The reach of U.S. technology for compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles is drawing attention — and money — coast-to-coast and overseas.

A subsidiary of Clean Energy Fuels Corp. recently signed a three-year, $167 million transaction with China Gas Holdings Inc. to provide up to 416 CNG compressors and related technologies to to help develop more than 300 fueling stations throughout the country. CNG growth in China could outpace U.S. expansion, Clean Energy executives said.

Under the agreement, IMW Industries Ltd. would provide the equipment to the Chinese firm, which builds and maintains gas and propane pipeline distribution systems. China Gas Managing Director Liu Ming Hui said IMW should help his company meet “growing transportation needs in an environmentally responsible manner.” IMW is to provide 186 gas fuel dryers, 527 fuel dispensers and 387,500 liters of CNG storage capacity.

“China has grasped the potential of natural gas as an alternative to gasoline and diesel fuel and is aggressively building the necessary infrastructure to realize this potential,” said Clean Energy CEO Andrew Littlefair. “In the coming years, China Gas and its partners plan to construct the equivalent of over half of all the public access CNG stations currently available in the United States, significant for our companies and the future of cleaner transportation in China.”

China Gas secured financing from Export Development Canada, which is expected to be used in the three-year deal to help purchase products and services. An initial $5 million has been used to purchase 29 CNG compressors for delivery by the end of the year to construct the first 19 stations.

Natural gas transportation infrastructure continues to build in the United States.

Trillium CNG has added CNG fueling facilities to San Jose, CA, and Richmond, VA. Trillium is providing services for waste hauler Green Team of San Jose, providing a slow-fill CNG fueling facility for subsidiary Waste Connections with 18 haulers and plans to add 19 more by the end of this year. In Richmond, Trillium provided a HY-C fast-fill station for transit buses and paratransit vehicles. The Greater Richmond Transit Company has eight CNG 40-foot city buses, and plans to add 21 more by January as the transporter retires its diesel-powered fleet.

U.S. Oil and Gain CNG are building their 12th “Gain Clean Energy” fueling station in Columbus, OH, for FST Logistics’ gas-powered truck fleet. FST has 15 vehicles in its fleet capable of CNG conversions with orders for 20 natural gas-powered tractors and eight other vehicles over the next 12 months. FST plans to convert its entire fleet as more CNG stations are developed nationally, said CEO Dave Kent.

Also, CNG Cylinders International late last month said it has completed developing a 25-inch diameter fueling tank available in various lengths from 60-100 inches. A 100-inch-long version of the tank would have internal volume of 631 liters, the equivalent of 55 diesel gallons of storage, the company said. The certified tanks are expected to be available before the end of the year.