Cleveland-based Chart Industries Inc., a manufacturer of equipment to handle hydrocarbon and industrial gases, said it is expanding manufacturing capacity for liquefied natural gas (LNG) equipment to meet growing North American infrastructure demand. “We are expanding capacity to meet current customer needs and to remain ready to serve the rapid growth we are seeing in North America for LNG equipment for applications such as fueling stations, transportation and remote power generation,” said Tom Carey, president of Chart’s distribution and storage unit. “We believe we are in the early stages of a substantial LNG infrastructure buildout in North America that we expect will last for many years, similar to opportunities we are pursuing in China and elsewhere.” The company said its first phase of investment will be about $4 million at a site in the Upper Midwest during the fourth quarter.

The House Natural Resources Committee in Washington, DC, approved without debate and favorably reported to the full House HR 2752, which would amend the Mineral Leasing Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct Internet-based onshore oil and gas lease sales. Current in-person federal onshore oil and gas lease sales were required by the Leasing Reform Act of 1987, which was written prior to current ubiquitous use of the Internet. With the same consent vote the committee also approved HR 2803, which would direct the secretary to assess reserves of nonoil and gas mineral reserves in the shallow and deep seabed of the United States.

Seal Beach, CA-based Clean Energy Fuels Corp. has signed a 10-year contract with Florida-based logistics provider Saddle Creek Transportation Inc. to build, operate and maintain a compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling facility scheduled to handle up to 120 Freightliner trucks by the first quarter next year. The CNG facility will be at Saddle Creek’s headquarters and warehouse complex in Lakeland, FL, combing fast-fill and time-fill fueling capability. Initially the facility will support 40 Freightliner CNG trucks, along with 40 for-hire CNG trucks, before the end of this year. In the first quarter that total will grow to 120 trucks, according to the California gas transportation fuel provider.

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