NGVAmerica News Week in Review: February 26, 2018

• Clean Energy Partners with HTA for Cleaner Future in Port Trucking
• Ontario Transit Authority Places $3.1 Million CNG Bus Order with Grande West
• Larson and Trillium CNG Receive Award for Public-Private Partnership in Pennsylvania
• S. Gain Hires New Director of Sales Scott Hanstedt
• New Study Shows Natural Gas Can Play Key Role in Achieving Zero GHG Emissions by 2050
• World’s First LNG-Fueled Bulk Carrier Delivered

Clean Energy Partners with HTA for Cleaner Future in Port Trucking

February 21, 2018

The Harbor Trucking Association (HTA), the leading voice of port drayage with more than 100 member companies operating more than 8,000 trucks in America’s West Coast Ports, has partnered with Clean Energy Fuels to be the exclusive provider of clean transportation fuels to the association member companies.

As part of this partnership, Clean Energy will provide specialized clean fuel programs to HTA members as the industry prepares for the implementation of the newest version of the Clean Air Action Plan adopted by the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

“The HTA is a solutions based organization, and we look at Clean Energy’s products as another solution for our members to decrease their carbon footprint while remaining commercially viable,” said Weston LaBar, CEO of the HTA. “Clean Energy has stepped up to fill a valuable role to help truckers transition to near zero-emissions technology and lower carbon footprints.”

In addition to a clean fuels program, Clean Energy will provide valuable resources in the form of workshops on the latest programs for clean technology funding, as well as aide in the grant writing needs for company fleets and individual owner operators looking to upgrade their equipment.

“The trucking industry is facing many challenges and opportunities, particularly those companies that do business at the Ports,” said Greg Roche, vice president of sustainable trucking at Clean Energy. “Clean Energy looks forward to working with HTA members to easily navigate through the ways to economically purchase the latest clean near-zero engine technology and the cleanest fuel available today, renewable natural gas.”

Clean Energy will also continue to show how technology for near-zero technology vehicles has continued to evolve by partnering with HTA member companies to get drivers behind the wheel of demonstration trucks that offer the newest technology available.

Finally, both entities have made the commitment to shape policy that helps get clean technology funds into the hands of those that most need the assistance. The partnership will consist of an advocacy effort that will help get the necessary assistance to fleets and drivers that want to grow green and transition out older equipment.

Ontario Transit Authority Places $3.1 Million CNG Bus Order with Grande West

February 26, 2018

Hamilton Street Railway (HSR), the transit authority that services the City of Hamilton in Ontario, Canada, has placed a new order for new CNG buses from the Grande West Transportation Group, a Canadian manufacturer of mid-sized multi-purpose transit vehicles for sale in Canada and the US. The order for the new CNG-powered Vicinity buses totals approximately $3.1 million and is the second order from HSR for delivery in 2018.

“We are very pleased to receive a follow on order from HSR for additional CNG powered Vicinity buses for delivery this year,” said Jean-Marc Landry, Chief Executive Officer of Grande West stated. “HSR’s extensive history with CNG propulsion systems is a great fit for our Vicinity platform and we are looking forward to making the first delivery of five CNG buses to HSR in April.”

Larson and Trillium CNG Receive Award for Public-Private Partnership in Pennsylvania

February 20, 2018

The Engineers’ Society of Western Pennsylvania has awarded Larson Design Group the “Innovative Project of the Year Award” for the CNG Transit Fueling Public-Private Partnership program in partnership with Trillium CNG on behalf of PennDOT.

The award was presented at ESWP’s recent 135th Annual Engineering Awards Banquet in Pittsburgh. LDG teamed with Trillium CNG to design, build, finance, operate and maintain a program of CNG fueling stations in Pennsylvania. The stations will supply locally sourced CNG to more than 1,600 public transit buses at 29 agencies across the Commonwealth to save fuel and operational costs at a net zero development cost to taxpayers.

LDG provided multi-discipline engineering and construction phase services for all fueling stations and garages and coordinated permitting with a complex network of more than 20 agencies and authorities throughout the state.

