NGVAmerica News Week in Review: November 20, 2017

• UPS Dramatically Increases Use of Clean Renewable Natural Gas
• Opinion: VW Settlement Offers Funds for Purchase of Natural Gas Trucks
• Clean Energy to Supply Dallas Fort Worth International Airport with Renewable Natural Gas
• Mid-Kansas CNG Station Celebrates Grand Opening
• Trillium CNG to Provide Upgrades to Fort Worth CNG Station
• ANG Completes Extensive Upgrades to 18 Fueling Stations
• Wisconsin Clean Cities Hosts Natural Gas Transportation Roundtable
• Louisiana Clean Cities Offers Program to Test Drive a Penske CNG Truck
• San Bernardino County Transportation Authority Wins 29^th Annual Clean Air Awards
• Florida East Coast Railway Gives Tour of LNG Operations in Florida

UPS Dramatically Increases Use of Clean Renewable Natural Gas

November 20, 2017

UPS has entered an agreement with Big Ox Energy (a wholly owned subsidiary of Environmental Energy Capital LLC) to purchase 10 million gallon equivalents of renewable natural gas (RNG) per year. This is the largest investment in RNG to date for the company, and the agreement runs through 2024. Use of RNG yields up to a 90 percent reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions when compared to conventional diesel.

In addition to the agreement with Big Ox, UPS signed a five-year agreement earlier this year with AMP energy for 1.5 million gallon equivalents of RNG per year from the Fair Oaks dairy farm in Indiana. The RNG agreements will help UPS reach a key sustainability goal: 40 percent of all ground transportation fleet fuel from sources other than conventional gasoline and diesel by 2025.

“Natural gas is a proven alternative fuel to gasoline and diesel and is a key building block for our goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in our ground fleet,” said  Mike Casteel, UPS director of fleet procurement. “These agreements add significantly to our investment in the use of RNG and will help put us on track to nearly triple our annual use of RNG. They are also a direct reflection of our ongoing commitment to help shape the renewable natural gas industry.”

UPS fueling stations in Lexington and Louisville, Kentucky; New Stanton and Horsham, Pennsylvania; Richmond and Roanoke, Virginia; West Columbia, South Carolina; and Doraville, Georgia will use the Bix Ox RNG to fuel UPS delivery vehicles and tractors.

“UPS continues to make investments in renewable natural gas that help move the industry forward,” said Rob Larsen, CEO of Big Ox Energy. “Our agreement with UPS is one of the largest contracts we have signed to date and among the largest ever in the RNG market.”

UPS used 61 million gallons of natural gas in its ground fleet in 2016, which included 4.6 million gallons of RNG and is on track to use 14 million gallons of RNG in 2017. UPS drives more than 5,200 CNG and LNG vehicles in its fleet of alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles.

Earlier this year, UPS announced a more than $90 million investment in natural gas vehicles and infrastructure. This investment included an additional six CNG fueling stations, 390 new CNG tractors and terminal trucks, and 250 LNG vehicles.

Since 2009, UPS has invested more than $750 million in alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles and fueling stations globally. UPS deploys the more than 8,500 vehicles in its Rolling Lab to utilize technologies that work best depending on the needs of the delivery route.

 

Opinion: VW Settlement Offers Funds for Purchase of Natural Gas Trucks

November 20, 2017

Heavy-duty vehicles are the fastest growing segment of U.S. transportation in terms of energy use and emissions. Today’s just-in-time delivery expectation and expanding goods movement industry ensure the number of trucks on our roads won’t decline anytime soon. That’s good news for the freight transport industry and the positive economic activity that goes along with increased trucking.

But here’s the bad news…while heavy-duty vehicles total 7% of all vehicles on America’s roadways, they account for 50% of all smog-precursor emissions and 20% of all transportation-related greenhouse gases.

Over 125 million Americans reside in areas of exceedingly poor air quality; 40% of our population is regularly exposed to unhealthy levels of ozone and particulate matter.

The bottom line? If we want cleaner air, we need cleaner trucks.

