NGVAmerica News Week in Review: December 12, 2016
- Clean Energy Awarded CNG Station Projects, Expands Facility Modification Services
- California Aims to Reduce Emissions with New 2030 Climate Goals
- Cummins Westport Expands Market for Midrange Natural Gas Engine
- Chicago Area Clean Cities Recognizes Natural Gas Fleets as Top Green Fleets for 2016
- Deadline for $4 Million Off-Road NGV Funding Opportunity Extended
- Clean Energy Signs New Fueling Agreements Across Multiple Sectors
- Union Gas Opens CNG Fueling Station in Ontario
- ADM Announces Innovative Project to Provide Renewable Natural Gas
- Ultimate CNG Fills the Breach Following Hurricane Flood Damage in North Carolina
- Major Cities Commit Remove All Diesel Vehicles By 2025
Clean Energy Awarded CNG Station Projects, Expands Facility Modification Services
December 6, 2016
Clean Energy Fuels announced that it has been awarded two new fueling station construction projects and that its Facility Modification Services (FMS) division continues to grow with multiple projects underway, including three for Cummins’s Sales and Service business.
Burrtec Waste Industries, one of the largest private solid-waste companies in California, has contracted with Clean Energy to build a CNG station in Coachella, California. The station is expected to fuel 50 CNG refuse trucks and dispense approximately 520,000 GGEs per year. Burrtec also awarded Clean Energy a 10-year operations and maintenance contract for the station.
South Jersey Gas and Riggins have also contracted with Clean Energy to build a public CNG station in Franklin Township, New Jersey, using the company’s CleanCNG compressors. This will mark the 100th CleanCNG compressor to be delivered since announcing the start of production in June of last year. Clean Energy also signed a 10-year operations and maintenance agreement for the station, which will be the third South Jersey Gas station that Clean Energy has constructed and been engaged to provide the operations and maintenance services for.
“While we continue to add transit, trucking and refuse fleets to our list of customers fueling at our network of stations all across North America, we also continue to build complete stations for our customers, and we expect to complete 62 of these types of projects this year,” said Andrew J. Littlefair, president and CEO of Clean Energy.
In addition to facilities modifications work for Cummins at their locations in Hodgkins, Illinois; Bristol, Pennsylvania; and Bronx, New York; Clean Energy has been awarded a contract with the City of San Fernando to upgrade its public CNG station. The $1.3 million project is needed due to the increased traffic at the station, as well as to incorporate newer technologies in compression equipment.
“We are happy that more and more companies are turning to natural gas,” said Robert C. Gonzales, Mayor of San Fernando. “In addition to fleets such as Caltrans and Republic who use our station daily, we’ve noticed an increase in other fleets using natural gas as well.”
California Aims to Reduce Emissions with New 2030 Climate Goals
December 12, 2016
Moving to limit the state’s dependence on oil and exposure to harmful air pollution, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) today released its initial draft plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 – the most ambitious target in North America. The plan builds on the state’s successful efforts to reach its more immediate goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 and outlines the most effective ways to reach the new 2030 goal, including the greater use of alternative fuels and low-emission vehicles.
California is reducing emissions through a series of actions, innovative solutions and advances in technology, including cleaner, more fuel-efficient cars and zero emission vehicles, low-carbon fuels, renewable energy, Cap-and-Trade regulations, waste diversion from landfills, water conservation and improvements to energy efficiency in homes and businesses. CARB says the result is improved public health, a growing economy with more green jobs and better clean energy choices for Californians.
“Now more than ever, the nation – and the world – are looking to California for leadership on climate change and air quality,” said CARB Chair Mary D. Nichols. “This draft plan builds on California’s decade-long success in transforming the state’s economy.”
Assembly Bill 32, signed in 2006, set California’s initial goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 and directed CARB to develop a climate change scoping plan – to be updated every five years – detailing the specific measures needed to reach the target. Today’s draft plan, required by the Governor’s April 2015 Executive Order, updates the previous scoping plan to account for the new 2030 target codified in Senate Bill 32.
