Stations to Operate 24/7 to Support Expanded Chicago Deployment of
Clean, Green, Cost-Efficient Natural Gas-Powered Taxis, Vans, Shuttles
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (Nasdaq: CLNE), North America's leading
supplier of natural gas fuel for transportation, hosted a ceremony today
to mark the opening of two public access compressed natural gas (CNG)
fueling stations in Chicago. Part of a planned Chicagoland network, the
new natural gas stations will support growing fleets of taxis,
paratransit vehicles, service vans, refuse trucks and shuttle buses
powered by clean, green, domestic natural gas.
Yellow Cab Driver Dominique Camara visits a new Downtown Chicago Clean Energy compressed natural gas (CNG) station to "fuel up" his CNG Ford Transit Connect taxicab. He said, "I'm excited to drive the CNG Transit Connect. All of the customers will want to ride in my new vehicle. And it will save me half of my fuel costs each week!" (Photo: Business Wire)
Chicago's Taxi Medallion Management (TMM) operates over 800 vehicles in
Chicago. They currently have vehicles in both Yellow and Checker taxi
affiliations. Michael Levine, the owner of TMM and chairman of both Taxi
Affiliation Services LLC and American United Taxi Affiliation, Inc.,
entered into two 15-year contracts with Clean Energy to build and
operate the two CNG fueling stations, and supply fuel to the initial TMM
CNG fleet of up to 100 vehicles. Included are Ford Transit Connect and
Chevy Impala taxis as well as MV-1 paratransit vehicles. In addition to
serving the TMM fleet, the stations are open 24/7 for public access.
Located at 540 West Grenshaw Street and 3145 North Western Avenue, the
CNG station sites were selected for their proximity to downtown
Chicago's business, hotel, shopping and financial districts.
Government officials and business leaders attended the June 16th
reception and ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new Clean Energy West
Grenshaw Street station site. Among speakers at the event were T. Boone
Pickens, author of the "Pickens Plan" to enhance US energy security, and
Michael Levine, Owner, TMM.
Mr. Pickens commented, "Our continuing dependence on OPEC oil is a
critical threat to our economy and our national security. The only way
to address that threat is to replace their more expensive, dirtier
diesel/gasoline with cleaner and cheaper domestic fuels. There are
several options, and domestic natural gas is one of them. If we don't
start using our abundant domestic supplies of natural gas for
transportation, we are going to go down as the dumbest generation ever."
TMM's Levine said, "Taxi Medallion Management has always been committed
to providing the best possible service to our drivers and to the
community at large in Chicago. To that end we have updated our fleet of
vehicles, we have added the latest technology to enhance the taxicab
rider's experience, and now we are taking the next step in metropolitan
taxicab evolution, the deployment of alternative fuel vehicles. Our new
CNG-powered fleet will drastically reduce the impact of rising fuel
prices on our drivers. It will benefit the city by reducing carbon
emissions, and it will help begin the process of reducing our nation's
dependency on foreign fuel sources."
Supporting the local deployment of alternative-fueled cabs, the City of
Chicago's Department of Environment has implemented a Green Taxi
program, which reimburses taxi companies that purchase vehicles powered
by alternative fuels or hybrid vehicles. Chicago cab companies receive
from $9,000 to $14,000 for purchasing a CNG car, and $2,000 for
purchasing a hybrid car. The program operates on a first-come,
first-serve basis and continues until December 31, 2011.
Delivering considerable fuel savings, often over $1.50 per gallon
equivalent when compared to diesel or gasoline based on current market
conditions, CNG fuel also produces up to 30% lower greenhouse gas
emissions in light-duty vehicles and 23% percent lower emissions in
medium to heavy-duty vehicle applications. U.S. Department of Energy
reports estimate that 98% of the natural gas consumed in the U.S. is
sourced in the U.S. and Canada.
About Clean Energy Fuels — Clean Energy (Nasdaq: CLNE) is the
largest provider of natural gas fuel for transportation in North America
and a global leader in the expanding natural gas vehicle market. It has
operations in CNG and LNG (liquefied natural gas) vehicle fueling,
construction and operation of CNG and LNG fueling stations, biomethane
production, vehicle conversion and compressor technology.
Clean Energy fuels over 22,700 vehicles at 238 strategic locations
across the United States and Canada with a broad customer base in the
refuse, transit, trucking, shuttle, taxi, airport and municipal fleet
markets. Clean Energy del Peru, a joint venture, fuels vehicles at two
stations and provides CNG to commercial customers in Peru. We own (70%)
and operate a landfill gas facility in Dallas, Texas, that produces
renewable natural gas, or biomethane, for delivery in the nation's gas
pipeline network. We have agreed to build a second facility in Michigan.
We own and operate LNG production plants in Willis, Texas, and Boron,
Calif., with combined capacity of 260,000 LNG gallons per day and that
are designed to expand to 340,000 LNG gallons per day as demand
increases. NorthStar, a wholly owned subsidiary, is the recognized
leader in LNG/LCNG (liquefied to compressed natural gas) fueling system
technologies and station construction and operations. BAF Technologies,
Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary, is a leading provider of natural gas
vehicle systems and conversions for taxis, vans, pick-up trucks and
shuttle buses. IMW Industries, Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary based in
Canada, is a leading supplier of compressed natural gas equipment for
vehicle fueling and industrial applications with more than 1,200
installations in 24 countries. www.cleanenergyfuels.com
Forward-Looking Statements — This news release contains forward
looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities
Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that
involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including statements about
the increase of natural gas-powered vehicles in the Chicago area and the
potential impact of replacing diesel and gasoline with natural gas on
the environment and the nation's economy and security. Actual results
and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated
in these forward-looking statements as a result of several factors,
including the rate of CNG vehicle procurement and deployment, the price
per gallon of natural gas relative to diesel and gasoline, the
performance, availability and price of natural gas vehicles relative to
gasoline and diesel vehicles, and continuously changing political
conditions. The forward-looking statements made herein speak only as of
the date of this press release and, unless otherwise required by law,
the company undertakes no obligation to publicly update such
forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6762598&lang=en
JTPR
Jamie Crain, 312-573-5484
cell: 773-912-3386
or
Clean
Energy Fuels Corp.
Joanne Hayes, cell: 312-533-5647
Marc
Klein, cell: 917-727-7138
Source: Clean Energy Fuels Corp.
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