There is an immediate and commercially available solution to this problem for fleets of all sizes and applications — expanded use of natural gas in transportation.

Natural gas vehicles have long been the choice of fleet managers interested in escaping the volatility of ever-changing gasoline and diesel prices. Natural gas currently powers passenger vehicles, medium-duty vehicles, short- and long-haul trucks, school buses, transit buses and shuttles, refuse trucks, construction and mining equipment, marine vessels and locomotives.

Consider: Natural gas is affordable. Natural gas is widely available with a well-established and growing infrastructure. Natural gas is abundant and domestically produced, with an estimated 100-year supply. Natural gas contributes to our nation’s energy security by reducing U.S. reliance on foreign petroleum-based fuels. Natural gas is cost effective and reduces maintenance costs. Natural gas is sustainable and the cleanest medium- and heavy-duty powertrain source with almost no tailpipe emissions.

In fact, the cleanest truck engines in the world are powered by natural gas. The Cummins Westport Ultra-Low NOx engine — made in America — is 90% cleaner than the Environmental Protection Agency’s current nitrogen oxide (NOx) standard. It is certified by both EPA and the California Air Resources Board to a 0.02 grams per brake horsepower hour (g/bhp-hr) standard, making it zero-emission equivalent (ZEE). When renewable natural gas is used to fuel it, even greater CO2 and GHG emissions reductions are achieved, helping to clean our cities and improve the environment.

The Volkswagen settlement Environmental Mitigation Trust offers a game-changing opportunity to accelerate the use of the cleanest medium- and heavy-duty powertrains on the market today — natural gas vehicles.

The settlement — an outcome of the automaker’s emissions cheating scandal — provides $2.9 billion to states to make public-private investments to clean their dirtiest air and encourages states to use these funds to replace Classes 4 – 8 diesel-powered trucks and buses. These funds can be used to retire older, dirtier vehicles and replace them with new, cleaner vehicles, thereby benefiting not only the businesses themselves but the communities in which they operate.

This week is an important one for the Trust as Dec. 1 is the deadline for state authorities to submit the certification required to become a beneficiary — an opportunity no state should ignore.

Natural gas technology is commercially available in the United States right now, not in a projected five or even ten years — as is the case with other heavy-duty alternative fuel technologies. Compared to expensive electric or fuel cell technologies still in development, investing in natural gas vehicles is the most cost-efficient use of the Volkswagen Settlement Funds — providing a solution that delivers more new vehicles and far more emission reductions than any other available alternative.

Diesel advocates will argue that this new funding should be spent on newer diesel rigs. But even new diesel engines — which require complex and expensive emission control systems to meet demanding standards — do not deliver the emission reductions that today’s NGVs provide.

NGVs are powered by American fuel, American technology and American innovation. They have the cleanest emissions profile of any fuel on the market today, and NGVs make a difference through a variety of applications — trucks, trash, transit, marine and rail.

We at NGVAmerica call on state leaders to maximize the VW Trust value proposition and achieve the most NOx reduction for funds expended by investing in natural gas vehicles. And we encourage fleet owners committed to sustainable, affordable and cost-effective powering alternatives to access soon-to-be available VW Trust funds to facilitate the switch to the pure power of natural gas transportation.

When it comes to the air we breathe, the right choice is the affordable, mature and commercially ready-right-now solution…natural gas vehicles.

A video of the full interview with NGVAmerica President Daniel Gage at Transport Topics is available here.

 

Daniel Gage is President of NGVAmerica, a national organization of over 200 companies, environmental groups, and government organizations dedicated to the development of a growing, profitable, and sustainable market for vehicles powered by natural gas or biomethane. NGVAmerica member companies produce, distribute, and market natural gas and biomethane across North America, manufacture and service natural gas vehicles, engines, and equipment, and operate fleets powered by clean-burning gaseous fuels. Learn more at: www.ngvamerica.org.