The draft plan analyzes continuing the Cap-and-Trade program, which is currently being used to reach the state’s greenhouse gas reduction goals. The Cap-and-Trade program funds the California Climate Change Investments program, which provides funds for projects aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. To date, approximately $3.4 billion has been invested.
To achieve the 2030 goal will require contributions from all sectors of the economy and will include enhanced focus on, among other strategies, zero- and near-zero emission vehicle technologies and a greater use of low-carbon fuels.
CARB will release another update to this plan in January 2017 – following a December workshop – which will include detailed economic and environmental. The plan is expected to be finalized for consideration in Spring 2017.
The 2030 Target Scoping Plan Discussion Draft, in full, is available here. Stakeholders and the public are encouraged to submit comments on the 2030 Target Scoping Plan Discussion Draft by December 16, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. PST here.
Cummins Westport Expands Market for Midrange Natural Gas Engine
December 8, 2016
Cummins Westport announced the ISB6.7 G, a 6.7-liter midrange, factory built natural gas engine is now available as a production engine for shuttle bus, medium duty truck, and vocational applications in North America. The engine has been available for school bus applications since May 2016 from Thomas Built Buses. Now, the applications available for the ISB6.7 G engine expand to midrange trucks, vocational trucks and mid-size buses, more than doubling the addressable market.
The ISB6.7 G is based on the Cummins ISB6.7 diesel engine platform, and operates exclusively on natural gas, including CNG, LNG, or renewable natural gas (RNG). The ISB6.7 G is the second engine from CWI to receive emission certification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for meeting the Optional Low NOx Emissions standards.
“We are pleased to announce the ISB6.7 G is now in full production and available for all of our customers and OEM partners,” said Rob Neitzke, President of CWI. “An engine of this size is a natural addition to CWI’s portfolio of natural gas engines. The ISB6.7 G offers the midrange customer an ability to take advantage of the most cost effective overall solution with the benefit of a low emission natural gas engine that has proven performance, reliability, and durability.
NOx emissions of the ISB6.7 G are 50 percent lower than the current EPA and CARB NOx limit. Additionally, CO2 emissions meet the 2017 EPA greenhouse gas emission requirements, and all CWI natural gas engines are lower than the 2010 EPA standard for particulate matter.
The ISB6.7 G uses CWI’s proprietary spark-ignited, stoichiometric combustion with cooled exhaust gas recirculation (SEGR) technology. It features electronic control with programmable features, a closed crankcase ventilation system, and maintenance-free three-way catalyst after-treatment. No diesel particulate filter or selective catalytic reduction after-treatment is required.
The ISB6.7 G will be manufactured in the Cummins engine plant. Partial funding in support of the ISB6.7 G engine development has been received from the California Energy Commission (CEC) through its Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) Program in conjunction with the Gas Technology Institute.
Chicago Area Clean Cities Recognizes Natural Gas Fleets as Top Green Fleets for 2016
December 8, 2016
The Chicago Area Clean Cities Coalition has announced its Top 5 Green Fleets for 2016, companies that are leading in the adoption of alternative fuels and clean-vehicle technologies for their fleets. This year’s winners operating clean-burning natural gas vehicles in their fleet include: Gold Standard Transportation and DuPage County.
The Green Fleet Award winners were named at the coalition’s end of the year meeting held Wednesday, December 7. The awards are given annually to commercial or government fleets that take actions to reduce petroleum consumption and improve air quality, such as by using clean-burning alternative-fuel vehicles, electric vehicles or other advanced technologies.
“The fleets we’re recognizing range from using CNG to propane to electric vehicles, all with the goals of saving fuel, reducing emissions and saving money,” said John Walton, vice chairman of Chicago Area Clean Cities.
The DuPage County Division of Transportation is responsible for the safe operation and maintenance of more than 950 lane-miles of arterial highways. The county’s fleet department maintains more than 440 county-owned vehicles of which 220 actively use alternate fuels, including 27 CNG-powered vehicles. Over the past five years, DuPage County has purchased an average of 18,500 GGEs.
