Clean Energy Signs Contract with Hertz to Build & Operate a CNG Fueling Station at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Support Hertz CNG Shuttle Buses and Other Public & Private Fleets

SEAL BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (Nasdaq: CLNE) has signed an agreement with The Hertz Corporation (NYSE: HTZ) to build, operate and supply a compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station on Hertz-owned property adjacent to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The new Clean Energy CNG fueling facility, available 24/7 for public access, will support the expanding Hertz fleet of clean-burning CNG airport shuttle buses.

Hertz currently deploys CNG airport buses at its LAX location to transport its rental car customers to and from airline terminals.

"This new Hertz partnership will allow Clean Energy to build a much needed second public fueling station at LAX, while providing fuel service to a premier rental car company in the United States," said James Harger, Clean Energy Chief Marketing Officer. "The transition by the airport industry and allied services from diesel to natural gas fuel for ground transportation is accelerating rapidly, in response to the need to curtail emissions, decrease fuel costs, and reduce dependence on imported oil."

"Introducing CNG shuttle buses and fueling stations to support compressed natural gas is an integral part of Hertz's stewardship of the environment," commented Mark P. Frissora, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Hertz Corporation. "Partnering with Clean Energy reinforces our mission to minimize the environmental impact from our operations and we're excited to be able to support our shuttle fleet while also allowing other airport entities access to the CNG station."

The Hertz LAX facility will include public access fueling islands for local fleets of CNG taxis and shared-ride vans, plus hotel, parking and rental car buses. A private Hertz island will be capable of fueling its internal fleet simultaneously. Station construction is expected to begin in March 2011 with opening slated for early third quarter of 2011. By 2015, Hertz expects to have transitioned its entire LAX transit bus fleet to clean, green, domestic CNG gas power.

Clean Energy now operates a large-volume, high-traffic LAX-adjacent public access CNG station that serves light, medium and heavy-duty fleet vehicles in the area, including rental car buses for Hertz. Harger said, "The addition of the new Hertz station to our existing LAX fueling infrastructure will help Clean Energy meet fast-growing CNG fueling demands from operators of airport-related taxi, shared ride vans, hotel, other rental car and private parking shuttle fleets."

Costing less than diesel or gasoline, natural gas fuel produces up to 30% less greenhouse gas emissions in light-duty vehicles, and up to 23%-percent lower greenhouse gas emissions in medium to heavy-duty applications. 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 vehicle fueling, construction and operation of CNG and LNG fueling stations, biomethane production, vehicle conversion and compressor technology.

Clean Energy fuels over 19,900 vehicles at 211 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. It owns (70%) and operates a landfill gas facility in Dallas, Texas, that produces renewable methane gas, or biomethane, for delivery in the nation's gas pipeline network. It owns and operates 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. BAF Technologies, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary, is a leading provider of natural gas vehicle systems and conversions for taxis, limousines, 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 1,000 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 amount of CNG sold to Hertz and other customers at a fueling station to be constructed on Hertz's property. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of the number of CNG busses or vehicles deployed by Hertz or other customers, the performance of the CNG vehicles, and permitting or other delays encountered during the construction of the station. The forward-looking statements made herein speak only as of the date of this press release and the company undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

    Source: Clean Energy Fuels Corp.

Released December 16, 2010