Seal Beach, CA-based Clean Energy Fuels Corp. said Friday it had completed 50% more fueling stations last year than in 2010 and it plans to accelerate its development program this year.

Clean Energy said it completed 68 fueling station projects in 16 states in 2011, including five liquefied natural gas (LNG) truck fueling stations that are part of America’s Natural Gas Highway, an 150-station project that kicked off the mid-part of last year near Houston (see Daily GPI, Aug. 25, 2011). The national effort began as part of a partnership between Pilot Flying J Travel Centers and Clean Energy, the builder, operator and fuel supplier for the LNG stations.

As part of the increased station completions last year, Clean Energy facilities supported transit operations (seven), refuse trucking fleets (18) and the airport/tax/shuttle sector (28), according to Clean Energy CEO Andrew Littlefair. Another 15 new stations supported local and regional trucking and small fleets, he said.

Currently natural gas as a transportation fuel is up to $1.50/gallon less expensive than diesel or gasoline, depending on local markets, Clean Energy said. It continues to market compressed natural gas (CNG) and LNG in transportation as being “significantly” less costly for vehicle and fleet owners, and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 30%. With the North American shale gas boom, Clean Energy emphasizes the energy security advantages of gas use in transportation.

In the second half of last year Clean Energy received up to $450 million in new investment, largely to fund more fueling stations (see Daily GPI, Jan. 3).

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