“We’re proud to be a government leader in taking voluntary, progressive actions to reduce diesel emissions and implement efficient vehicle technologies,” said Don Puchalski, chairman of the DuPage County Board’s Transportation Committee.
Gold Standard Transportation, an asset-based, family-owned company, located in Crestwood, Illinois, is a transportation and logistics company that operates primarily within the Midwest. The company has a fleet of 10 CNG tractors that save more than 200,000 gallons of diesel fuel each year.
Deadline for $4 Million Off-Road NGV Funding Opportunity Extended
December 9, 2016
The California Energy Commission (CEC) has extended the application deadline for a $4 million grant funding solicitation for the research and development of natural gas engines for medium and heavy duty off-road vehicles (ORVs) supporting the agricultural, construction, industrial, port and cargo market sectors. Applications are now due on Monday, December 19.
The solicitation aims to reduce transportation emissions in California’s most severely polluted regions – the San Joaquin Valley and the South Coast air basins. ORVs are the second largest source of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions in those areas, and on-road heavy-duty vehicles are the largest.
The funding opportunity, which encourages demonstrations in those two locations, covers ORVs commonly employed for heavy hauling like those used for waste transport, mining and semi-tractor trailer applications and for items like yard tractors and cranes found at ports and cargo handling areas.
The Energy Commission has previously supported the research and development of advanced natural gas engine technologies but primarily targeted on-road, heavy-duty vehicles. There is a LinkedIn page to connect participants with other interested parties for this solicitation.
Clean Energy Signs New Fueling Agreements Across Multiple Sectors
December 6, 2016
Clean Energy announced multiple fueling agreements in the trucking, transit and refuse sectors. In trucking, Bimbo Bakeries USA, the largest baker in the US, has signed a fueling agreement with Clean Energy for an additional 19 CNG trucks based out of their facility in Montebello, California. The vehicles will fuel at Clean Energy’s public fueling stations located in both Commerce and Whittier California.
Clean Energy has added Frank C. Alegre Trucking to its list of fueling customers by signing a multi-year fueling agreement. Frank C. Alegre Trucking purchased five LNG trucks for their bulk food hauling operations throughout Southern California and will fuel at Clean Energy stations. These trucks are Alegre’s first natural gas vehicles in their fleet.
Texas Gas Transport, an LNG hauler based out of Dallas/Fort Worth, has signed a fueling agreement for Clean Energy for six of its LNG trucks delivering fuel to El Paso, Texas. Texas Gas Transport specializes in providing fueling solutions to locations where the pipeline does not provide gas service, including to the shipping, drilling and power generation industries.
In transit, Orange County Transportation Authority has signed a fueling contract with Clean Energy for 1.5 million GGEs of LNG for its fleet of 73 buses. The company will use Clean Energy’s Redeem brand of RNG, rated up to 70 percent cleaner than diesel. The agency is transitioning their LNG fleet to CNG, and will continue to fuel their fleet at Clean Energy’s Anaheim and Garden Grove locations during the transition which is expected to be complete in 2017.
In refuse, Republic Services opened a private fueling station in Daly City, California in October to support its contract for refuse services with the city. The time-fill station was built by Clean Energy to support 21 CNG refuse vehicles and is estimated to dispense approximately 215,000 GGEs per year.
Universal Waste Systems and Burrtec Waste Services, refuse providers in Los Angeles County, have both signed multi-year fueling agreements with Clean Energy for CNG. Both companies will also use Clean Energy’s Redeem brand of RNG. The contracts call for Universal to use up to 550,000 GGEs per year and Burrtec to use approximately 200,000 GGEs per year.
In addition to these projects, Clean Energy Fuels secured over $400,000 in grant funding for Clean Energy customers Amato Industries, Bimbo Bakeries, and Testa Produce. The funds, provided by the states of Pennsylvania, Illinois and California, allow companies to purchase natural gas vehicles, including the purchase of 18 heavy-duty CNG vehicles by Bimbo.