 

 

Clean Energy to Supply Dallas Fort Worth International Airport with Renewable Natural Gas

November 15, 2017

Clean Energy Fuels announced at the Airports Going Green 2017 conference, that host airport Dallas Fort Worth International (DFW) Airport awarded Clean Energy an RNG fueling contract for the airport’s vehicle fleet. The contract calls for Clean Energy to provide the airport with its Redeem brand of RNG that has the potential to reduce DFW fleet emissions by approximately 70 percent.

In addition to the fueling agreement, Clean Energy and DFW extended the current operations and maintenance agreement for the airport’s public natural gas fueling stations. The contract stations dispense approximately 2 million gasoline gallon equivalents (GGEs) each year.

“We continue to see strong interest in our Redeem RNG product,” said Tyler Henn, vice president and general manager of Clean Energy Renewables. “Businesses and municipalities are learning that by fueling with RNG you not only get a cleaner fuel but you get a fuel that is domestically produced and more economical.”

DFW is the only airport in the United States to be certified as Carbon Neutral and the largest airport in the world with that distinction. It will become the first airport outside of California to use Redeem RNG.

“DFW has a strong commitment to sustainability, and we will continue to look for innovative ways to reduce our emissions, while improving the customer experience,” said Robert Horton, DFW’s Vice President of Environmental Affairs. “Using RNG for our fleet of vehicles will help us reduce our carbon footprint and our operating costs. It makes good business sense.”

Clean Energy conducted the design, build, operations and maintenance for the airport’s first natural gas fueling station in 2000 and was selected to build and operate the second station in 2011.

 

Mid-Kansas CNG Station Celebrates Grand Opening

November 15, 2017

Mid-Kansas CNG recently celebrated the grand opening of a new CNG fueling station with a ribbon cutting by the Kingman Area Chamber of Commerce and a luncheon. Owners, Mark Molitor and Mattie Giefer, hosted the event, along with representatives from Central Kansas Clean Cities (CKCC) and KGS, which featured demonstrations of CNG refueling and a tour of the station’s compressor system. The station is open to the public 24 hours daily for refueling of CNG vehicles from autos to tractor-trailers.

Mattie Giefer was looking for a cheaper fuel option for his fleet of vehicles with GCI Construction and turned to Mark Molitor, who is in the oil and gas business, for a solution. Together they formed Mid-Kansas CNG to fulfill the need for natural gas fueling in the Kingman area. After consultation with area trucking companies, a location on the US-54/US-400 corridor was selected. The station will fill a CNG fueling gap between Wichita, 50 miles to the east, and Garden City and Liberal, both about 175 miles west. The station is accepting inquiries about fleet fueling on the site.

 

Trillium CNG to Provide Upgrades to Fort Worth CNG Station

November 16, 2017

The Fort Worth Transportation Authority (FWTA), has selected Love’s Trillium CNG, part of the Love’s Family of Companies, to provide a series of upgrades to its existing CNG fueling facility. In addition to providing operations and maintenance services, Trillium will upgrade aging equipment, which will help FWTA operate approximately 200 CNG vehicles more efficiently.

“Fort Worth Transportation Authority was an early adopter of compressed natural gas and has seen the environmental and cost-saving benefits associated with it,” said Bill Cashmareck, managing director of Trillium CNG. “The improvements ensure FWTA can continue its commitment to CNG while providing reliable service to its riders in Tarrant County.”

The private station fuels FWTA’s fleet of buses, paratransit and support vehicles, which all operate on CNG. A new gas line supplied by SiEnergy will increase pressure to the fueling station. Trillium will replace three gas-powered compressors to electric-drive compressors, upgrade the dryer and replace all six fueling dispensers. Trillium was also selected to replace the two remaining gas-powered units with new gas-powered compressors. The upgrades will allow buses to fuel faster, while providing a substantial decrease in operating cost to FWTA.

Trillium began supporting the FWTA station in 2011 with operations and preventative maintenance services. Over the years, Trillium replaced one compressor, one gas dryer, and most recently performed a controls and valve panel upgrade. All works is expected to be complete by late 2018.

