transportation and energy consulting firm that produces the conference. “Nowhere is this more evident than in Jacksonville, Florida, where LNG and CNG projects are hitting the water, tracks, and gravel month-after-month.”

HHP Summit 2017 attendees will have the opportunity to participate in off-site technical tours to see this incredible market activity firsthand. In the months leading up to HHP Summit, Jacksonville will become home to more LNG-fueled ocean-going vessels, locomotives and over-the-road trucks than any place in the world, as well as the launching point for the export of natural gas to remote power generation and industrial markets in the Caribbean and beyond.

To support these operations, three new LNG production plants are under construction, including a state-of-the-art facility from six-time HHP Summit presenting sponsor, Pivotal LNG.

The Summit will provide insight into real-world natural gas project deployments during comprehensive educational sessions and workshops. Confirmed executive level speakers include:

• Thomas Crowley, CEO & Chairman, Crowley Marine
• Peter Keller, Executive Vice President, TOTE
• Marcel LaRoche, Director, LNG Engineering, BC Ferries
• Svein Steimler, President & CEO, NYK Group Europe
• Tom Strang, SVP, Maritime Affairs, Carnival
• Chad Verret, Executive Vice President, Harvey Gulf

Additional speakers, a detailed agenda, and co-located events will be announced over the next several weeks.

Early bird registration offers attendees a $400 savings through August 4.  For more information, visit www.hhpsummit.com.

 

National Renewable Energy Laboratory to Host Upcoming NGV Research Workshop

July 11, 2017

The U.S Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Vehicle Technologies Office is seeking input from NGV stakeholders to understand and prioritize the research needs necessary to increase the efficiency and reduce emissions of medium and heavy duty NGVs.

The DOE and teams at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Argonne National Laboratory, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, will be hosting an open meeting at NREL in Golden, Colorado on Tuesday July 25, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The meeting will be structured around facilitated discussion on several NGV topic areas and will consist of a brief presentation of recent and current research, followed by a discussion by participants on key emerging research needs and priorities. The meeting is intended to inform a DOE Funding Opportunity Announcement that will be issued later this year.

The Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill recommends that up to $15 million be appropriated to the Department of energy in FY17 for medium and heavy duty on-road natural gas engine research and development.

Discussion topics will address opportunities for research that can shift the paradigm for NGV technology, such as:

Engine efficiency: Improving efficiency from spark ignition natural gas engines, lean natural gas controls, lubricants, advanced low temperature combustion

Emissions and After-treatment Technologies: Reducing criteria pollutants, low NOx technology, ammonia/unregulated emissions controls, natural gas tailored after-treatment, cold start emission improvements

Fuel System Enhancements and onboard storage: Fuel quality, natural gas composition control, renewable natural gas, right sizing natural gas tanks, injectors and direct injection technology, high pressure fuel delivery to enable advanced combustion.

Please visit the event website for information and to register.

 

Greenkraft Sees Increased Demand for Clean Energy Trucks

July 12, 2017

Greenkraft, Inc. announced it is seeing an increase in demand for their trucks from various fleet operators all across the country.  This increase in demand is due to the multitude of government incentives available to companies that switch to alternative energy trucks.

The company says it is getting orders from truck fleet operators ranging from 10 to 100 trucks that ultimately translates into millions of dollars of revenue for the company, much of which comes directly from these various governmental incentives.

“Greenkraft is projecting an enormous increase in larger fleet orders which is where the Company will derive a great deal of new revenue,” said George Gemayel, CEO of Greenkraft.

Greenkraft, Inc. continues to work diligently to provide long-term value for the company and its shareholders alike by increasing revenues and executing their clearly defined expansion plan.

 

American CNG Energy Plans for Expansion, Adds New CNG Consultation Manager

July 14, 2017

American CNG Energy, LLC announced that John Jordan has joined the Company to further develop the portfolio of accounts for the Company’s growing CNG stations. Mr. Jordan comes with 10 years of extensive marketing experience, bringing his skills in brand development, digital marketing and client procurement to the table.

Mr. Jordan is the CNG Fleet Consultation Manager at American CNG Energy, responsible for acquiring new truck fleet accounts for the Company’s CNG stations currently in Florida and Georgia with future plans to build 20 more. Through several marketing efforts, Mr. Jordan identifies possible clients and educates them on the benefits of CNG conversion and company services.

Previously, Mr. Jordan was the Department Manager of an international marketing company where he led the retention division to grow and revive sales.
“American CNG Energy is continually expanding its operations and we need the necessary team to help drive our vision,” said Julio G. Macedo, Chief Executive Officer of the Company. “Mr. Jordan has the caliber to fulfill his role and provide us with the necessary demand for our stations”
In addition to his role with American CNG Energy, Mr. Jordan is the founder of Media Marketing Blitz, a digital marketing company, offering marketing consultation and solutions to small businesses.

 

Disney Cruise Line Announces Construction of LNG-Powered Ships

July 15, 2017

Last year, Disney Cruise Line announced plans to build two new ships at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany with scheduled completion dates of 2021 and 2023. Now, the cruise line announced the seventh ship in its fleet will be built at the same shipyard and is scheduled to be completed in 2022. All three ships will be powered by clean-burning liquefied natural gas.

All ship names, design plans and itineraries are still in development, with each of the ships expected to have their own unique experiences. The three new ships will be approximately 135,000 gross tons with about 1,250 guest staterooms planned, which is slightly larger than the newest Disney Cruise Line ships, the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy.