Fueling

Besides powering a manufacturing/petrochemical industry renaissance, North America’s abundant supply of shale gas is fueling a war of words over the merits of energy exports versus domestic usage.

Randy Eresman, who has led Encana Corp. since 2006, suddenly resigned on Friday, fueling speculation about whether he jumped or was pushed out of the boardroom.

Encana Corp. President and CEO Randy Eresman’s sudden departure last Friday is fueling speculation by energy analysts and investors about who might become his successor. Encana director Clayton H. Woitas, who is CEO of privately held Range Royalty Management Ltd., will be interim president and CEO until a successor is named.

The natural gas vehicle (NGV) fueling kit manufacturer at Clean Energy Fuels Corp., BAF, has received approval from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for its compression natural gas (CNG) conversion kits used on 2012 Ford F-Series 250/350 pickup trucks and E-Series 250/350 vans. CARB’s OK means the NGVs can now be sold in California. BAF is the first CNG converter in the nation to receive CARB’s certification for F-Series pickups. CNG-powered BAF E-250/350 van are already in wide use among service providers such as AT&T and Super Shuttle, and have been certified by CARB since 2007; now the certification is extended to include 2012 models. The latest NGV certification adds to permits BAF already has from CARB for several other Ford models, and it has federal Environmental Protection Agency certification for all of the models.

Atlanta Gas Light Inc.’s (AGL) proposal to establish over the next five years a network of compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling stations was approved by the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) in Atlanta Tuesday.

The boom in natural gas shale exploration and production (E&P) is fueling “significant cost advantages” for North America’s commodity chemicals producers because the costs of gas and oil-based feedstocks remain far apart, according to a report by Fitch Ratings.

West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, joined by leaders in the natural gas and chemical industries, announced Tuesday the formation of the Marcellus to Manufacturing Task Force, intended to harness the business opportunities surrounding the development of the Marcellus Shale.

Clean Energy Fuels Corp. will construct and operate two compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicle fueling stations in the New York City area, the company said. The first station will be in Queens, and the second will open adjacent to Newark, NJ’s Liberty International Airport. Designed to support growing fleets of CNG taxis, limousines and paratransit vehicles, the Queens and Newark Airport stations will also be available 24 hours a day for public access. The Queens facility is to be built on property owned by New York City’s largest taxi fleet owner. Construction is set to begin in May with a targeted opening slated for fall. The Newark Airport station is to be co-located with a new convenience store. The Clean Energy/Newark Airport Plaza CNG station is scheduled to open in June. Clean Energy has a CNG station at LaGuardia Airport and has assumed management of four of National Grid’s CNG stations in the New York metropolitan area, including the station at John F. Kennedy International Airport. The Seal Beach, CA-based company recently struck a fleet deal with AT&T (see Daily GPI, April 5).

Clean Energy Fuels Corp. will construct and operate two compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicle fueling stations in the New York City area, the company said. The first station will be in Queens, and the second will open adjacent to Newark, NJ’s Liberty International Airport. Designed to support growing fleets of CNG taxis, limousines and paratransit vehicles, the Queens and Newark Airport stations will also be available 24 hours a day for public access. The Queens facility is to be built on property owned by New York City’s largest taxi fleet owner. Construction is set to begin in May with a targeted opening slated for fall. The Newark Airport station is to be co-located with a new convenience store. The Clean Energy/Newark Airport Plaza CNG station is scheduled to open in June. Clean Energy has a CNG station at LaGuardia Airport and has assumed management of four of National Grid’s CNG stations in the New York metropolitan area, including the station at John F. Kennedy International Airport. The Seal Beach, CA-based company recently struck a fleet deal with AT&T (see Daily GPI, April 5).