 

ANG Completes Extensive Upgrades to 18 Fueling Stations

November 17, 2017

American Natural Gas (ANG) announced the comprehensive modernization of 18 recently-acquired CNG fueling stations across the Midwest, Southwest, and West Coast.

The extensive upgrades include: Rebuilt compressors to improve reliability and add remote access controls and 24-hour surveillance systems; New Bennett Crind dispensers at seven of the locations with NGV1 and NGV2 nozzles for exact temperature compensation; Upgraded IT systems to support remote monitoring; and upgraded POS systems for an improved customer experience.

In tandem with the station upgrades, ANG also unveiled a new corporate website, www.AmericanNaturalGas.com, which features an interactive Station Locator Map and a personalized email and text messaging alert system for customers.

“Based on driver feedback, problem-solving with our partners, and sourcing the most powerful equipment available, we have completely transformed these fueling stations,” said Drew West, Chief Executive Officer of ANG. “Coupled with our new web-based alerts system, we believe we are raising the bar on customer service in the CNG industry.”

The upgraded stations were recently acquired by ANG through the separate purchases of Constellation CNG. The upgraded stations are located at the following addresses:

• 2323 W. Pleasant Center Rd., Fort Wayne, IN 46819
• 2240 N. Michigan Ave., Greensburg, IN 47240
• 510 S. Post Rd., Indianapolis, IN 46239
• 290 Yost Dr., Lafayette, IN 47941
• 420 Steven’s Way, Seymour, IN 47274
• 2720 Needmore Rd., Dayton, OH 45414
• 5343 Distribution Dr., Findlay, OH 45840
• 1001 South 65th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85043
• 5625 Southwest Wenger St., Topeka, KS 66609
• 6580 Kansas Ave., Kansas City, KS 66111
• 650 East Centre Park Blvd., De Soto, TX 75115
• 4200 Duncanville Rd., Dallas, TX 75236
• 5800 Mesa Dr., Houston, TX 77028
• 5348 East Houston St., San Antonio, TX 78220
• 5260 West 2400 South, West Valley City, UT 84120
• 35750 Highway 58, Buttonwillow, CA 93206
• 14512 Aliso Dr., Fontana, CA 92337
• 10405 East 40th Ave., Denver, CO 80239

 

Wisconsin Clean Cities Hosts Natural Gas Transportation Roundtable

November 14, 2017

Wisconsin Clean Cities (WCC) Annual Natural Gas for Transportation Roundtable was recently held at the CMD CNG Energy Solutions facility in Appleton. More than 60 attendees from throughout the natural gas industry heard presentations from government officials and industry experts on trends and new technologies. Funding opportunities such as the Interstate 94 Michigan to Montana project and the Volkswagen diesel emissions settlement mitigation trust were also discussed, with a special emphasis on their use for implementing CNG, LNG, and RNG fuels in a variety of transportation sectors.

“Many transportation leaders understand the environmental benefits of natural gas as a vehicle fuel, but fear the vehicles can’t meet performance or budgetary expectations,” said Wisconsin Clean Cities Executive Director Lorrie Lisek. “That’s why events such as these are so important. Participants can learn from their peers in the industry how natural gas can improve efficiency, save money and provide exceptional performance.”

Along with presentations on funding offered by Maria Redmond, Director, Wisconsin Office of Energy Innovation, presentation topics included Trash to Treasure – Renewable Natural Gas by Brian Nudelbacher, U.S. GAIN; and Natural Gas Facility Upgrades and Maintenance, presented by Steve Arnold of ET Environmental. What’s Next for Natural Gas – Technology Tends Panel included fleet managers and specialists: Jeff Shefchick, Paper Transport; John Welch, Dane County Public Works; Carl Suhr, Kwik Trip, and Steve Larsen, Ruan Transportation Management Systems.

A variety of natural gas vehicles were on display, including: a 2018 Kenworth Tractor from Contract Transport, 2016 Ford F250 Regular Cab from Dane County Public Works, 2012 Honda Civic GX owned by Maria Redmond, and 2015 Chevrolet Impala from Kwik Trip.

