Highway

Noting the deals will help move closer to creating a national highway fueling network for natural gas vehicles (NGV), Clean Energy Fuels Corp. said that it has inked fuel supply deals with five trucking fleets that transport products for some of the nation’s largest and most well-known brands. The five will use compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplied by Clean Energy from existing and new fueling stations for CNG and from Clean Energy stations serving LNG. Clean Energy said the trucking fleets are geographically diverse, but share a common goal of reducing their fuel costs and operating more cleanly. The companies are: Saddle Creek Logistics Services, Lakeland, FL; Premier Transportation, Atlanta, GA; Hoopes Turf Farm, Transportation Division, Ulysses, PA; Lily Transportation , Needham, MA; and Lancaster Foods, Jessup, MD.

The concept of a national highway for natural gas-fueled long-haul trucks received some roadside assistance Thursday when Shell Oil Co. and major truck stop operator TravelCenters of America LLC (TA) announced a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for Shell to provide liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the fueling station operator for sale to heavy-duty truck operators.

The concept of a national highway for natural gas-fueled long-haul trucks received some roadside assistance Thursday when Shell Oil Co. and major truck stop operator TravelCenters of America LLC (TA) announced a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for Shell to provide liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the fueling station operator for sale to heavy-duty truck operators.

Funding for a proposed study of the health impacts of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) is not included in a $132.5 billion state budget that the New York State Legislature and Gov. Andrew Cuomo agreed to on Tuesday.

Another link in the national natural gas highway was established recently when Seal Beach, CA-based Clean Energy Fuels Corp. opened a liquefied natural gas (LNG) fueling station in Seville, OH. The public station will support an expanding fleet of LNG trucks by Dillon Transport, a major contract freight carrier serving Owens Corning. The station is on property owned by Pilot Flying J Truck Travel Centers, a partner with Clean Energy in establishing the natural gas network for long-haul truck operators (see Daily GPI, Aug. 25, 2011). The Ohio LNG station received a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy as part of the federal stimulus program under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The station will support Dillon-operated trucks delivering raw materials to Owens Corning production plants that produce residential and commercial building materials.

Seal Beach, CA-based Clean Energy Fuels Corp. has identified 32 more locations in 22 states for its “America’s Natural Gas Highway” series of liquefied natural gas (LNG) long-haul truck fueling stations (see Daily GPI, Jan. 17). The locations range from Arkansas to Wisconsin, and Florida to Washington state. Clean Energy now has specified 98 locations in 37 states. The company raised $450 million last year to help fund its development of a national LNG/CNG transportation fueling network (see Daily GPI, Aug. 29, 2011).

California’s widely heralded plans a few years back to create a “Hydrogen Highway” by developing 100 fueling stations along the 400-mile stretch between Los Angeles and San Francisco by 2010 has hit some roadblocks as two stations have closed and planned facilities are being canceled. The latest was dropped by Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E).

The Rockies Express Pipeline (REX) may be the super highway for natural gas when it is completely ramped up, but pipeline competitors already are forecasting a gap between the ever-growing production in the Rocky Mountains and takeaway demand, which together will require another major pipe system within three or four years.

The Rockies Express Pipeline (REX) may be the super highway for natural gas when it is completely ramped up, but pipeline competitors already are forecasting a gap between the ever-growing production in the Rocky Mountains and takeaway demand, which together will require another major pipe system within three or four years.