LDG and Trillium CNG created prototypes to expedite the design and review process, and developed innovative permitting tracking software as a critical tool. The team met tight deadlines and worked through multiple reviews from PennDOT and other approving agencies, resulting in a successful program of design and construction implementation.

It is estimated that after 10 years the project will pay for itself with an estimated $100 million in overall savings.

“The LDG, Trillium CNG and PennDOT team was committed to create a program that not only saved the taxpayers money using locally sourced fuel, but had zero net investment cost and was cleaner for the environment,” said David Martin, LDG’s chief operating officer. “We’re proud to accept this award that demonstrates our team’s creativity and value-added strategy.”

CNG stations have already opened at the following seven sites: Cambria County Transportation Authority, Johnstown Facility; Mid Mon Valley Transportation Authority; Central Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, York; Cambria County Transportation Authority, Ebensburg; Westmoreland County Transportation Authority; Centre Area Transportation Authority; and Beaver County Transit Agency.

U.S. Gain Hires New Director of Sales Scott Hanstedt

February 21, 2018

U.S. Gain, a division of U.S. Venture, has hired Scott Hanstedt as the division’s director of sales. In the position, Hanstedt will lead infrastructure expansion that provides class 6, 7 and 8 fleets access to RNG and CNG fuel. He will also pursue partnerships with customers to articulate how alternative fuels can ease fulfillment of their sustainability objectives.

“I’m excited to join an outstanding team of industry experts at U.S. Gain and look forward to working with the most forward-thinking companies to dispense more RNG through GAIN Clean Fuel stations and improving local air quality for a cleaner tomorrow,” said Hanstedt.

Hanstedt previously worked for MCL Industries for 18 years in a variety of technical sales and business development roles — most recently as the director of sales and marketing. In that position, he led market diversification and customer growth.

“We are very excited Scott chose to join the GAIN team,” says U.S. Gain President Mike Koel. “He is a dynamic, results-driven sales leader, comes to us with a unique combination of technical expertise, and has an incredible passion for delivering the best possible solutions for our customers.”

Hanstedt earned a graduate certificate in foundations of business administration from the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh, and he has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point.

New Study Shows Natural Gas Can Play Key Role in Achieving Zero GHG Emissions by 2050

Feburary 22, 2018

In a new study, Ecofys, a Navigant company, has analyzed what role gas and gas infrastructure can play in a zero greenhouse gas emissions energy system by 2050. The study, launched by the Gas for Climate initiative, shows that renewable gas can play an important role in reducing Europe’s greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by mid-century.

Ecofys estimated the potential for the production of renewable gas, including biomethane and renewable hydrogen, within the EU by 2050. Based on prudent sustainability criteria, a potential of at least 4.3 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of renewable gas, biomethane and renewable hydrogen is feasible. This equals around 25 percent of today’s natural gas consumption in Europe. The study allocated this gas over various economic sectors and modelled the societal cost savings of using this gas compared to a fully decarbonized energy system without any gas.

The study is available here.

World’s First LNG-Fueled Bulk Carrier Delivered

February 21, 2018

Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD) and ILSHIN LOGISTICS have successfully delivered the world’s first LNG-fueled bulk carrier under the dual-class of Lloyd’s Register (LR) and Korean Register. The bulk carrier has also been verified to be in compliance with the International Gas Fuel (IGF) Code, and is the result of a collaboration project, announced in July 2016, to develop the first in a new generation of environmentally-friendly LNG-fueled bulk carriers.

The ship has a Type ‘C’ LNG fuel tank made of austenitic high manganese steel. The material, newly developed by POSCO, has a high manganese content and is specially designed for cryogenic LNG and liquefied gas storage applications. The properties and characteristics of the high-manganese steel, as well as the required welding technology and fuel tank design, have been proven suitable for cryogenics with the support, certification and approval of LR.

LR provided certification of High Manganese Steel Welding Consumables, Welding Procedure Approval and Material Approval after concluding extensive development and testing. LR certification was officially issued in July 2017.