Attendees viewed live fueling demonstrations using the CMD Compact CNG Fueling Station.

Louisiana Clean Cities Offers Program to Test Drive a Penske CNG Truck

November 14, 2017

In partnership with the US Department of Energy and Penske Truck Leasing, Louisiana Clean Fuels is seeking interested fleets to try out a clean-burning, heavy duty CNG truck via the Penkse Truck Leasing Alternative Fuel Vehicle Demonstration & Enhanced Driver Experience Project.

The program aims to help fleets minimize risks and costs by enabling them to evaluate the integration of CNG in their operations, for the same price as a comparable diesel truck before making the commitment to purchase or lease.

The available truck is a 2015 Freightliner Cascadia with an ISX12G engine and an Allison 6 speed automatic transmission. It has an approximate range of 400 miles.

For additional program details or truck specifications, contact Louisiana Clean Fuels at info@louisianacleanfuels.org. Participation is open to companies and individual truck owners/operators.

 

San Bernardino County Transportation Authority Wins 29^th Annual Clean Air Awards

November 14, 2017

San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) was awarded with the “Model Community Achievement” award by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD). SCAQMD hosted its 29^th Annual Clean Air Awards honoring individuals, businesses, public agencies and others who are making significant contributions to cleaner air in the Southland.

The “Model Community Achievement” award is presented to an exceptional single program or strategy that improves air quality and sustainability in the community. The award is intended to recognize the collaborative efforts involving the public, business non-profit and government agencies.

“We’re proud to have been the first Freeway Service Patrol (FSP) agency in the state to use Compressed Natural Gas tow trucks within our community, and are thankful to SCAQMD for recognizing the hard work that has been put forth by the FSP program,” SBCTA President Alan Wapner said.

 

The FSP program implemented by SBCTA, uses CNG tow trucks resulting in the elimination of more than 1,477 pounds of criteria air pollutants over the span of three years. Since the initial deployment of the CNG FSP tow trucks in August of 2014, more than 1 million gallons of fuel have been saved by the reduction of freeway congestion due the efforts this program. SBCTA continues to work with its tow truck partners to employ the use of cleaner vehicles which will assist in improving air quality for the future.

 

Florida East Coast Railway Gives Tour of LNG Operations in Florida

November 8, 2017

Florida East Coast (FEC) Railway provided an exclusive tour of its LNG operations at its Jacksonville facility this week. Tour participants came from a wide range of industries, including marine, rail, mining, E&P, power gen operations. The tour was part of the annual Natural Gas for High Horse Power (HHP) summit, which was held in downtown Jacksonville from November 6 to 9.

The tour included several demonstration stations where FEC’s LNG experts were available to answer questions to attendees on the various aspects of its use of LNG. The stations included two LNG-powered locomotives with tender car between, fueling station, ISO container, LNG-powered truck and a tour of the railway’s historic business cars.

“We are proud to be the first North American Railroad to operate its entire mainline fleet on LNG”, said Fran Chinnici, Chief Operating Officer. “We hope that our efforts will help other railroads and industries with this paradigm shift.”

FEC gave an overview of the fueling process as well. The locomotives utilize an LNG “kit” that allows for dual fuel capabilities. FEC’s LNG-Diesel engine technology burns 80 percent less diesel fuel, resulting in what the company says is an 80 percent reduction in Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) emissions.

FEC Railway pioneered the use of LNG as an alternative to diesel for its locomotives as a key part of its overall sustainability objective. Natural gas is abundant, clean burning and economical. Compared to diesel fuel, it reduces locomotive emissions and helps improve the environmental quality of the railway’s operations.

FEC has been operating on LNG since late 2015 and completed the conversion of its entire mainline thru-haul fleet to run on fuel-efficient LNG this year. Its regional trucking business, Raven Transport, also utilizes LNG and converted 44 percent of its fleet to run on the fuel. As of October 2017, FEC completed over 2,300 trips traveling more than 850,000 miles while consuming more than 2.7 million gallons of LNG.