Seal Beach, CA-based Clean Energy Fuels Corp. has made two deals to expand its market reach nationally, entering a securities purchase agreement to acquire fueling technology provider Wyoming Northstar Inc. for $10.9 million in cash, and through a subsidiary inking an agreement with a New Jersey-based alternative fuel vehicle manufacturer, Clean Vehicle Solutions LLC, to provide compressed natural gas (CNG) systems for the small vehicle makers’ products.

In the Northstar transaction, about $7.4 million will be paid at closing, Clean Energy said, with the rest paid off in a series of annual payments beginning next year and continuing through 2015. Clean Energy also agreed to pay retention bonuses up to $4 million.

Separately, Clean Energy’s BAF Technologies Inc. unit will install its CalComp CNG system in the vehicles produced in the New Jersey automaker’s plant for fleets throughout the Northeast region. It was a year ago that Clean Energy, a supplier of natural gas and gas-related infrastructure to the transportation sector, purchased Dallas-based BAF Technologies, a U.S. provider of natural gas vehicle systems and conversions.

Northstar, which is based in Evanston, WY, bills itself as a leader in liquefied natural gas (LNG) and LNG to compressed natural gas (LCNG) transportation fueling system technologies. It manufactures a weights-and-measures certified LNG dispenser. The technology firm has provided LNG station design, construction, operations and maintenance and worked closely with Clean Energy in recent years.

Earlier this year Clean Energy signed an agreement with Pilot Flying J Travel Centers to build, own and operate public access LNG fueling facilities at Flying J truck travel centers nationwide.

Clean Energy CEO Andrew Littlefair said there is growing international interest in LNG for transportation fueling, particularly in China. Clean Energy subsidiary IMW Industries has a presence in the China LNG transportation fuel market.

“Having Northstar, the premier LNG station provider, in our group will greatly enhance our ability to build out the growing natural gas fueling infrastructure in the United States,” Littlefair said.

Clean Vehicle Solutions is the authorized small vehicle manufacturer of CNG vehicles using the BAF CNG systems in the Northeast, a spokesperson said. “Both companies will leverage their years of management experience in natural gas, vehicle manufacturing and technology innovation to meet the increasing demand for alternative solutions for economical, sustainable solutions from corporate, commercial and government fleets.”

BAF President John Bacon said the firms’ joint marketing effort should “expand CNG vehicle solutions for fleets in the Northeast corridor” from Maine to Virginia at a time that he called “an important growth period” for alternative fuel vehicles. It is hoped that as the CNG vehicle market grows the partnership can provide the right technology and infrastructure support in the years ahead, said Pat Charla, Clean Vehicle’s marketing director.

Under the BAF-Clean Vehicle Solutions pact the automaker will produce alternative fuel systems and light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles qualifying for tax credits as certified by the federal Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board. “The joint marketing agreement further expands a sustainable solution that will reduce both costs and environ mental impacts in an important market [the Northeast] for both companies,” the spokesperson said.

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