NGVAmerica News Week in Review: May 9, 2016

 

• NGVAmerica Honors Recipients of the 2016 NGV Achievement Awards
• NGVAmerica Hosts Technical Forum at 2016 ACT Expo
• White Paper Highlights Benefits of RNG and Ultra Low Emission Engines
• Clean Energy Signs Multiple Agreements in Trucking, Transit and Refuse Markets
• AMP Americas Launches ampRENEW, Signs Fueling Agreements
• Spire and Mainstay Partner to Provide Natural Gas Solutions to Fleets
• IGS CNG Services Partners with Ohio County to Open CNG Station
• CNG Source Launches New Line of CNG Daughter Stations
• Love’s Travel Stops, Trillium CNG Unveil Companies’ New Look
• McNeilus NGEN Brand Enhances High Capacity Back-of-Cab CNG Fuel System
• Jacksonville Transportation Authority CNG Project Wins Project of the Year
• GTT Training Signs Contract to Provide LNG Training to TOTE

 

NGVAmerica Honors Recipients of the 2016 NGV Achievement Awards

May 5, 2016

NGVAmerica honored two recipients with the 2016 NGV Achievement Awards, FCA US LLC and Anheuser-Busch, on Wednesday, May 4, 2016 as part of the 2016 Alternative Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo in Long Beach, California. The awards were presented by NGVAmerica President Matthew Godlewski as part of the ACT Expo 2016 Fleet Awards Dinner where hundreds of leaders of the clean transportation industry gathered from across the U.S.

“The presentation of the NGV Achievement Awards is an important opportunity to recognize the contributions and accomplishments of our industry’s leaders,” said NGVAmerica President Matthew Godlewski. “The vision and dedication of these companies to clean transportation is helping to grow the NGV industry and further expand the use of clean-burning, domestic natural gas as a transportation fuel.”

FCA, the first to market a factory-built pickup truck powered by compressed natural gas (CNG), the bi-fuel Ram 2500, recently committed approximately $40 million to FCA Transport, FCA US-owned truck fleet, to convert 179 diesel-fueled parts-haulers to run on clean-burning natural gas at its Detroit Terminal. Annually, this new fleet will displace nearly 3.3 million gallons of diesel fuel and dramatically reduce CO2 emissions.

Through their “Seed-To-Sip” sustainability initiative, Anheuser-Busch is committed to reducing the energy and emissions in both the brewing and transportation of their beers. In 2015, its flagship brewery in St. Louis replaced all 97 diesel-fueled tractors with new CNG-powered trucks, following the deployment of 66 CNG trucks in Houston the prior year. Combined, approximately 30 percent of Anheuser-Busch’s heavy-haul dedicated tractors now run on natural gas.

In their 24^th year, the NGV Achievement Awards have a long history of recognizing individuals and companies who have brought innovation and leadership to advance clean-burning natural gas as a transportation fuel. NGVAmerica members submitted nominees and the winners were selected after a thorough review process. Martin DiFiore, Head of FCA Transport, accepted the award for FCA US LLC. Larry Goemann, Regional Fleet Manager, accepted the award for Anheuser-Busch.

 

NGVAmerica Hosts Technical Forum at 2016 ACT Expo

May 3, 2016

The NGVAmerica hosted a Technical Forum that provided fleets and other interested parties an open environment to discuss critical issues faced by the NGV industry as part of the 2016 Alternative Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo in Long Beach, California. The well-attended session consisted of three panels of experts discussing issues of relevance to those operating NGVs.

Dan Bowerson, NGVAmerica’s Director, Technology & Development, and Diego Goldin, Executive Director of NGV Global, led the NGV Global Technology Team Highlights session. Bowerson discussed the NGVAmerica Technology & Development Committee, which serves the technical needs of the NGV industry, and shared with attendees what NGVAmerica is doing to address some of the technical issues within the NGV industry. Important technical issues covered include CNG system inspections and NGV maintenance facility requirements. Attendees also had an opportunity to provide input into the goals and priorities for the committee going forward.

 

White Paper Highlights Benefits of RNG and Ultra Low Emission Engines

May 3, 2016

Gladstein Neandross & Associates (GNA), a consulting firm specializing in market development for low-emission and alternative fuel vehicle technologies, infrastructure and fuels, released a technical white paper that explores the need and approaches to start deploying zero-emission and near-zero-emission heavy duty vehicle technologies on a wide-scale basis in the U.S. NGVAmerica co-hosted a workshop for the Game Changer Project, which the white paper is a product of, with GNA in February 2016.

With approximately 166 million Americans residing in areas with poor air quality, and with greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from heavy duty vehicles (HDVs) contributing to global climate change, the paper argues the need to more aggressively transform on-road HDVs to the lowest emission technologies and fuels available.