Union Gas Opens CNG Fueling Station in Ontario
December 7, 2016
Union Gas opened its CNG fueling station at its London, Ontario office, at an event that highlighted the importance of CNG as a better choice for Ontario cities and local economies to fuel fleet and heavy transportation vehicles.
Currently, Union Gas’ CNG station fuels six trucks in its fleet with plans to convert more trucks to CNG over the next few years in an effort to reduce emissions and lower fuel and maintenance costs.
“As a city we are committed to tackling climate change and collaborations with companies such as Union Gas will help us achieve our goals,” said London Mayor Matt Brown. “I am so pleased to see Union Gas begin to convert their fleet and lend a hand to London as we work towards becoming a greener city.”
As Ontario implements the Climate Change Action Plan natural gas will provide many opportunities to contribute to a more energy-efficient and prosperous low-carbon economy.
ADM Announces Innovative Project to Provide Renewable Natural Gas
December 8, 2016
Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) announced a project in that will produce renewable natural gas at ADM’s corn processing facility in Decatur that will be distributed by Ameren Illinois into the nation’s natural gas infrastructure.
“We’re proud to work with Ameren Illinois on this innovative project,” said Colin Graves, project manager for ADM. “Consumers and the country benefit from the addition of more clean, renewable energy into the national network, and ADM will benefit by capitalizing on environmental credits.”
Methane is a natural byproduct of the anaerobic digestion process from ADM’s Decatur wastewater treatment facility. When construction of the project is complete, ADM will purify this methane into pipeline quality natural gas and transport it to an Ameren Illinois’ gas pipeline. Ameren Illinois will then distribute the gas into the interstate pipeline system where it will be available for use as a clean, affordable transportation fuel. ADM is targeting completion of construction in May 2017.
Ultimate CNG Fills the Breach Following Hurricane Flood Damage in North Carolina
December 12, 2016
Ultimate CNG LLC, owner of the patented FuelMule mobile CNG station and provider of temporary and emergency CNG deliveries, announced that in the aftermath of recent flood damage in North Carolina, it brought mobile CNG assets to the area, allowing a major refuse company to maintain CNG fleet operation.
“In some areas of North Carolina, flood damage was so severe it actually swept away critical permanent CNG infrastructure,” as reported by Dennis Pick, CEO, Ultimate CNG. “We were happy to make our mobile CNG equipment available to help one of the affected fleets (a national refuse company) who lost on-site gas supply and compression capability to the flooding in the Fayetteville, North Carolina area.”
Among the mobile delivery assets developed by Ultimate CNG is the FuelMule—a self-contained mobile CNG station with on-board storage and compressor delivering CNG on a fast-fill basis, requiring no on-site natural gas or electric power connections.
Major Cities Commit Remove All Diesel Vehicles By 2025
December 6, 2016
Diesel vehicles will be removed from Paris, Mexico City, Madrid and Athens by 2025, as part of unprecedented effort by mayors to improve the quality of air for their citizens. These pioneering cities also pledged to incentivize alternative fuel vehicles, as well as promote walking and cycling infrastructure. The market-shifting commitment was made at the C40 Mayors Summit in Mexico City.
Pursuing policies that improve air quality – decarbonizing transportation systems and promoting alternative transportation options such as natural gas vehicles – helps cities deliver on the ambition of the Paris Agreement.
“The quality of the air that we breathe in our cities is directly linked to tackling climate change,” said Mayor of Madrid Manuela Carmena. “As we reduce the greenhouse gas emissions generated in our cities, our air will become cleaner and our children, our grandparents and our neighbors will be healthier.”
C40 also announced that it was joining with the World Health Organization and UN Environment’s Climate and Clean Air Coalition, in support of the BreathLife campaign to halve the 6.5 million deaths from air pollution by 2030. The global campaign will support city governments to reduce harmful emissions from the transport, waste and energy sectors, as well as mobilizing citizen action to reduce air pollution while also slowing climate change.
“92 per cent of the world’s population live in places where air pollution levels exceed the WHO safe level for air pollution,” said Helena Molin Valdés, Head of the CCAC. “Soot from diesel vehicles are amongst the big contributors to ill health and global warming.”
NGV news & insights