Clean Energy signs more natural gas fueling agreements

Clean Energy Fuels will fuel the first heavy-duty natural gas trucks deployed by Bimbo Bakeries USA.

Trucking fleets across the nation continue to expand or begin natural gas fueling operations. Clean Energy and approximately 40 competitors have opened nearly 100 public heavy-duty, truck-friendly stations so far in 2014, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, Alternative Fuels Data Center. This translates into an annual infrastructure growth rate of over 20 percent, with certain markets like Texas experiencing significant natural gas fueling station growth.

Bimbo Bakeries USA has contracted with Clean Energy to introduce its first heavy-duty natural gas trucks into its fleet in California. The 16 heavy-duty natural gas trucks will use fuel from Clean Energy’s public-access compressed natural gas station network throughout Northern California.

BBU expects to explore options for adding more natural gas trucks to its fleet throughout the country based on the success of this initial deployment. BBU operates more than 65 bakeries and distributes products through 12,000 sales routes throughout the United States.

This initial deployment of trucks is expected to cut greenhouse gas emissions by more than 580 metric tons.

“As a leader in the baking industry, BBU understands that it has a responsibility to invest in and raise sustainability standards. We are continuously looking for ways to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and our collaboration with Clean Energy to deploy natural gas trucks is an important step in our company-wide green initiatives,” said Jim McKeown, director of environment and sustainability for BBU and Grupo Bimbo.

Kenan Advantage Group, Clean Energy’s contract carrier for LNG, is scheduled to expand its LNG fleet with 24 additional LNG trucks. KAG has been operating 25 LNG trucks and fueling with Clean Energy since 2013. These trucks will fuel at Clean Energy’s America’s Natural Gas Highway stations in Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas, and is forecasted to consume approximately 400,000 DGEs of LNG per year.

“Expanding our natural gas fleet to haul Clean Energy LNG makes perfect sense since we’re delivering to Clean Energy stations every day. We are excited about the opportunity to continue growing with this valuable customer,”  said Mark Davis, president of Jack B. Kelley, a subsidiary of The Kenan Advantage Group.

Clean Rentals of New Bedford, Massachusetts, will begin a CNG pilot program with four heavy-duty natural gas trucks in a regional delivery application and fuel at Clean Energy’s public natural gas fueling network.

Modern Transportation is expanding its LNG fleet in the Mid-Atlantic. The fleet is currently running a high mileage application for Owens Corning, with each truck traveling nearly 200,000 miles per year.

“Our LNG truck fleet has performed extremely well and we’ll continue to expand this fleet to provide the most environmentally friendly and economical logistics solution to our customers,” said Rich Kushner, vice president of sales, Modern Transportation.

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) awarded Clean Energy customers $1.4 million for 166 natural gas vehicles. Awarded under the Alternative Fuel Incentive Grants (AFIG) program of the Office of Pollution Prevention and Energy Assistance, the funds will help pay for the conversion or purchase of medium- to light-weight natural gas vehicles. A total of 274 NGVs were funded under AFIG’s Sept. 4th grant award. DEP estimates 24 new fueling stations and 35 existing stations will be supported by these NGVs.

Under the direction of the Commonwealth Financing Authority, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and DEP also awarded Clean Energy $3.78 million under the Alternative and Clean Energy program for the development, construction and/or expansion of natural gas fueling stations.

Press Release, September 11, 2014; Image: Clean Energy Fuels