The White Paper has compared four fuel-technology combinations to address these goals and has concluded that there is only one pathway in highly impactful heavy duty trucking applications that meets the commercial feasibility and logistics tests to immediately begin this transformation.  This is near-zero-emission heavy duty NGVs fueled by increasing volumes of renewable natural gas (RNG).

“As progressive corporations and municipalities across America are looking for ways to reduce their environmental footprint, we are seeing increased focus on the transportation sector to address sustainability goals,” said Erik Neandross, CEO of Gladstein, Neandross and Associates, co-author of the whitepaper. “This engine-fuel combination provides a phenomenal opportunity for progressive heavy-duty fleet operators to effectively eliminate emissions from their mobile operations.”

Heavy duty natural gas engine technology available today is more than 90 percent cleaner than the most stringent applicable U.S. EPA standards for oxides of nitrogen. With such low-emissions, this engine technology has a similar smog-precursor emission profile as that of a heavy duty battery electric truck plugged into the cleanest electrical grid in the nation. These benefits, as well as significant reductions in GHG emissions, are achieved with HDVs fueled by conventional natural gas.  When fueled with RNG (made from renewable waste stream sources such as landfill gas, dairy waste, waste water treatment plants and other sources), lifecycle GHG emissions are reduced by more than 80 percent.

The combination of new near-zero-emission natural gas engine technology and RNG provides the single best opportunity for the U.S. to achieve immediate and substantial NOx and GHG emission reductions in the on‑road heavy duty transportation sectors. Equally important, major reductions of cancer‑causing toxic air contaminants can immediately be realized in disadvantaged communities adjacent to freeways and areas of high diesel engine activity, where relief is most urgently needed.

This White Paper also describes recommended actions for government and industry stakeholders that will help begin broad deployments of this engine/fuel combination. These recommendations include 1) establishing or strengthening national, state and local incentive funding programs to help produce and deploy these new-generation heavy-duty NGVs, and 2) developing focused efforts that help produce and transport RNG, where the economics and logistics are most conducive.

To view the executive summary and the full white paper, visit www.ngvgamechanger.com.

 

Clean Energy Signs Multiple Agreements in Trucking, Transit and Refuse Markets

May 2, 2016

This week, Clean Energy announced multiple agreements across the trucking, transit and refuse markets. In addition, Clean Energy has secured a contract to provide LNG to Hawaii Gas, the State of Hawaii’s only franchised gas utility. Clean Energy says the agreement is consistent with the state’s intent to reduce its reliance on imported crude oil, using a cleaner and more economical fuel.

“With Clean Energy LNG, we will be able to diversify our gas supply using a clean fuel improving our reliability and maintaining the quality of service our customers know us for,” said Thomas Young, Hawaii Gas’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

In transit, Clean Energy has extended its LNG supply agreement with the City of Phoenix. The two-year contract extension is for an estimated 5 million GGEs per year and is valued at over $10 million. Clean Energy has supplied the City with LNG for over a decade.

“We are committed to ensuring we provide a clean, affordable transportation solution to our riders and feel confident Clean Energy will help us meet that goal,” said Transit Director, Maria Hyatt.”

Corpus Christi Regional Transit Authority (CCRTA) has renewed a three year operations and maintenance contract with Clean Energy, representing approximately 3 million GGEs over the three-year term of the contract. With the help of Clean Energy, CCRTA now becomes the second transit agency in the nation to achieve its Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goal.

In trucking, Fred Meyer Stores announced an agreement with Clean Energy calling for up to 500,000 gallons of Redee renewable natural gas (RNG) fuel, for their fleet of 40 LNG trucks based out of their Clackamas, Oregon, distribution center. Fred Meyer is the first company in the State of Oregon to take advantage of the Oregon Clean Fuel Program, which calls for the reduction of GHG emissions through the use of cleaner fuels such as natural gas and renewable natural gas. By fueling with Redeem, Fred Meyer is expected to reduce their GHG emissions by 5,328 metric tons annually.

Fueling has begun at a new public station in North Platte, Nebraska, which will service vehicles from KALM Transportation, UPS and Schmidt Liquid Transportation. The station, partially funded with a grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund and in collaboration with STIRK CNG, a regional CNG provider, will offer both LNG and CNG to fleets in the Midwest.

Clean Energy began providing fueling solutions at the Pilot Flying J station in West Memphis, Arkansas. The station will support Raven Transportation’s fleet of LNG trucks at an estimated 11,000 GGEs per month.

