Clean Energy Announces Expansion of its Southern California LNG Truck Fueling Infrastructure to Support Regional Goods Movement
-- Ten-Station Network in Urban Centers and Along Major Truck Routes Is First Phase of Clean Energy's Planned Southwest LNG Trucking Corridor --
SEAL BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (Nasdaq: CLNE) plans to expand its existing network of liquefied natural gas (LNG) truck fueling stations in Southern California this year beyond its current two LNG stations located at the Los Angeles/Long Beach ports complex. New or upgraded Clean Energy LNG fueling facilities are planned for strategic points along truck transport routes in the California cities of Los Angeles, Commerce, Industry, Fontana, Riverside, Tulare, Barstow, and Otay Mesa/San Diego. This hub of stations will form the backbone upon which Clean Energy intends to expand its LNG fueling efforts into the Southwestern region of the United States.
The Southern California network will enable goods to be transported via clean-burning natural gas trucks within local urban areas and along regional goods-movement corridors. Trucks will be able to transport goods from the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports, deliver them to distribution centers, and take the goods directly to stores in local communities.
"This augmented LNG truck fueling capability plays a key role in the creation of a full-scale Southwest LNG truck-fueling corridor. We plan to connect this group of LNG fueling stations in Southern California to Northern California, Arizona, Nevada and Utah," said Andrew Littlefair, Clean Energy President and CEO.
"The development of the new station infrastructure is a direct response to the increased demand for natural gas fuel we have observed, as major trucking companies secure and deploy LNG-powered trucks at the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports and throughout the region," Littlefair added.
Adjacent to the ports complex, Clean Energy operates the world's largest public LNG truck fueling station. Located on a 2.7-acre site, the station is the second that the Company has opened in the area to serve natural gas-powered port drayage trucks. The first, operational since December 2007, is located nearby in Carson, CA.
These two LNG stations were specifically designed by Clean Energy to support the goals of the San Pedro Bay Ports' Clean Air Action Plan and Clean Truck programs. These programs call for the retirement or conversion of old diesel trucks entering the ports in favor of new cleaner-burning and alternative-fueled trucks.
Natural gas vehicle fuel provides lower emissions than gasoline and diesel, including up to a 23% reduction in greenhouse gases in medium-and heavy-duty trucking applications. The domestic natural gas used by the trucks also reduces America's dependence on imported oil.
Clean Energy is the leading provider of natural gas (CNG and LNG) for transportation in North America. It has a broad customer base in the refuse, transit, ports, shuttle, taxi, trucking, airport and municipal fleet markets, fueling more than 17,500 vehicles at 195 strategic locations across the United States and Canada. Clean Energy owns and operates two LNG production plants, one in Willis, TX and one in Boron, CA, with combined capacity of 260,000 LNG gallons per day and designed to expand to 340,000 LNG gallons per day as demand increases. It also owns and operates a landfill gas facility in Dallas, TX that produces renewable methane gas (or biomethane) for delivery in the nation's gas pipeline network. Clean Energy also owns BAF Technologies, Inc. of Dallas, TX, a leading provider of natural gas vehicle systems and conversions for taxis, limousines, vans, pick-up trucks and shuttle buses. Please visit 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 number of stations to be built in Southern California and in the Southwestern part of the United States, the time-frame in which the stations will be completed, the growth in the number of LNG trucks using the stations and the number of LNG trucks that will ultimately be deployed at the stations. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of lower demand for LNG fuel and LNG trucks, the expiration or lack of availability of tax credits or other incentives for the purchase of LNG trucks and/or use of LNG vehicle fuel, the pricing and performance of LNG trucks and permitting and other delays in the construction of the LNG stations. 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 February 23, 2010