UPS Contracts with Clean Energy to Fuel New LNG Regional Truck Fleet in Las Vegas (USA)

 

UPS, the world’s largest package delivery company, has contracted with Clean Energy Fuels Corp. to fuel its new fleet of 48 liquefied natural gas (LNG) package transportation trucks at a new truck fueling station near UPS facilities in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The agreement has a seven-year initial term with three one-year renewal options. Clean Energy will design, build, own and operate the station, which is set for opening in the first half of 2011.

“Investment in a fuel-efficient technology that helps reduce our carbon footprint and reduce our dependence on petroleum remains a key component of UPS’s transport strategy,” said Mike Britt, Director of Vehicle Engineering at UPS. “For our heavy-duty vehicles, LNG has proved successful in reducing emissions, keeping our maintenance and operating costs low, and significantly reducing our dependence on petroleum for these shipping lanes.”

The public access LNG fueling station will support the deployment of a new regional UPS fleet of 48 LNG delivery trucks used to transport packages between UPS facilities in Las Vegas and Ontario, Calif., as well as to other regional destinations. LNG fuel requirements are expected to exceed 1.2 million gallons annually for the UPS 48-truck fleet, which will be deployed during the first half of 2011. The station will also become a key link in the Southwest LNG truck fueling corridor being developed by Clean Energy.

James Harger, Chief Marketing Officer, Clean Energy, said, “We are delighted to have this opportunity to extend our relationship with UPS to support its efforts to curb harmful air pollution and global warming emissions. The new Las Vegas LNG truck fleet is part of continuing efforts by UPS to reduce its emissions from the use of fuels like gasoline and diesel, and to lower its carbon footprint.”

Harger added, “This UPS station project is a major step toward realizing our goal to create a Southwest LNG truck fueling corridor that will extend along major truck transport routes from San Diego to Salt Lake City.” The development of the Clean Energy LNG station infrastructure is in direct response to the increasing demand for natural gas fuel as major trucking companies secure and deploy LNG-powered trucks throughout the region.

To supply its Southwest regional LNG fuel customers, Clean Energy operates the largest LNG production plant in the Southwest, located in Boron, Calif. The facility includes a 1.8-million-gallon LNG storage tank as an important supply resource.

About Clean Energy Fuels — Clean Energy is the largest provider of natural gas fuel for transportation in North America and a global leader in the expanding natural gas vehicle market. It has operations in CNG and LNG vehicle fueling, construction and operation of CNG and LNG fueling stations, biomethane production, vehicle conversion and compressor technology.

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Source: Clean Energy, February 23, 2011;