Fueling has also begun at an Exxon public access station in Allentown, Pennsylvania, which serves the northeast extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike System. The station will service CNG trucks from MACK’s Lehigh Valley Operations as well as the Lehigh Valley Health Network.

In addition to opening these stations for the trucking market, Clean Energy has added Blackburn Trucking, Waxie Sanitary Supply, Western Dairy, Emerald Brand (a unit of the Paradigm Group) and KALM Energy as new fueling customers. Orchard Supply Hardware has also expanded the number of CNG trucks it’s fueling with Clean Energy.

In refuse, Republic Services will be switching its California based fleet to Redeem RNG. The agreement calls for as much as 300,000 GGEs per year and will fuel close to 230 refuse trucks throughout the state.

Republic Services also announced the opening of a station designed and built by Clean Energy in Wilsonville, Oregon, to support the addition of 16 CNG solid waste collection trucks to its fleet serving customers throughout the greater Portland area. The CNG trucks replace older diesel-powered trucks, and bring the total number of natural gas vehicles operated by Republic Services in Oregon to 35.

Peoria Disposal Company (PDC) has extended a five-year agreement with Clean Energy for the operation & maintenance of its station located in Peoria, Illinois, which represents approximately 230,000 GGEs per year. Clean Energy designed and built the station for PDC, which provides hazardous waste disposal to clients in 11 states throughout the Midwest.

 

AMP Americas Launches ampRENEW, Signs Fueling Agreements

May 4, 2016

AMP Americas, a provider of CNG infrastructure and fueling solutions for the heavy duty trucking industry, launched ampRENEW, its newly formed biogas division dedicated to the company’s renewable fuel business. In addition, Dillon Transport and Ruan Transportation Management Systems have signed fueling agreements with ampRENEW to fuel a portion of their fleets at ampCNG’s public fueling stations.

The Renewable CNG will be completely sourced from ampCNG’s biogas operation at Fair Oaks Farms in Indiana, what AMP says is the largest on­farm biodigester in the country. ampRENEW’s ultra clean fuel is processed entirely from agricultural waste produced at ampCNG’s anaerobic digester.

Dillon Transport will be served by ampCNG’s two fueling stations in Jacksonville, Florida. Ruan, one of the first fleets to use RCNG from Fair Oaks Farms, will continue to fuel at ampCNG’s three stations in Indiana.

ampCNG’s 42­tractor fleet, in partnership with Ruan, a new member of the Carbon Disclosure Project, recently hit a milestone by eclipsing 40 million miles powered by ampCNG’s CNG and RCNG. ampCNG along with its parent company, AMP Americas, currently operates 19 fast­fill fueling stations located across the U.S.

 

Spire and Mainstay Partner to Provide Natural Gas Solutions to Fleets

May 2, 2016

Spire Natural Gas Fueling Solutions and Mainstay Fuel Technologies announced a partnership combining Spire’s CNG fueling station offerings with Mainstay’s CNG vehicle fuel system expertise.

“Customers can count on Spire and Mainstay for a seamless transition to compressed natural gas fueling,” said Peter Stansky, senior vice president and COO of Spire. “With this partnership we will provide customized CNG vehicle and fueling station solutions tailored to each fleet’s unique needs.”

Combined efforts will capitalize on Mainstay and Spire’s integrated product and service offerings while complementing each company’s current strategies and operations, which will remain independent.

 

IGS CNG Services Partners with Ohio County to Open CNG Station

May 3, 2016

IGS CNG Services recently announced its plans to operate and maintain a CNG fueling station in Moraine, Ohio, just outside of Dayton. It will be located at the Montgomery County Environmental Services facility, and it will be accessible by both fleets and the public.

The station is set to begin fueling this summer, and will have two dispensers with four hoses and its own canopy. The station is designed to serve refuse trucks from Montgomery County and surrounding Ohio municipalities as well as a growing number of regional fleets converting to natural gas.

“Montgomery County is committed to promoting greener business practices and creating a sustainable future for our businesses and citizens,” said Montgomery County Commission President Judy Dodge. “With the opening of this CNG station, we will be able to fuel our fleet with more affordable, cleaner energy, and allow local businesses to do the same.”

IGS CNG Services plans to continue developing a regional CNG fueling corridor and will expand their fueling network along I-75—throughout Ohio into Cincinnati and Kentucky to the south, and into Toledo and Michigan to the north.

The Moraine location is the 12^th in the IGS CNG Services family of stations that service the public. Of the 12 stations, IGS CNG Services has seven active stations in Ohio, three in West Virginia, and one in Indiana.

