Clean Energy hits CNG delivery milestone

Clean Energy Fuels said it delivered for the first time over 50 million compressed natural gas (CNG) gallons in one quarter.

The company said in a statement it plans to grow its CNG sales further with a strategic move to expand its CNG market to large industrial and institutional energy users beyond the nation’s natural gas pipeline by acquiring a controlling interest in NG Advantage, a pioneer in the natural gas “virtual pipeline” delivery system.

The NG Advantage investment will primarily be used to fund capital expenditures for expansion and growth in the business. Clean Energy will also purchase NG Advantage’s Milton, Vt., compression station which is on track to supply nearly 16 million gasoline-gallon-equivalents (GGEs) of CNG annually. This station will immediately become Clean Energy’s highest-volume station in its nationwide network of almost 500 stations, it said.

Founded in 2011, NG Advantage has created a new industry transporting CNG in high-capacity trailers to large industrial and institutional energy users such as hospitals, food processors, manufacturers and paper mills. The CNG is transported in its fleet of tanker trucks, offloaded and used to replace fuel-oil and propane which can save customers up to 40 percent on fuel costs while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 26 percent.

Companies burning coal can reduce their CO2 emissions by 50% when converting to natural gas, Clean Energy added.