 

CNG Source Launches New Line of CNG Daughter Stations

May 4, 2016

CNG Source, a provider of CNG solutions for fueling stations, announced the launch of a line of daughter stations branded CONQUEROR. This new fueling solution allows for the continued expansion of CNG infrastructure in areas where gas pipelines are not available. The CONQUEROR family employs a modular design that makes for easy expansion, and are paired with TRIUMPH dispensers.

“Solutions like CONQUERER are even more critical for investors in countries like Mexico where the pipeline coverage is below 30 percent even for most of the largest cities,” said Karim Bousfiha, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development for CNG Source.

Able to be set up in only a few hours, the CONQUERER is available to meet initial orders in the U.S. and Mexico. The line will later be offered worldwide through distributors specializing in equipment for CNG stations and commercial fleets.

 

Love’s Travel Stops, Trillium CNG Unveil Companies’ New Look

May 5, 2016

Leaders from Love’s Travel Stops and Trillium CNG unveiled the companies’ new consolidated logo at the ACT Expo. The new logo is a visual representation of how the two companies will continue to serve Customers.

“Together, Love’s and Trillium are positioned to serve more types of Customers in more parts of the country,” said Bill Cashmareck, general manager of natural gas for Love’s, after unveiling the logo. “Trillium brings 20 years of experience serving Customers in the refuse and transit space, while Love’s has strong relationships with fleets.”

Trillium offers a variety of services, including station design, construction, operations and maintenance services. Trillium provides fuel for thousands of natural gas vehicles daily and delivers more than 55 million gallons of CNG per year.

Love’s CNG facilities are located along interstates and highways, giving professional drivers and motorists quick and easy access to safe places to park, quick-service restaurants, showers, electronics, snacks and other driver services and amenities.

Together, Love’s and Trillium operate 65 public-access CNG facilities.

 

McNeilus NGEN Brand Enhances High Capacity Back-of-Cab CNG Fuel System

May 3, 2016

McNeilus Truck & Manufacturing announced its McNeilus NGEN CNG systems now offer customers an enhanced high capacity, low profile back-of-cab configuration. Designed for fleets with class 7 and class 8 trucks, the 92 DGE NGEN system uses a streamlined design with 50 percent fewer fitting connections and 25 percent fewer plumbing components than industry standard systems.

“We’ve improved our newest back-of cab system, reducing overall weight and increasing capacity, all while maintaining the lower profile municipalities and construction vehicles with dump body configurations require,” said Lucas Crist, project engineer at McNeilus.

Other upgrades included three of Luxfer’s new GEN2 G-Stor Go type 4 cylinders, optimizing the overall weight of the system and minimizing the height to meet low-clearance specifications. Each cylinder is fitted with a Luxfer G-Flo One-turn Valve that not only extends vehicle range by providing more usable gas at the required flow rate, but also increases the filling flow rate. A dedicated pressure-relief device (PRD) system spans the full length of each cylinder and provides continuous heat protection.

 

Jacksonville Transportation Authority CNG Project Wins Project of the Year

May 4, 2016

RS&H, one of the leading architecture, engineering and consulting firms in the nation, recently announced that the Florida Chapter of American Public Works Association (APWA) awarded Jacksonville Transportation Authority’s CNG Infrastructure initiative as its Project of the Year. RS&H served as the consultant to the project.

JTA used an innovative public-private partnership (P3) model that leveraged state and federal grants to build the CNG Infrastructure project, modernize JTA’s fueling and maintenance facilities, add new buses, and build a public CNG fueling station to serve the region’s other growing fleets.

“JTA’s initiative in converting bus fleet to operate on clean, economical, and domestically produced CNG by using an innovative P3 is deserving of APWA’s award,” said Thomas McVey, Project Manager for RS&H.

 

GTT Training Signs Contract to Provide LNG Training to TOTE

May 3, 2016

GTT Training, a subsidiary of GTT, announced the award of the first contract of its kind for the development and implementation of a comprehensive LNG training program for the LNG Bunker Barge currently under construction at Conrad Industries Shipyard in Orange, Texas, following the order received by GTT North America from Conrad Industries in February 2015. The contract was executed with the barge’s owner TOTE, to initiate the program for training of the tug and LNG barge crew, which will ultimately be subject to U.S. Coast Guard approval.

At present, there are no LNG specific competency and training standards for LNG barges that can serve as the basis to establish crew credentials and qualifications by the Flag authorities. GTT North America will collaborate with its sister company, GTT Training, STAR Center, an internationally recognized and U.S.C.G. accredited LNG training center, and TOTE to fully develop the training program and obtain the necessary approval from U.S.C.G.

“We are excited to partner with GTT and other stakeholders in developing a training program that sets the standard for safety when working with LNG.” noted Peter Keller, Executive Vice President of TOTE.